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State and Management of Wetlands in Bangladesh

Talukder Byomkesh
Corresponding author:
Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Nobukazu Nakagoshi
Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Rashid Md. Shahedur
Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Wetlands are a vital link between land and water in Bangladesh. A majority of the people of Bangladesh are critically dependent on wetlands. In this paper, the values of wetlands, causes and effects of wetlands degradation, as well as the present wetlands management approach, are analyzed and recommendations for wetlands management are suggested based on participatory rural appraisal (PRA), field visit, personal experience, and existing literature and information. Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of ecosystems, but the wetlands habitat of Bangladesh is under constant threat due to the increase of population, intensive agriculture, overfishing, siltation, pollution, ill-planned infrastructures, lack of institutional coordination, lack of awareness, etc. As a result, biodiversity is reducing, many species of flora and fauna are threatened, the wetlands-based ecosystem is degenerating, and the living conditions of local people are deteriorating as livelihoods, socio-economic institutions, and cultural values are affected. Wetlands management is not addressed separately in the water management activities of Bangladesh. In order to balance human needs and wetlands conservation, a mainly community-based wetlands management approach has been taken in Bangladesh, but this is not enough to prevent the degradation of wetlands. Therefore, Bangladesh now needs a comprehensive strategy combining political, economic, social, and technological approaches to stop further degradation of wetlands. Therefore, wetlands management should be incorporated into a system of integrated land and water use and, indeed, into the socio-economic system of the country. Policies, strategies, and management plans for sustainable use and conservation of wetlands of Bangladesh must be based on solid knowledge and understanding of their ecological and socioeconomic functions and processes.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Wetlands management, Values, Degradation, Management approach, Recommendations

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Haor, Wetland

Objectives:

The objectives of this paper are to (1) identify the detailed values of wetlands for Bangladesh, (2) determine actual causes and effects of wetlands degradation, (3) investigate the present management and conservation approach for wetlands, and (4) make recommendations for wetlands management.

Methodology:

This paper is mainly based on primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through participatory rural appraisal (PRA), field survey, observation, and interviews with experts. Critical perusals of secondary data included relevant books, articles, reports, unpublished theses, maps, relevant documents, newspaper cuttings, and in situ personal experiences. Collected data were critically reviewed and discussions carried out with experts and local people. It is believed that the management issues of the wetlands of Bangladesh have been brought together herein. The main characteristic of the geography of Bangladesh is an abundance of water and wetlands. Wetlands are mainly located at the lower edge of the topography and are subject to periodic inundation/flooding. During the wet monsoon, they are inundated at shallow to deep levels. Wetlands are defined as low-lying ecosystems where the groundwater table is always at or near the surface, including areas of marsh, fen, bog, floodplain, and shallow coastal areas (Alam and Chowdhury 2003). Wetlands are the most productive ecosystems, and countless species of plants and animals depend on them for survival. A high concentration of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and invertebrate species are supported by them (Khan et al. 1994). Fishes from wetlands provide the main source of protein for the people of Bangladesh. Rice cultivated in wetlands is the main food in Bangladesh. Wetlands and their habitats are under constant threat due to various causes. Wetlands productivity and biodiversity are declining all over the country. The overall cause and effect relationships of the degradation of the wetlands of Bangladesh. For integrated management of wetlands through SEMS in Bangladesh, the first stage will be the setup stage, during which fundamentals of the capacity such as wetlands law, wetlands administration, and wetlands information systems will be developed. In the second stage, the operating stage, people will experience the effects of countermeasures of wetlands management and improvement. In the third, self-management stage, comprehensive wetlands management will be undertaken based on strong interactive participation among the government, firms, and citizens.

Source of Information: Landscape Ecol Eng (2009) 5:81–90

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI 10.1007/s11355-008-0052-5

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In the recent history of landscape development, wetlands have been among the most affected ecosystems of Bangladesh, but wetlands play a key role in the country’s lifecycle, are highly productive and diverse ecosystems, and also play an irreplaceable role in a sustainable landscape. Hence, special care must be taken to maintain the wetlands environment. Wetlands management need to be incorporated into a system of integrated land and water use and, indeed, into the socioeconomic system of Bangladesh. Appropriate land and water use policies/strategies related to wetlands need to be implemented. Land and water managers must pay attention to issues related to wetlands ecosystems. The mechanism for resolving conflicts among infrastructure, agriculture, fish, and land and water management approaches needs to be evolved. Awareness of the importance of wetlands at all levels from policy level to project level needs to be created. Since Bangladesh is a small part of a larger hydrodynamic system that comprises several countries in the region, mutual understanding and cooperation among the co-riparian countries will be necessary to formulate any long-term and permanent solutions of wetlands management.

Knowledge Management: Journal