Nature’s treasures have to be preserved

It is common knowledge that the denudation of forests is suicidal because of an indifferent attitude to their protection and preservation

The natural forests to the people of Bangladesh must be saved and nourished with utmost care. The forest coverage that we have in the country is much too inadequate compared to normal. But what a shocking state of affairs is it that we assume an air of nonchalance while our forests are shrinking fast across the country. The country's natural forests are being denuded at an alarming rate for lack of effective and conscious conservation efforts. Any manmade or otherwise damage or sabotage done to the existing small ratio of 9 percent natural forest coverage in the country is tantamount to inviting wrath and fury of nature itself. But the fact is the country's natural forests area is getting rapidly smaller and smaller in coverage than is jugged optimum compared to the area and population of the country.
It is common knowledge that the denudation of forests is suicidal because of an indifferent attitude to their protection and preservation. Today a very poor tract of land is found covered by natural forests but once about 86 per cent of the country's forests were natural. We must be careful and attentive in preserving the natural forests land because if the natural forests dwindle, the country will lose the safe haven to wildlife, flora and fauna and rare species. The denudation of natural forests forebodes ill omen for the country’s natural bulwark against disasters and cataclysm. Any disruption in biodiversity resulting from the shrinking of forests area will cause multiple environmental hazards.
In 1990 natural hill forests in the country were 1, 28,630 hectares and within the span of twenty five years in 2015 that came down to 79,160 hectares. The inland deciduous Shal forests and bamboo forests are the worst affected forests in the country. This gives a despairing and discouraging message for the country’s ecologists who clamour for redress to climate change effects. The grim fallout of the indiscriminate destruction of natural forests is that 31 species: 11 animals, 19 birds and one reptile have already vanished from the country.

In recent years the natural mangrove forests Sundarbans has also suffered repetitive manmade disasters. This super sylvan beauty of nature is also being shrinking and dwindling because of the forest vandals causing damage to the unique eco-system it provides. Its function as a protective barrier in the south-western region of the country against coastal erosion and natural disasters like casual cyclones is also being disturbed. Added to this indiscriminate deforestation is going on unabated in other places of the country due to unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation, construction of establishments and roads.

It goes without saying that wildlife and biodiversity will be extinct if the natural system of forests is ceaselessly, carelessly, intentionally and continually destroyed. What we need most urgently in order to protect the natural forests is the science-based knowledge and awareness. Since massive pressure of population is mounting on forest resources of the country, to regenerate the natural forests it is time that we need to take up an appropriate afforestation plan. Widespread and rampant timber logging and theft must be strictly and immediately dealt with. In this regard corruption on the part of the forest conservation officials must also be curbed. Moreover, the capacity of the forest department must be buttressed to conserve the natural forests of the country.  

Of late an attempt is under way to build a coal-based power plant at Rampal in the vicinity of the grand natural forest the Sundarbans. This will result in a manmade catastrophe to this precious natural treasure of the country. National and foreign experts in unison opine and express their utmost concern that Rampal power plant will cause severe damage to the Sundarbans. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) expressed concern over the potential damage to the Sundarbans and requested the Bangladesh government to conduct a revised Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before advancing with the physical work of the thermal power plant at Rampal. For the third time in the last two years in 2016 the UNESCO has expressed grave concerns about the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). A report was sent by the UNESCO to the Bangladesh government, after the visit of a three-member reaction mission team of the organisation, seeking a specific assessment of the potential impacts of the thermal power plant near the Sundarbans.     

Concerned experts opine that it will be wise to heed and take the third UNESCO letter as a grave warning message regarding the Rampal power plant. The claim by any quarter that the UNESCO report was largely based on the opinions of the anti-power plant groups does not simply stand to reason as the national and foreign ecologists in unison strongly oppose the building of any coal-based power plant in the immediate vicinity of the Sundarbans. In Bonn, in order to assess the cumulative impact from power plants in the vicinity of the Sundarbans, the UNESCO had requested the Bangladesh government to undertake a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the 39th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in 2015. The UNESCO report strictly warned that the Sundarbans, the world heritage site and its biodiversity will be in peril if the thermal power plant is built there at Rampal.

The World Heritage committee at the end of its 41st session on July 12, 2017 in Poland categorically asked Bangladesh government not to proceed with the Rampal coal fired power plant without completion of the SEA. Government earlier claimed that UNESCO's Heritage committee withdrew its objection to the Rampal project. The committee, however, welcomed the government decision not to approve the Orion power plant, and also not to pursue the second Phase of the Rampal power Plant. The committee in its decision said that it is regrettable that the EIA has not been updated as requested by the Heritage Committee.

