CHAPTER: 1 (ONE)
1.1 Introduction:
Hakaluki Haor is the country's largest inland freshwater wetland ecosystem,
located at Fenchuganj and Golapganj upazilas of Sylhet district and Baralekha,
Juri and Kulaura upazilas under Moulvibazar district (CNRS,2002).
There are 11 unions (Bhatera, Baramchal, Bhakshimail, Jaifarnagar,
Barni, Talimpur, Sujanagar, Paschim Juri, Gilachhara, Uttar Bade Pasha and
Sharifganj) under these five upazilas of the two districts. The Haor is
located in the north-east of Bangladesh between 24.35nN and 24.45N latitude
and 92.00'E and 92.08E longitude with an area of 18,383 ha (45,406 acres) (CNRS,
2002). It is a shallow water basin
nested between the Patharia and Madhab hills in the East and Bhatera hill to
the West. There are more than 238 small, medium and large interconnecting
beels, some of which are perennial and others seasonal. During the dry season,
approximately 4,4000 ha are is covered by the beel, but with the onset of the
rains in the summer, the entire area floods to about four and half times of
this size (18,383 ha) and remains under water for up to five months. During
this period, all the beels are united as one large lake, or haor, making
Hakaluki Haor the largest freshwater wetland in Bangladesh. The haor is mainly
fed by the Juri/ Kantinala, Sonai/ Bordol, Damai. Fanai, and Kuiachara Rivers,
out of which the Bordol/ Sonai, and Juuri/ Kantinala Rivers are originated in
India. Land ownership is not equally distributed among the population of the
ECA. Most of it is owned by a small number of rich farming families. The
central area of the ECA that are prone to flooding belongs to the Government.
Hakaluki Haor once was with plenty of wildlife
and aquatic resources and covered with swamp forest, which in the recent time
has become a fast-degraded landscape and facing increased pressure and threats
(Choudhury, 2005). Such rapid
degradation of the wetland ecology is causing devastating consequences on the
community people living in, around and downstream of the Hakaluki Haor, who,
for generations, were dependent for their livelihoods upon vital functions,
services and benefits provided by this wetland. About 200,000 people live
around the haor (Choudhury,
2005).All of them, more or less, are dependent on the resources of the
haor for their livelihoods. As the haor floods annually, settlements are
clustered along its slightly raised fringes. On ground of such threats and
rapid degradation of the resources and in recognition of the urgent need to
protect the unique ecology and biodiversity of the haor, Government of
Bangladesh has declared Hakaluki Haor as an "Ecologically Critical Area" (ECA)
under the provision of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA), in
1999. (CNRS, 2002).
The Hakaluki Haor supports a wide variety of
agricultural and horticultural crops and fast growing introduced timber
species (Khan, 2005).A significant number of
medicinal plants is also found in the Haor.
Fisheries and agriculture are the two major livelihoods for local people
living in and around the ECA (CNRS Final draft,
2004).Other livelihood supports provided by the Haor include cattle
grazing, NTFP collection, duck rearing, and sand mining. Besides, the Haor
serves generally as a transport pathway particularly while it is flooded,
provides water for drinking and washing, provides micro-climate regulation,
and holds significant potential for generating income as a tourist attraction.
Primary stakeholders of the resources of the Haor are farmers, fishers and
collectors of resources from the Haor like aquatic vegetation, cow fodder,
aquatic animals and medicinal plants.
Hakaluki Haor ecosystem supports at least 73 species of wetland vegetation,
which is nearly half of the national total of 158 species of vegetation
(Choudhury and Faisal, 2005). The flora of Hakaluki Haor is a
combination of ecologically important remnant swamp forest and reed lands
although many of these species including vegetations are now largely absent.
Hakaluki Haor is a critical habitat and
breeding ground for fish and other aquatic species and considered as one of
the four major "mother fisheries" in Bangladesh. More than 100 fish species
are available in the Haor, one third of which are listed as engender
(Choudhury and Faisal, 2005).
