26 February 2009, 03:30 BDT
IUCN Bangladesh Country Office organised a one-day workshop on the “Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor Program (CBSMTHP)” on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at the Shurma Hall of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
Dhaka, 26 February 2009 (IUCN) – IUCN Bangladesh Country Office organised a one-day workshop on the “Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor Program (CBSMTHP)” on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at the Shurma Hall of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
IUCN Bangladesh on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is implementing the program with financial support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In consideration of its global and national significance, Tanguar Haor has been declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) of Bangladesh, and the country’s second Ramsar site.
At the beginning, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh delivered an overview of the project. He mentioned that the government is also contributing its own resources to develop a management system to ensure and improve the livelihoods of the communities who directly or indirectly depend on Tanguar Haor.
Mr. A H M Rezaul Kabir, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest was present at the workshop as the Chief Guest during the inaugural session, while Mr. Joseph Guntern, Head of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Bangladesh was present as special guest.
In his speech, Mr. Kabir appreciated IUCN’s effort to provide technical support to develop a co-management system for Tanguar Haor.
He also mentioned that MoEF has made a groundbreaking decision approving the benefit sharing mechanism between the community people and the Government on benefits arising from resource harvest and use in the haor. This program has not only supported the conservation and regeneration of natural resources in the haor (ecology) but also ensures the sustainable and responsible use of those resources (economy and livelihoods).
He further applauded SDC for their active involvement and financial support in implementing this model initiative.
As the special guest of the event, Mr. Guntern said that the project is in line with the SDC’s goals for employment and income, and local governance domains. The project is developing the technical and life skills of community members for improving their income and participation in co-management, and in establishing their access rights to the wetland. SDC also appreciates the initiatives made by the Government of Bangladesh.
SDC hopes the newly formed Government of Bangladesh will take more initiatives to ensure this phase is fruitful. SDC will give its full support to conserve and maintain this ecologically rich area, he added.
The technical sessions of the workshop include presentations on: Institutionalization of a Ramsar Site: Experience and Learning in Tanguar Haor; Participatory Mapping (GIS based) of Tanguar Haor; Census of Tanguar Haor, Fish Resources of Tanguar Haor, Marketing extension experience in Tanguar Haor; Socio-economic profile of Tanguar Haor; and Legal context of co-management of wetlands in Bangladesh.
A lively discussion was held after the presentation session. Participants from different government ministries, NGOs, academics, research organizations, local representatives from the haor region and media were present at the workshop.
As the chairperson of the this event Mr. Joynal Abedin Talukder Joint Secretary (Dev.), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) and National Project Director of this project lauded the whole process of co-management in Tanguar Haor and thanked the distinguished guests and participants for their valuable contributions in this workshop.
A charming drama was also staged at the end of the workshop performed by local people of the Tanguar Haor region.
Dr. Nishat facilitated the workshop.
For more information on the Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor project, please contact raquib@iucnbd.org or rezaul@iucnbd.org
*** ENDS ***
Notes to editors
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
• Raquibul Amin , Programme Coordinator, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
raquib iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
• AFM Rezaul Karim, Project Manager, CBSMTH, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
rezaul iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
• Mahbubur Rahman Masum , IUCN Bangladesh Communications Officer, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
masum iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
Photos are available at http://www.iucnbd.org/photogallery.html
More information available at: http://www.iucnbd.org/
About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 81 States, 120 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union ’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland , Switzerland .
More information can be found at http://www.iucn.org/
IUCN Bangladesh Country Office organised a one-day workshop on the “Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor Program (CBSMTHP)” on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at the Shurma Hall of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
Dhaka, 26 February 2009 (IUCN) – IUCN Bangladesh Country Office organised a one-day workshop on the “Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor Program (CBSMTHP)” on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at the Shurma Hall of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
IUCN Bangladesh on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is implementing the program with financial support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In consideration of its global and national significance, Tanguar Haor has been declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) of Bangladesh, and the country’s second Ramsar site.
At the beginning, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh delivered an overview of the project. He mentioned that the government is also contributing its own resources to develop a management system to ensure and improve the livelihoods of the communities who directly or indirectly depend on Tanguar Haor.
Mr. A H M Rezaul Kabir, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest was present at the workshop as the Chief Guest during the inaugural session, while Mr. Joseph Guntern, Head of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Bangladesh was present as special guest.
In his speech, Mr. Kabir appreciated IUCN’s effort to provide technical support to develop a co-management system for Tanguar Haor.
He also mentioned that MoEF has made a groundbreaking decision approving the benefit sharing mechanism between the community people and the Government on benefits arising from resource harvest and use in the haor. This program has not only supported the conservation and regeneration of natural resources in the haor (ecology) but also ensures the sustainable and responsible use of those resources (economy and livelihoods).
He further applauded SDC for their active involvement and financial support in implementing this model initiative.
As the special guest of the event, Mr. Guntern said that the project is in line with the SDC’s goals for employment and income, and local governance domains. The project is developing the technical and life skills of community members for improving their income and participation in co-management, and in establishing their access rights to the wetland. SDC also appreciates the initiatives made by the Government of Bangladesh.
SDC hopes the newly formed Government of Bangladesh will take more initiatives to ensure this phase is fruitful. SDC will give its full support to conserve and maintain this ecologically rich area, he added.
The technical sessions of the workshop include presentations on: Institutionalization of a Ramsar Site: Experience and Learning in Tanguar Haor; Participatory Mapping (GIS based) of Tanguar Haor; Census of Tanguar Haor, Fish Resources of Tanguar Haor, Marketing extension experience in Tanguar Haor; Socio-economic profile of Tanguar Haor; and Legal context of co-management of wetlands in Bangladesh.
A lively discussion was held after the presentation session. Participants from different government ministries, NGOs, academics, research organizations, local representatives from the haor region and media were present at the workshop.
As the chairperson of the this event Mr. Joynal Abedin Talukder Joint Secretary (Dev.), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) and National Project Director of this project lauded the whole process of co-management in Tanguar Haor and thanked the distinguished guests and participants for their valuable contributions in this workshop.
A charming drama was also staged at the end of the workshop performed by local people of the Tanguar Haor region.
Dr. Nishat facilitated the workshop.
For more information on the Community Based Sustainable Management of Tanguar Haor project, please contact raquib@iucnbd.org or rezaul@iucnbd.org
*** ENDS ***
Notes to editors
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
• Raquibul Amin , Programme Coordinator, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
raquib iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
• AFM Rezaul Karim, Project Manager, CBSMTH, IUCN Bangladesh Country Office, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
rezaul iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
• Mahbubur Rahman Masum , IUCN Bangladesh Communications Officer, Tel: +880 2 989 0395; Fax: +880 2 989 2854;
masum iucnbd.org; Web: http://www.iucnbd.org/
Photos are available at http://www.iucnbd.org/photogallery.html
More information available at: http://www.iucnbd.org/
About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 81 States, 120 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union ’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland , Switzerland .
More information can be found at http://www.iucn.org/