While Bangladesh government states that EIA's for future dredging will consider the impacts on the OUV of the Sundarbans. This does not address the committee's concern that these impacts have not been adequately assessed for the currently planned dredging. It is recommended that the committee reiterates its request to the government to ensure that no dredging activities are conducted before the current EIA is revised in accordance with IUCN's World Heritage note on Environmental Assessment.

The committee, however, welcomed the information provided by the government about the sea level rise, salt intrusion and a reduction in fresh water flows are posing a threat to the Sundarbans ecosystem.

It should be noted that the southern part of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF) is particularly vulnerable to increasing salinity. The mission concluded that without adequate water influx from the Ganges basin the Sundarbans OUV cannot be adequately protected and maintained in the long term. In that regard, the intention to reinforce transboundary cooperation between the states parties of Bangladesh and India for the Sundarbans properties is noted.

The committee also concluded that the planned development of Rampal power plant as close as 14 km to the SRF and 65 km to the whole area of the Sundarban has a high likelihood for downstream impacts on the property arising from air and water pollution, a substantial increase in shipping and dredging, and additional removal of freshwater from an already increasingly saline environment. Furthermore, the project's EIA did not address impacts of OUV of the property, nor does it provide convincing evidence that impacts will be mitigated.

Therefore, the government policymakers have to cogitate over the matter as any departure from the OUV conditions may jeopardise the present status of the nature’s precious gift the Sundarbans. Yet the advice of the UNESCO on Rampal power plant seems to have fallen on deaf ears of the present government. A national movement is also under way against the Rampal power plant to save the Sundarbans. The government is up not only to neglect and by pass the genuine concern of the Sundarbans saving activists but also to suppress the movement by force.

But the government has to keep it in mind that if it proceeds with the Rampal thermal power project it will not only be tantamount to antagonising the UNESCO but also national public opinion.  It is also to be remembered that the consequence will be disastrous for us if the UNESCO declares the Sundarbans as a very risky world heritage site.

However, we cannot afford to lose the special fund and ancillary benefits given for the protection and preservation of the Sundarbans as the world heritage site. The ultimate result of proceeding with the Rampal thermal power project will be the ruin of the Sundarbans that maintains the ecological balance of the country and the habitat of numerous species and varieties of wild life including the world famous Bengal Tigers that we boast of and varieties of beautiful deer.  

The writer is a retired Professor of Economics, BCS General Education Cadre

 

 

Natures treasures have to be preserved

It is common knowledge that the denudation of forests is suicidal because of an indifferent attitude to their protection and preservation

