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Poverty and Environmental Sustainability: the Case of Hill Cutting in Sylhet

T. Ahmed
Department of Business Administration, Leading University, Sylhet

M. J. B. Alam
Department of Civil Engineering, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Sylhet region possesses a significant numbers of hills all around. Cutting of hills has negative impact on social life of the region. It is clear from the images analysis and survey that the total forest areas of Sylhet district at 1988 was 52930. 1 ha and at 1997, it became 37031.6 ha. It is clear from field visit and focus group discussion with local people that it is decreasing day by day due to unplanned urbanization. More over, the total settlement area of Sylhet city at 1988 was 8856 ha and it has become 13,341ha at 1997. At 2006, it was predicted to be around 16,713ha based on field data collected by local land department. In this study, the extent of hill cutting problem in Sylhet is discussed. Such indiscriminate destruction of hill in this region will result in drastic consequence on its nature and ecosystem.

Keywords: Poverty, Hill cutting, Ecology

Location: Sylhet region

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Land degradation

Objectives:

To evaluate the impacts of hill cutting in Sylhet on environmental ecology.

Methodology:

Reconnaissance survey means preliminary survey. Such type of survey is necessary for better understanding of data required for the research. It helps building concept regarding the research. Therefore, a reconnaissance survey was conducted with a draft questionnaire to finalize it and to incorporate the items required. The survey was also necessary to have an idea regarding the study area, i.e. the area that ought to be taken as the study area where the problems may be best identified.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 2(2): 29 -32 , 2009 ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is clear from the above discussion that the extent of hill cutting problem in Sylhet is a matter of concern. Such indiscriminate destruction of hill in this region will result in drastic consequence on its nature and ecosystem. The impacts are decertification, deforestation, increase in flood frequency, impact on biodiversity, drainage pattern etc. For precipitation, lifting of moist air mass is necessary. Due to destruction of hills, there is possibility of decreasing of possibility of lifting of air mass. It was reported that rainfall pattern of Sylhet is changed. It may be one of the reasons of the phenomena. It is observed that at the forest areas, the amount of infiltration is more than uncovered area. As hill cutting increase deforestation, there is a possibility of more surface runoff in this region. Hill cutting may lead to soil erosion. As the pH of hill was found 4.5-4.8, it may be injurious for aquatic life. Illegal cutting of hills in Sylhet has become a major environmental pollution. The nature and life style of Sylhet intimately related with hills. So hill cutting is threat to society and also leads a threat of imbalance ecosystem. Due to hill cutting the most affected sectors are geomorphology, and elements of ecosystem.

Knowledge Management: Journal