The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Finally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently published its post-survey report on the Lawachhara reserve forest where US-based international oil company (IOC) Chevron had conducted 3D seismic survey as part of its gas exploration move.

IUCN, a UN recognized body which monitored and conducted its own pre- and post-survey to follow the Chevron's survey, found no harm to the country's one of the most sensitive reserve forest - a safe haven for a number of rare species of birds and animals.

The Chevron-sponsored 3D survey was conducted January-April in 2008 to have a better picture of the gas reserve in the Moulvibazar Gas Field.

There was no significant impact on the flora and fauna of the reserve forest, claimed the executive summary of the IUCN Post-Survey Report.

"The monitoring results show that there had been no significant changes in the population status of the wildlife due to the project activity. Because of the shot hole drilling, the ground vegetation consisting of herbs and seedlings were removed."

The report in its post-project assessment shows that the affected areas are showing sign of recovery due to monsoon rainfall. No trees or threatened plants of conservation significance were damaged during the 3D seismic survey.

During the 3D survey, the Chevron team had to carry out several thousands of low-scale underground explosions, which fuelled huge criticisms and protests by different environmental groups and political organisations.

The environmental groups had feared that this 3D survey would severely damage nature of the forest and force the wild animals to leave their homes.

But the IUCN survey mentioned that some of the major, prominent and conservation significant wildlife species such as Hoolock gibbon, Capped langur, Pig-tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel, Hoary-bellied Squirrel and Wild boar among the mammals, and Emerald Dove, Hill Myna, Green-billed Malkoha, Greater and Lesser Racked-tailed Drongo, Asian Barred Owlet and Crested Serpent Eagle, etc., were among the notable species found all through the surveys.

"The presence of these species throughout the whole survey time and negligible variation of species and their individuals indicate and prove that whatever were the impacts occurred during the project activities have been recovered by this period of time particularly on the wildlife fauna of Lawachhara National Park."

About the Hoolock Gibbon, the most rare group among the animals living in the Lawachhara forest, the IUCN survey said there are four types of apes found over the whole world. Gibbons are the smallest of the all apes.

The hoolock gibbon or white-browed gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) - the only lesser ape - is found in Bangladesh. Gibbons are monogamous, living in a family of one female, her mate and one to three of their off-springs. Average group size ranges from 2.7 to 4 (2-6).

The IUCN said: "During the activities of Chevron inside the National Park area, hoolock groups were also found to show their normal daily activities. They rarely changed their daily movement routes."

It added: "During the post survey, gibbon groups were found active in Chevron's survey places also. They did not expand or change their home range. All the gibbon groups were found within their home range during the post survey. Group size and composition also did not change as observed during the post-project survey."