Womens role in climate protection
The realization
of women that putting pressure on the forest resources will
not augur well is appreciable
It is quite encouraging to note that the thought of protecting forest has dawned on the women community of Coxs Bazar district recently. According to a report in this newspaper Wednesday, hundreds of women in a remote village named Uttar Medakocchopia in Chakaria upazila of the coastal district showed how they can generate alternative income without depending on forests. There is no denying the fact that climate change is putting increasing levels of stress on Bangladeshs forests, wetlands and other ecosystems.
The realization of women that putting pressure on the forest resources will not augur well is appreciable. As stated in the report, in the past many women and their husbands would go to forest and cut down trees to make a living. But they have ceased to do so considering the adverse impact it would leave on the environment. Climate change is a global reality. Bangladesh is one of most vulnerable countries in the world to the adverse impacts of climate change.
What is shocking to note that the disaster is mainly man-made. Forests cover only 7 per cent of the total lands of the country. For the sake of environment forest areas should be 30 per cent of the total lands of a country. Unfortunately, we do not have that. And the trees that constitute the 7 percent forest lands are being cut down indiscriminately.
The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world that the country can take pride in, has also fallen prey to the vicious claws of the timber bandits. Scores of valuable trees of the forest were felled and looted during the past few years. Besides, trees are being burnt in brick kilns indiscriminately for burning bricks despite the ban on the use of the same. A section of owners of brick fields are engaged in this malpractice.
Womens exposure to the different sectors of life, particularly the apparel industry, has opened up a wide avenue for them. This has helped them achieve solvency for them and provide economic support to their families. The unemployed educated young women should be imparted training, particularly on computer operating and ICT, throughout the country for expanding their job opportunities. Those who are not educated should be given training on poultry farming, cattle rearing and similar other jobs. In this way the unemployment problem facing them can be solved greatly. Small women entrepreneurs should be provided with loans on easy terms and conditions.
