Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Climate Change Affects Wetland Resources in Bangladesh: a Case Study on Hakaluki Haor

Mohd Shahadat Hossain
Junior Engineer, Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), House # 496, Road # 32, New DOHS, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1206, Bangladesh,

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The wetlands of Bangladesh support a wide variety of floral and faunal diversity. Approximately half the area of the country can be considered as wetlands consisting of a wide variety of types ranging from haors, beels, lakes, rivers and coastal forests to deepwater paddy fields and ponds. The wetland resources of Bangladesh are of enormous economic importance. The present study has attempted to observe the present situation of existing condition of wetland resources. However these aquatic resources have been subjected to rapid degradation due to the increasing population pressure, habitat destruction as well as natural causes. Hakaluki haor is one of the major wetlands of Bangladesh. With a land area of 18,386 hectares, it supports a rich biodiversity and provides direct and indirect livelihood benefits to nearly 190,000 people. Because of the critical conditions of the haor ecology, the government of Bangladesh declared Hakaluki as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in April 1999.So the Hakaluki haor area is very important site for study as wetlands conservation practice. As there are some problems in conservation process, it is very important to try and find out the main causes of wetlands degradation and keep wetlands free from such harmful impacts. The study was initiated to find out the problems and propose some suggestions to develop the wetlands conservation process. The resources users were empowered with a collective effort to build institutions and implement sustainable use practices resulting in wetland resilience of the resources.

Keywords: Wetlands, GIS, Climate Change

Location: Chatla, Pinlarkona, Dulla, Sakua, Barajalla, Pioula, Balijhuri, Lamba, Tekonia, Haorkhal, Tural, Baghalkuri and Chinaura.; Sylhet, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Climate change

Objectives:

1. To understand the livelihoods of the inhabitants of the wetlands, the existing biodiversity situations of the wetlands and its extent. 2. To assess the impact of development interventions on the Biodiversity and Environmental issues of Wetlands. 3. To identify the use of wetlands. 4. To assess the indigenous knowledge of local people with regard to wetland resources management and practices. 5. To identify issues for the wetland resources at local, regional and national levels for its sustainable development.

Methodology:

Site Selection: Hakaluki haor is a complex ecosystem, containing more than 238 interconnecting beels/Jalmahals.The most important beels are Chatla, Pinlarkona, Dulla, Sakua, Barajalla, Pioula, Balijhuri, Lamba, Tekonia, Haorkhal, Tural, Baghalkuri and Chinaura. The total area of the haor is approximately 18,000 ha, including the area which is completely inundated during monsoon. Of this total area, beels (permanent wetlands) cover an area of 4,635 ha. This 18,000 ha area represents area demarcated as ECA declared by the Government of Bangladesh for Hakaluki haor. Location Hakaluki haor lies between latitude 24° 35’ N to 24° 45’ N and longitude 92° 00’ E to 92° 08’ E. It is bounded by the Kushiara River as well as a part of the Sonai-Bardal River to the north, by the Fenchuganj-Kulaura Railway to the west as well as to the south, and by the Kulaura-Beanibazar Road to the east. Hakaluki haor falls under the two administrative districts (Maulvibazar and Sylhet) and five upazilas (Barlekha, Kulaura, Fenchuganj, Golapganj and Juri). Data Collection Survey 20 villagers and local people with a Survey Questionnaire and collect some data about livelihood, haor resources and environments, local transportations system and the biodiversity condition of Hakaluki haor area. Different type’s data was collected from different areas. The collected data are categorized as: 1. Basic data (Name, Father’s Name, Number of Family Members, Number of Earning Family Members, Educational Qualification, Religion, Village, Union, Upazila, District) 2. Livelihood (Main occupation, Source of income, Average monthly income, Own Land, Type of house, Type of latrines, Source of water, Source of light, Energy sources) 3. Haor Resources and Environment (The activities get hindered in haor, Restrictions during resource collection, Family members involved in fishing, Existing fisheries resource management practices, Existing fishing system, Economic activities that depend on haor resources, Haor development, Benefit of migratory birds, The reason of flooding in haor area, Protection the haor) 4. Transportation System (Vehicles use for transportation, Monthly expenditure on transportation).

Source of Information: Scientific Research Journal Vol. 10 No. 1 June 2013 ISSN 1675-7009

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

1. There is a continued strong local demand for wetland resources and their market values remain relatively high. The increasing harvesting pressure on fisheries has already pushed the systems beyond sustainable levels resulting in the decline of overall production. 2. There are many beels and canals which are not enough deep to fisheries, so it very important to deep the beels and canals that in dry seasons there are much water which can use by villagers for irrigation purpose. 3. Limited opportunities for alternative sustainable livelihoods, lack of alternative sources of fuel wood and fodder, poor enforcement of fisheries and wildlife protection act as key causes of biodiversity loss at the Hakaluki Haor site. 4. The other important causes of wetlands degradation in Hakaluki Haor area are inadequate information on status and functioning of critical ecosystems and no effective management authority at field-level. 5. It should also be noted that the Hakaluki Haor has already been degraded from overuse, loss of water body connections, water diversion, and pollution, conservation to boro rice and sedimentation form mismanagement of the surrounding watershed. This means that the condition of wetland would be much endanger for biodiversity conservation. 6. There is not enough co-relation between the Government and Non-government institutions which work in Haor area. So it’s very important to take steps for developing their present situation.

Knowledge Management: Journal