The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Experts at a meeting in the city said we should protect the wetlands for the sake of human existence and present developments needs should not compromise with the needs of the future generation.

There should be strong surveillance and monitoring of the wetland areas especially those that are leased to ensure that the activities are undertaken in a manner that is environment friendly and sustainable, they said.

There should be a re-evolution of the 'Jalmahal' system in the country in consultation with the key stakeholders, they added.

Communities and local leaders have to be introduced to the concept of fish sanctuaries as a strategy that will not deprive them of fishing areas but if properly implemented will eventually increase fish production and ensure sustainability of fish production, the experts said.

This was said at the discussion meeting on 'Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People' jointly organised by Ministry of Environment and Forest and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) at CIRDAP auditorium to mark the World Wetlands Day.

Dr Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of IUCN, Raja Devesish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Md Kamar Munir, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Asif Munir of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Director of CNRS, among others, spoke, while AHM Rezaul Kabir, Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest, chaired the meeting.

Raquibul Amin, Programme Coordinator of IUCN, and Jafar Siddique, National Project Director of CWBMP, presented two keynote papers.

Speakers said there should be benefit-sharing mechanism in wetland management system. The benefit should be shared by the government as owner and the people and other stakeholders. They stressed that the poor people living around the wetland should be the main focus of all development efforts concerning wetlands.

Provision of alternative livelihood should be there that would benefit the poorest of the poor among the stakeholders. Alternative livelihood selection and options must be done with the affected communities ensuring that income-generating activities are eco-friendly and sustainable. Continuous technical support must be ensured in the course of the implementation of the alternative livelihoods, they said.

Tanguar Haor's approach to successful management was mainly through protection and law enforcement by the district administration of Sunamganj with the participation of the local government and community. Other government departments have also helped the haor region, its reed lands, swamp forest, bird habitat and fish production. After three years of protection Tanguar Haor's production exceeded 200 crores, said the experts.