World Bank supports conservation, sustainable development in Sundarbans
Dhaka, Aug (UNB) - World Bank has assured the Bangladesh government of continuing its support to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and sustainable development in the Sundarbans.
In response to government’s request, the World Bank helps preparation of various studies to enable the government to develop a holistic program for the Sundarbans.
The studies are expected to be completed by September 2011, a World Bank press release said.
The studies are expected to be completed by September 2011, a World Bank press release said.
Bangladesh and India share the world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarbans. Sixty two percent of the Sundarbans falls in Bangladesh. Due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, the ecological importance Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF) is immense.
The release said the Sundarbans is home to an estimated 425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, as well as the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Over 3.5 million people live in the Sundarbans Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), with no permanent settlement within the Sundarban Reserve Forest.
About 1.2 million people directly depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods. Most of these people are Bowalis (wood cutters/golpatta collectors), fishermen, crab and shell collectors, Mowalis (honey collectors) and shrimp fry collectors and many of them are women and children.
The release said the government will develop a comprehensive plan based on the studies that integrates prioritized interventions to address the region’s main conservation and development challenges.
The studies will be drawn upon the main challenges which are poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in Sundarbans.
It said the studies will take full account of the distinction between protected areas (where resource extraction is not allowed) and surrounding inhabited areas for assessing the development challenges of the Sundarbans, and identifying alternative interventions to address them.
To succeed in any conservation efforts, the release said it will be important to arrange sustainable and alternative income generation opportunities for the people living in the periphery of the Sundarbans who are dependent on forest resources.
The study will integrate the ecological dimension and importance of the Sundarbans’ biodiversity while maintaining a careful distinction between protected and inhabited areas to ensure that conservation of the protected areas can be uphold.
A World Bank team visited Bangladesh in June this year to prepare the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the studies and to discuss setting-up of two national committees to ensure the quality of the studies and coordinate closely with the study team.
The studies will take into consideration existing programs, studies and information available. The World Bank earlier facilitated wide consultation with government agencies, development partners and research institutions involved in the Sundarbans areas to prepare the Concept Note.
The release said the Sundarbans is home to an estimated 425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, as well as the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Over 3.5 million people live in the Sundarbans Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), with no permanent settlement within the Sundarban Reserve Forest.
About 1.2 million people directly depend on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods. Most of these people are Bowalis (wood cutters/golpatta collectors), fishermen, crab and shell collectors, Mowalis (honey collectors) and shrimp fry collectors and many of them are women and children.
The release said the government will develop a comprehensive plan based on the studies that integrates prioritized interventions to address the region’s main conservation and development challenges.
The studies will be drawn upon the main challenges which are poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in Sundarbans.
It said the studies will take full account of the distinction between protected areas (where resource extraction is not allowed) and surrounding inhabited areas for assessing the development challenges of the Sundarbans, and identifying alternative interventions to address them.
To succeed in any conservation efforts, the release said it will be important to arrange sustainable and alternative income generation opportunities for the people living in the periphery of the Sundarbans who are dependent on forest resources.
The study will integrate the ecological dimension and importance of the Sundarbans’ biodiversity while maintaining a careful distinction between protected and inhabited areas to ensure that conservation of the protected areas can be uphold.
A World Bank team visited Bangladesh in June this year to prepare the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the studies and to discuss setting-up of two national committees to ensure the quality of the studies and coordinate closely with the study team.
The studies will take into consideration existing programs, studies and information available. The World Bank earlier facilitated wide consultation with government agencies, development partners and research institutions involved in the Sundarbans areas to prepare the Concept Note.
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