The natural forests to the people of Bangladesh must be saved and nourished with utmost care. The forest coverage that we have in the country is much too inadequate compared to normal. But what a shocking state of affairs is it that we assume an air of nonchalance while our forests are shrinking fast across the country. The countrys natural forests are being denuded at an alarming rate for lack of effective and conscious conservation efforts. Any manmade or otherwise damage or sabotage done to the existing small ratio of 9 percent natural forest coverage in the country is tantamount to inviting wrath and fury of nature itself. But the fact is the countrys natural forests area is getting rapidly smaller and smaller in coverage than is jugged optimum compared to the area and population of the country. It is common knowledge that the denudation of forests is suicidal because of an indifferent attitude to their protection and preservation. Today a very poor tract of land is found covered by natural forests but once about 86 per cent of the countrys forests were natural. We must be careful and attentive in preserving the natural forests land because if the natural forests dwindle, the country will lose the safe haven to wildlife, flora and fauna and rare species. The denudation of natural forests forebodes ill omen for the countrys natural bulwark against disasters and cataclysm. Any disruption in biodiversity resulting from the shrinking of forests area will cause multiple environmental hazards. In 1990 natural hill forests in the country were 1, 28,630 hectares and within the span of twenty five years in 2015 that came down to 79,160 hectares. The inland deciduous Shal forests and bamboo forests are the worst affected forests in the country. This gives a despairing and discouraging message for the countrys ecologists who clamour for redress to climate change effects. The grim fallout of the indiscriminate destruction of natural forests is that 31 species: 11 animals, 19 birds and one reptile have already vanished from the country. In recent years the natural mangrove forests Sundarbans has also suffered repetitive manmade disasters. This super sylvan beauty of nature is also being shrinking and dwindling because of the forest vandals causing damage to the unique eco-system it provides. Its function as a protective barrier in the south-western region of the country against coastal erosion and natural disasters like casual cyclones is also being disturbed. Added to this indiscriminate deforestation is going on unabated in other places of the country due to unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation, construction of establishments and roads. It goes without saying that wildlife and biodiversity will be extinct if the natural system of forests is ceaselessly, carelessly, intentionally and continually destroyed. What we need most urgently in order to protect the natural forests is the science-based knowledge and awareness. Since massive pressure of population is mounting on forest resources of the country, to regenerate the natural forests it is time that we need to take up an appropriate afforestation plan. Widespread and rampant timber logging and theft must be strictly and immediately dealt with. In this regard corruption on the part of the forest conservation officials must also be curbed. Moreover, the capacity of the forest department must be buttressed to conserve the natural forests of the country. Of late an attempt is under way to build a coal-based power plant at Rampal in the vicinity of the grand natural forest the Sundarbans. This will result in a manmade catastrophe to this precious natural treasure of the country. National and foreign experts in unison opine and express their utmost concern that Rampal power plant will cause severe damage to the Sundarbans. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) expressed concern over the potential damage to the Sundarbans and requested the Bangladesh government to conduct a revised Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before advancing with the physical work of the thermal power plant at Rampal. For the third time in the last two years in 2016 the UNESCO has expressed grave concerns about the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). A report was sent by the UNESCO to the Bangladesh government, after the visit of a three-member reaction mission team of the organisation, seeking a specific assessment of the potential impacts of the thermal power plant near the Sundarbans. Concerned experts opine that it will be wise to heed and take the third UNESCO letter as a grave warning message regarding the Rampal power plant. The claim by any quarter that the UNESCO report was largely based on the opinions of the anti-power plant groups does not simply stand to reason as the national and foreign ecologists in unison strongly oppose the building of any coal-based power plant in the immediate vicinity of the Sundarbans. In Bonn, in order to assess the cumulative impact from power plants in the vicinity of the Sundarbans, the UNESCO had requested the Bangladesh government to undertake a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the 39th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in 2015. The UNESCO report strictly warned that the Sundarbans, the world heritage site and its biodiversity will be in peril if the thermal power plant is built there at Rampal. The World Heritage committee at the end of its 41st session on July 12, 2017 in Poland categorically asked Bangladesh government not to proceed with the Rampal coal fired power plant without completion of the SEA. Government earlier claimed that UNESCOs Heritage committee withdrew its objection to the Rampal project. The committee, however, welcomed the government decision not to approve the Orion power plant, and also not to pursue the second Phase of the Rampal power Plant. The committee in its decision said that it is regrettable that the EIA has not been updated as requested by the Heritage Committee. While Bangladesh government states that EIAs for future dredging will consider the impacts on the OUV of the Sundarbans. This does not address the committees concern that these impacts have not been adequately assessed for the currently planned dredging. It is recommended that the committee reiterates its request to the government to ensure that no dredging activities are conducted before the current EIA is revised in accordance with IUCNs World Heritage note on Environmental Assessment. The committee, however, welcomed the information provided by the government about the sea level rise, salt intrusion and a reduction in fresh water flows are posing a threat to the Sundarbans ecosystem. It should be noted that the southern part of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF) is particularly vulnerable to increasing salinity. The mission concluded that without adequate water influx from the Ganges basin the Sundarbans OUV cannot be adequately protected and maintained in the long term. In that regard, the intention to reinforce transboundary cooperation between the states parties of Bangladesh and India for the Sundarbans properties is noted. The committee also concluded that the planned development of Rampal power plant as close as 14 km to the SRF and 65 km to the whole area of the Sundarban has a high likelihood for downstream impacts on the property arising from air and water pollution, a substantial increase in shipping and dredging, and additional removal of freshwater from an already increasingly saline environment. Furthermore, the projects EIA did not address impacts of OUV of the property, nor does it provide convincing evidence that impacts will be mitigated. Therefore, the government policymakers have to cogitate over the matter as any departure from the OUV conditions may jeopardise the present status of the natures precious gift the Sundarbans. Yet the advice of the UNESCO on Rampal power plant seems to have fallen on deaf ears of the present government. A national movement is also under way against the Rampal power plant to save the Sundarbans. The government is up not only to neglect and by pass the genuine concern of the Sundarbans saving activists but also to suppress the movement by force. But the government has to keep it in mind that if it proceeds with the Rampal thermal power project it will not only be tantamount to antagonising the UNESCO but also national public opinion. It is also to be remembered that the consequence will be disastrous for us if the UNESCO declares the Sundarbans as a very risky world heritage site. However, we cannot afford to lose the special fund and ancillary benefits given for the protection and preservation of the Sundarbans as the world heritage site. The ultimate result of proceeding with the Rampal thermal power project will be the ruin of the Sundarbans that maintains the ecological balance of the country and the habitat of numerous species and varieties of wild life including the world famous Bengal Tigers that we boast of and varieties of beautiful deer. The writer is a retired Professor of Economics, BCS General Education Cadre