Some of the major economically important fishes are Rui (Labeo rohita), Gonia
(L. gonius), Kalibush (L calbasu), Katla (Katla catla), Mrigal (Cirhinus
mrigala), Boal (Wallago atiu), Pangus (Pangasius pangasitts), Air (Aorichthys
aor), Guizza air (Aovichihys seenghala), Bagha air (Bagarins bagarius), Rita
(Rita rita), Magur (Clarias batrachus), Singhi (heleropneules fossils), Kani
pabda (Ompok binocidaius), Madhu pabda (Ompok pabda), Tengra (Mystus lengra
and AI. villains), Koi (Anabus testudineus), etc. Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium
rosenbergii) and small prawns’ are also available in the small rivers and
canals. (CWBMP,
2004).
The Haor is also the home for globally
significant waterfowl especially large number of' migratory duck species that
pass the winter season in the EGA. There was an estimation of wintering
population of ducks in 1960s at between 40,000 to 60,000
(CWBMP, 2004). The numbers have now declined
considerably. Hakaluki Haor is rich in wildlife resources also. There are a
number of varieties of mammals and reptiles including snakes, frogs, turtles,
toads, tortoises, Irrawady Squirrel, and the Gangetic Dolphin that inhabits in
the Kushiara River.
The Hakaluki Haor wetland has been subject to
severe degradation and loss including significant declining of its resources
that have been in turn affected the livelihoods of those dependent on the
wetlands and their resources. The causes responsible for such degradation of
wetland habitat and their resources are identified as sedimentation,
development interventions such as conversion of wetland and forest land into
agricultural land, drainage and river diversion for irrigation, degradation of
aquatic habitat due to agro-chemical pollution from agricultural lands and tea
states and over exploitation of the wetland resources by the rapidly growing
human population in absence of appropriate policy and management measures.
The forest resources (swamp and reed land
plants) in the Haor lack proper conservation and management. Due to absence of
such management measures, over and illegal exploitation by the local people
and leaseholders for fire wood, placing for making brush shelter in the beels,
cattle fodder, herbal medicine, food, housing and mat making materials. The
swamp/reed land plants are gradually declining. The swamp and reed land plants
also provide habitat and food for wildlife, fishes birds and serves as
barriers against the erosive effects of wave action, etc.
The beels/canals/rivers (jalmahals) within the
Haor owned by the Government are supposed to lease out to the actual fishers
as per present policy for exploitation of fisheries resources but the local
influential somehow manage the lease of the jalmahals. So, the actual fishers
(mostly poor) have lost their access rights to fishing in the Haor, where they
work as laborers and on share basis or by paying license fees to the
leaseholders. However, the poor fishers and the local people have free access
floodplain (privately owned land) during rainy season, when the Haor becomes a
large sheet of water. Fishing in the flowing rivers is open and free for all.
Increasing fishing pressure due to rapid growth of human population and
destructive fishing by harmful gears, dewatering, etc. in the Haor are
responsible for depletion of fisheries resources.
1.2 Study objectives:
This study aims to provide
information about the dependency pattern on Hakaluki haor in terms of its
economic, ecological and social benefits for local communities. It has the
following objectives:
a) Illustrating the interactions between the
people, resources and economic activities.
b) To know about the life style of Haor
adjacent local peoples & their economic activities on Haor areas.
c) To assess inter-linkages between economic &
ecological function of the Haor system that is directly linked with local
livelihoods.
1.3 Rationale of the study:
Hakaluki Haor
(HH) is one of the important habitats of swamp forest among few wetlands in
Bangladesh. The area of the HH is approximately 18000 hector. One third of
this wetland has habitat of swamp forest, which has been converted, into scrub
forest, grazing land and agricultural land over the years. However, there are
still some sporadic patches of degraded swamp forests of about 1000 hector
around HH in the centre of the haor. Swamp forest provides numerous benefits
to the local people. A number of people around the Haor depend on it for fuel
wood, fodder and thatching materials. Swamp forest is the sources of many life
supporting medicinal plants such as Shotomuli (Asparagus raccmosus), Onontomul
(Tylophora asthmatica), etc.
