Context
Bangladesh lies in the eastern part of the Bengal Basin, one of the largest river floodplains in the world. The people of Bangladesh have always relied on its multitude of waterways for their drinking water and transportation; it provides them with fish to eat and enriches the land by depositing fertile silt during floods. However, the country's large and dense population is putting increased pressure on both land and water resources. Rice cultivation was viewed as the overriding priority, and in the 1980s flood protection embankments, irrigation canals, sluice gates and drainage structures were built to protect agriculture from flooding. By cutting off many traditional fishing grounds from the rivers and blocking fish migration routes, this has had a devastating impact on the wetland ecosystem, including the freshwater fisheries, and many fish species are now endangered.
Many fishermen have lost their livelihoods and migrated to urban areas. Fishing households are now generally poorer than the Bangladeshi average. Moreover, more than half of all the country’s poor households have traditionally caught fish to supplement their diets and incomes, so the decline in wetland biodiversity and productivity has removed a vital safety net for many of these poor people.
Objective
The management of wetlands by the local people and administration has improved. Wetland biodiversity has increased and vital freshwater fishery habitats have been restored.
Approach
The project is strengthening the participation of the poor in the decision making processes for wetlands management. Local NGOs are helping to set up community-based organisations (CBOs) that bring together representatives from adjacent villages sharing the same wetland or floodplain areas. The CBOs analyse local wetland issues and use participatory planning to reduce conflicts related to the management of natural resources. They also provide a stronger foundation on which communities can negotiate with government officials. Co-management committees are being established, consisting of government officials, representatives of the CBOs and all the fisheries stakeholders.
The project is helping to identify traditional crops and practices that are both profitable and consistent with wetland biodiversity. It is training farmers and service providers in the application of these alternative crops and cropping patterns.
With the support of the project, local NGOs are working to identify potential new income generating activities to compensate for the restrictions placed on wetland use. They organise training courses and provide micro-credits to support the efforts of poor wetland user groups to pursue his new activities. It promotes a range of different business opportunities in order to maintain and create jobs, both within and outside the fisheries sector.
The project is also working with the staff of relevant government agencies to raise their proficiency in natural resource management and develop their capacities for the cooperation with CBOs and to deliver services to local floodplain communities.
Results achieved so far
Several CBOs have formed and started operating, involving representatives from different sub-districts. They have received training in running integrated natural resources management systems, as well as in income generating activities and social issues. Wetland users are now better informed and have been sensitised about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Throughout the Pabna region, many awareness raising events have been held, and dates such as International Biodiversity Day and World Environment Day have been celebrated. Many of these awareness raising activities were developed collectively with local governments and other development partners working in the fields of biodiversity and natural resources management, in different regions of the country. This has served to raise awareness in even more districts.
Excavation work has been carried out in several bodies of water to create a habitat for flora and fauna during the dry season. In order to increase biodiversity, endangered fish species have been set free and marsh plants have been planted in the rehabilitated wetlands.
The project developed recommendations on mechanisms to ensure the long-term sustainability of wetland resources, which it has submitted to the Department of Fisheries. On the initiative of the project, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has established three sanctuaries for endangered river dolphins. It is the first time that flowing waters have been declared protected areas in Bangladesh.