Protecting water bodies
Declaring water
bodies as protected areas is relatively easy, but often
protection is only
on paper, and
over-exploitation
and degradation
continue unabated
According to media reports students of environmental science at Jahangirnagar University formed a human chain on Sunday to protest construction of buildings by filling up the lakes and ponds on the campus. While there is no doubt that new buildings are needed to establish new departments and dormitories those cant be built at the expense of water bodies which are an integral part of the environment of any locality or region. This is least expected in an academic institute of Jahangirnagars stature.
Unfortunately there is an all pervasive apathy towards protecting wetlands throughout the country. Despite public protests and judicial orders, no authority had taken effective measures to protect rivers and wetlands, as the encroachers and polluters had links with political parties in power.
Each wetland is ecologically unique. It recycles nutrients, purifies and provides drinking water, reduces flooding, recharges groundwater, provides fodder and fuel, facilitates aqua-culture, provides a habitat for wildlife, buffers the shoreline against erosion and offers avenues for recreation.
Aside from providing heritage, a free sewage system and an aquatic market garden, the wetlands other urban function flood defence is arguably the most indispensable. Much of the wetlands have already been encroached upon and they are seriously threatened by as a result of drainage and landfills, pollution (domestic and industrial effluents, disposal of solid waste) resulting in loss of biodiversity and disruption of the wetland systems.
Bangladesh is one of the 19 signatories to the Convention on Wetlands. The deltaic country currently has two sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR sites) the Sundarbans Reserved Forest and Tanguar Haor, with a surface area of 611,200 hectares. Home to hundreds of species of unique plants, fish, birds and other wildlife, these wetlands provide critical habitats for thousands of migrating birds, and are an important source of income and nutrition for millions of rural people. Unfortunately, these habitats are in decline due to over-use, siltation and the use of more and more areas for agriculture and development to meet the demands of the growing population.
Despite a public outcry and judicial orders, no authority had taken effective measures to protect rivers and wetlands, as the encroachers and polluters allegedly have links with political parties in power.
Declaring areas to be protected is relatively easy, but often protection is only on paper, and over-exploitation and degradation continue unabated. For example, as development of the textile industry has increased close to the capital Dhaka, 50 billion tonnes of effluent is discharged each year into restored wetlands, killing fish and threatening human health.