Ecologically, swamp forest
is highly resilient. Despite the severe disturbance and stress, this forest
has been observed to have highly .self-regenerating potential.
The existence of degraded scrub swamp forest with numerous
seedlings, coppices from the remaining stump of trees clearly indicate the
potentiality for natural restoration. Hijol (Barringtonia acutangulata), Barun
(Crataeva nurvala), and Koroch (Pongamia pinnuta) are the important swamp
trees, which arc highly potential to regenerate from seedlings and coppices.
In the Redland, Nol (Phragmites karka) is also capable of regeneration from
vegetative reproduction.
Although, major swamp
species and aquatic plants of HH have unique regeneration strategies, the
immense anthropogenic disturbance and stress obstruct the trajectory of
natural restoration. Conversion of swamp forest habitual into agricultural
land is the major and the worse anthropogenic disturbance, which results,
completes depletion of swamp habitat and destruction of biological legacy for
further regeneration. Grazing and trampling by the cattle is also another
severe threat to the newly regenerated of swamp and reed and plant species.
Indiscriminate fuel wood collection by the dwellers at sapling stage of swamp
trees species leaves no room for the further development into mature stage.
In this context, an urgent protection measure
is essential to reduce the direct threats on and to allow the plants to be
prolific by using their own regeneration strategies in different swamp
habitats. In addition, creating awareness and sensation in the local
communities about the significance of protection by visualizing the natural
restoration of swamp forest should be a concern of utmost importance.
CHAPTER: 2 (TWO)
Literature Review:
2.1 Definition of wetland
For the purpose of
Ramsar Convention, as adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, wetlands are defined
as areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial,
permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish
or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide docs
not exceed six meters (Khan et al., 1994).
Bangladesh possesses
enormous wetland areas out of which the principal ones are rivers and streams,
freshwater lakes and marshes including haors, baors and beels, water storage
reservoirs, fishponds, flooded cultivated fields and estuarine systems with
extensive mangrove swamps. There are about 700 rivers in Bangladesh, the
estimated total length of which is 24,140km (Akonda, 1989).
The major wetlands are shown in Map 2.1:
Map 2.1:
Major Wetlands of Bangladesh.
Globally, wetlands are amongst the most fertile and productive ecosystems and
important breeding grounds for fisheries. They serve as a filtering system to
clean up polluted water, protect coastlines from erosion and act as barriers
against storm surges besides providing people with a wide range of staple food
plants, lush grazing lands and fuel. It is the dynamic interaction of the
terrestrial and aquatic systems with people that makes wetlands so
environmentally valuable. Wetlands also provide habitat for a rich variety of
resident and migratory waterfowl. Their scenic beauty can support the
development of tourism. Their resources play a significant role in other
economic activities like extraction of reeds and harvesting of food plants and
those of medicinal importance.
2.2 Classification of wetlands
Wetlands of Bangladesh can
be classified on the basis of their hydrological and Ecological functions and
land type concept into the following categories (Dugan,
1990).
Saltwater wetlands:
a) Marine:
i. Permanent shallow
waters at low tide, e.g., bay
ii. Coral reefs, e.g., St.
Martin's reef
b) Estuarine:
i. Intertidal mud, sand or
salt flats with limited vegetation, e.g., newly
accreted land.
ii. Intertidal marshes
iii. Intertidal forested
wetlands including mangroves, e.g., Sundarbans.
c) Lagoonal:
i. Brackish to saline
lagoons with narrow connections with the sea.
Freshwater wetlands:
Riverine wetlands
i.
Permanent rivers and
streams including some char land.
ii.
