RAJSHAHI: Protection of wetlands and other water bodies from further degradation is very important for biodiversity conservation besides existence of other living beings, said development activists and media personnel, reports BSS.They viewed the wetlands and other natural resources are now on the declining condition due to various natural and manmade catastrophes posing a serious threat to the normal living and livelihood condition of the marginalized population in the vast Barind tract.
They were sharing expertise and views in a media dialogue titled “Biodiversity Conservation” held in Beel Nepalpara area under Paba Upazila of the district on Thursday.
Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) organised the dialogue where large number of grassroots farmers both male and female depicted their grim picture.
“Many fishermen, small farmers and share croppers have left their ancestral profession due to adverse situation”, said Ashraf Uddin, a fisherman of the nearby Darshanpara village.
He says landscape and cropping pattern is changing day by day pushing the poor people into deep crises.
Process of natural imbalance might take severe turns and even can stop agricultural productions or reduce the same to such a level that would not be enough to feed the human being on the earth, he feared.
A large number of water bodies and wetlands have become derelict due to lack of adequate rainfall while the existing ones are being used for commercial purposes by the influential people posing a serious threat to the biodiversity especially the livelihood of the poor and marginal people.
During his concept paper presentation, Shahidul Islam, Regional Coordinator of BARCIK, said importance should be given to capacity building to address climate change in the region with special reference to drought tolerant species conservation. In the wake of abnormal declining of natural resources like native crop seeds, fish and birds species and other wildlife, conservation of natural resources has become indispensable for facing the adverse impacts of climate change.He opined that many native crops and vegetable varieties are gradually declining. Many of the native fish species, particularly the small indigenous ones are on the verge of extinction due to various reasons. Among others, journalists SM Atique and Sohel Mahbub, social worker Nurul Amin and farmer Shamsuddin also spoke.