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Study of the Threatened Conditions of Natural Resources in St. Martin's Coral Island

A.F.M. Ruhul Quddus
Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh - 2202, Bangladesh

M. A. Sattar
Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh - 2202, Bangladesh

M. A. Hoque
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh - 2202, Bangladesh

M. A. Rahman
Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh - 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The different anthropological threats to the sustainability of the natural resources on St. Martin's Island were directly related to the local population dependency on those resources. A total of 835 resident families (i.e. house hold) were surveyed by the help of union pori shad chairman. The area was heavy populated (about 876 people/km²). The people of the island were very poor. The islanders were heavily dependent on the ecological resources for fulfill their own demands. For this reason, the ecological resources of this island were degraded day-by-day and faced threatened conditions. The respondents of that island identified different threats. About 92% people were involved for clearing the vegetation for fuel wood. 94% respondents opined for the fresh water quality deterioration for unplanned tourist activities. 88% expressed their opinion that not use of TED (Turtle Excluder Device) in the fishing gear created habitat destruction of turtles. Fishing gear also distracted the benthic community of boulder reef fishing. A great majority (80%) of the islanders had medium to high knowledge regarding to the environment but they involved themselves to different threatened activities of their own resources' mainly due to poverty and lack of alternate income generation. This paper deals with the causes of ecological resources degradation, its impact on the environment of St. Martin's Island and its remedial measures.

Keywords: St. Martin's Island, Ecological resources, Threats

Location: St. Martin's Island

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Analysis and interpretations

Objectives:

To identifying the threats being posed towards destruction of natural resources and remedial measures for minimizing of those prevailing conditions in the St. Martin's Island.

Methodology:

In order to collect relevant information for assessing of threats to coastal ecosystems and the natural resources in St. Martin's Island, a survey schedule or questionnaire was prepared. The schedule was prepared in Bengali. Before finalizing the schedule, it was pretested for judging the suitability of schedule to respondents and correction, modification and alteration were done. The data were collected from 50 islanders, which were selected randomly. For performing the interview,S sites were selected namely Uttarpara, Konapara, Golachipa, Maddhyapara and Dakhinpara. From each sites, 10 respondents were selected. Thus 50 respondents were selected from 5 sites. The knowledge and awareness of 50 islanders measured by using a scale. It was expressed in scores. A total number of 10 questions on various aspects of knowledge regarding environment of St. Martin's Island. A score of 1, 2, 3 was assigned by the respondents performance. Each question had same score (4). Thus the possible total knowledge scores of the islanders could range from 10 - 40 where 10 indicated very low knowledge and 40 indicated very high knowledge. The collected data by interview schedule were tabulated for necessary analysis.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Environmental Science. Vol. 13, No.1, pp: 139-144, 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study was conducted to make an assessment of the threatened status of ecological (Both biotic and abiotic) resources on St. Martin's Island and to identity major environmental threats. Due to lack of basic amenities, the islanders engaged themselves in different economic activities such as overefishing, selling of corals to the tourists etc .. As the maximum islanders had medium to high-grade environmental knowledge for conserving their own islands, but they involved themselves to different threatened works against the resources mainly due to poverty and lack of alternate income generation. Based on the data collected during the study, conclusion can be reached that the ecological resources were threatened day by day.

Knowledge Management: Journal