Temporary seasonal rivers and
streams
Lacustrine wetlands:
There are over a thousand lakes of varying
sizes in Bangladesh, the greatest concentrations being in the main delta
region covering the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna. Kushlia, Jessore, Faridpur,
Camilla and Noakhali. The haor basin comprising a vast alluvial plain with a
mosaic of wetland habitats including haors and beels is bounded by the hill
ranges of Meghalaya on the north, hills of Tripura and Mizorain on the south,
and the high lands of Monipur on the east. The numerous rivers rising in these
hills cause extensive flooding during the monsoon. During the dry season, most
of the water drains out leaving a series of isolated beds, which are often
overgrown with aquatic vegetation. As the water level recedes, the exposed
alluvial soils are extensively cultivated for rice.
Different types of inland water bodies and their areas (in sq
km):
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Source: (Akonda 1989 and Khan 1994.)
2.1.Table: Different types of inland water
bodies and their areas (in sq km)
Definition of different terms of wetland (FAP,
1993):
Haors
which arc bowl- shaped depressions between the
natural levees of a river subject to monsoon flooding every year, are mostly
found in the eastern region of greater Mymensingh and Sylhet districts, known
collectively as Haor basin covering an area of approximately 24,500 sq.km.
Baors
or oxbow lakes, formed by dead arms of rivers,
are situated in the moribund delta of the Ganges in Kushtia, Jhenaidah,
Jessore and Faridpur.
Beels
arc saucer-like depressions which generally
retain water throughout the year, and are mostly overgrown with marsh
vegetation during the dry season, e.g. Chalan beel in the northwestern region.
True hikes:
There arc only three true lakes in Bangladesh, viz. Rainkhyongkine and
Bogakine in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Ashuhila beel at the northern end
of the Barind Tract.
Palustrine wetlands:
a) Permanent freshwater
marshes and swamps with emergent vegetation
b) Permanent peal-forming
freshwater swamps dominated by Typha
c) Freshwater swamp forest,
e.g., Hijol (Barringtonia acutangulala)
forests of lowland,
Manmade wetlands:
a) Aquaculture ponds (brackish
and freshwater)
b) Irrigated lands and
irrigation channels
c) Salt pans
d) Hydro-dams, e.g., Kaptai
Lake
Kaptai reservoir
The only large artificial
wetland is Kaptai reservoir formed as a consequence of a hydro-electric dam
completed in 1963, and which has flooded over 76,600 ha of pristine forested
valleys and cultivated land in the Chittagong Hill Tract (Akonda, 1989). Other
artificial water bodies include many thousands of small tanks and fish ponds
scattered throughout the country. These include also large areas of shrimp
aquaculture in the coastal districts
2.3 Importance of wetlands:
Wetlands have great ecological,
economic, commercial and socio-economic importance and values. They contain
very rich components of biodiversity like flora and fauna of important local,
national and regional significance. The principal functions of wetlands are (IWRB,
1992 and Dugan, 1990):
Ground water recharge, ground water discharge,
storage of flood water, shoreline stabilization and reduction of erosion,
sediment trapping, nutrient retention/removal, support for food chains,
fisheries production, habitat for wildlife, recreation, natural heritage
values, biomass production, water transport, bio-diversity preservation and
micro-climate stabilization.
Wetlands in Bangladesh arc a very rich
depository of vegetations, aquatic plants, reeds and algae. The floral
composition is relatively uniform throughout the haors, beels and baors but
the dominance varies seasonally.
Wetlands are nationally important for a variety of reasons:
۞
Biodiversity:
The large and varied
wetland environment is rich in species diversity. Of more than 5000 species of
(lowering plants and 1500 of vertebrates, of which approximately 750 are birds
and over 500 are coastal, estuarine and freshwater fish, up to 300 plant
species and some 400 vertebrate's species are judged to be dependent on
wetlands for all or part of their life span (Khan et, al., 1994). Wetlands
also provide habitat for a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl, a
significant number of endangered species of international interest, and a
large number of commercially important ones.
۞
Fisheries:
The inland capture fishery is the most important sub sector in terms of total
catch, source of employment and supply of animal protein. It is based on the
countries vast freshwater resources and some 270 species of fin and shell fish
which inhabit them. Essential habitats for the inland fisheries comprise open
and closed water habitats, including rivers, canals, floodplains, haors,
heels, baors and small roadside depressions. Although discrete in the dry
season, these water bodies become interconnected during the monsoon and
provide critical habitats for completion of the life cycles of a large number
offish species.
۞
Agricultural diversity:
There are many local
varieties of rice, conservatively estimated to number in the thousands, as
well as other existing or potential commercially important plants, which
provide a valuable gene pool to ensure continued development of improved
varieties for the future.
۞
Tourism:
It remains an infant if
non-existent economic activity, but there is substantial foundation for the
view that the countries natural resources could support development of richer
tourism.
۞
Other economic activities:
Wetlands also support a
significant range of other economic activities other than fishing, such as
extraction of reed, harvesting of edible aquatic vegetation and their
products, medicinal herbs, shells, etc.
2.4 History and heritage of wetlands:
Wetlands constitute a part of
man's natural heritage. We derive aesthetic enjoyment, inspiration and a
feeling of relaxation from their scenic beauty. For thousands of years
wetlands have played a significant part in the development of human society.
Archaeological findings confirm that many of the earliest human settlements
such as those of the Mesolithic period were dependent on wetlands for food,
water clothing and shelter.
The civilization in Asia and the Far East
developed in floodplain environment. The major river systems in the world have
supported the development of rich and sophisticated civilization, and many
diverse societies have evolved effective systems for deriving benefits from
the rich natural productivity of the wetlands ecosystems. Asia still possesses
some of our planet's riches natural ecosystem. The rich biodiversity, which
those ecosystems support, is of particular international significance. One
noteworthy example of great importance to human society is the new form of
deepwater rice that has evolved in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river basins,
containing genes which enable these paddy plants to rise above floodwaters
providing food even under severe flooded conditions.
While the importance of wetlands for
biodiversity has long provided the driving force for wetland conservation, the
people have realized the economic benefits and governments only recently and
major investments have been made in this direction. In the early days of the
Ramsar Convention, the principal focus was placed upon listing of the sites
for the protection of biodiversity, but now there has been an increasing
attention given to other provisions such as sustainable utilization and
international collaboration for the wise management of wetlands. To conserve
objects of outstanding universal value in maintaining natural ecosystems,
World Heritage Convention selects the sites from proposals made by the
countries in whose territories the sites are situated. The inclusion of sites
on the World Heritage list can serve as a powerful argument in securing
international support for their conservation and many wetlands have already
benefited from their prestige.
2.5 Declaration of ecologically critical areas
(ECAs)
Ecologically Critical Area
ecologically defined areas or ecosystems affected adversely by the changes
brought through human activities. The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act
(BECA). 1995 has provision for Ecologically Critical Area (EGA) declarations
by the Director General of the Department of Environment (DOE) in certain
cases where ecosystem is considered to be threatened to reach a critical
stole. If the government is satisfied that due to degradation of environment,
the ecosystem of any area has reached or is threatened to reach a critical
state, the government may by notification in the official gazette declare such
areas as Ecologically Critical Areas. The government shall specify, through
the notification provided in sub-clause (1) or by separate notification, which
of the operations or processes cannot be initiated or continued in the
Ecologically Critical Area (Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995) (Ramsar.
org., 1999).
2.6 Ecologically critical areas of Bangladesh:
In April 1999, the Director
General of the Department of Environment (DOE) officially declared nearly
40,000 ha, within seven separate wetland areas, as ECA's. These sites are
Hakaluki Haor, Sonadia Island, ST Martin’s island, and Teknaf Peninsula (Cox's
BAZAR Sea Beach) but not their buffer zones. TANGUAR HAOR, Marjat baor (oxbow
lake) at Jhenaidah and outside of Sundarbans Reserved Forest at 10 km extent
all of which were deemed to meet the 'urgency criterion' required by BECA,
i.e., they were "threatened to reach a critical state" (Ramsar. org., 1999).
Although a large number of ecosystems in
Bangladesh could accurately be described as "threatened", it would be
impossible for the government to declare and manage all of them as ECAs. In
order to identify priority sites, a series of biodiversity 'importance
criteria' have been taken into account in addition to the above 'urgency
criterion'.
2.7 Wetlands legislation and strategies in
Bangladesh:
The existing laws in Bangladesh
are not specific to the needs and problems of wetlands conservations and
management. There are some sectoral laws having bearing on wetlands forests,
wildlife, fisheries, management of Jalmahals and other development activities
in the wetlands areas.
Bangladesh's environmental policy, including
its strategy towards wetland and related issues, has made broad strides during
the 1990s (Nishat et ah, 1993). The major elements are outlined below:
Biodiversity Convention (1991):
Bangladesh has signed and ratified the Biodiversity Convention.
UNCED Country Report (1991):
The report emphasis's the "enormous importance"' of the country's wetland
areas, "...both as havens of biodiversity and as major sources of the nations
livelihood" (MOEF, 1991).
National Conservation Strategy (NCS, 1991):
The NCS provides specific strategies for sustainable development in I8 sectors
of the economy.
Environment Policy, 1992:
The Environment Policy adopted in 1992 gives due importance to wetlands and
related issues. The Policy includes, inter alia, the following aspects:
- Rivers, canals, ponds, lakes, haors, beels, baors, and all
other water bodied and resources should be kept free from pollution;
- Wetlands should be conserved
for the protection of migratory birds.
- Activities which diminish
the wetlands/ natural habitats of fish should be
prevented and rehabilitative measures encouraged.
- Existing projects on water
resources development, flood control and irrigation should be examined to
determine their adverse impact on fisheries, and
-
Environmental impact
assessment (CIA) should be conducted before
undertaking new project for water resources
development and management.
National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP,
1995)
The ministry of Environment and
Forests (MOEF) prepared NEMAP based on a comprehensive participator}' planning
process ranging from grassroots up to national levels. Local communities,
government agencies, non- governmental organizations, professional groups,
academics, parliamentarians, lawyers and journalist’s alt provided inputs.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
In December 1999, the Minister
of Water Resources Management announced the Governments intention to develop
an ICZM policy. Among other objectives, (lie ICZM policy will attempt to
rationale and more effectively co-ordinate a number of environment and
development initiatives taking place within the coastal zone.
The Forest Act 1927 (amended in 1989)
The Act prohibits certain
acts like clearing, setting fire, trespassing, cattle pasturing, felling of
trees, stone quarrying, cultivating land, hunting, shooting, fishing,
poisoning water etc in the reserved forests. According to the provisions of
this Act any public or private way or watercourse may be stopped for the
public in the interest of preservation of the forest.
Rules to Regulate Hunting, Shooting and
Fishing within the Controlled and Vested Forests- 1959
These rules prohibit poisoning
river or other water and killing fish by explosives within the controlled and
vested forests. Rules also prohibit or restrict hinting, shooting and fishing
of certain species for a specific period of the year. The rules also prohibit
hunting, shooting, strafing and fishing in A category forests to prevent
extinction of any species or to form game sanctuaries.
Bangladesh Wild life (Preservation)
(Amendment) Act 1974:
This law provides for the
preservation, conservation and management or" wildlife in Bangladesh. The acts
prohibits hunting, killing and capturing of certain categories of animals
designated as protected animals and also prohibits hunting, killing and
capturing of certain categories of animals designated as game animals without
obtaining a permit from the relevant authority.
East Bengal Protection and Conservation offish
Act, 1950 as amended by the Protection and Conservation of Fish (Amendment)
Ordinance, 1982; and the Rules made under this Act:
It provides for
protection and conservation of fish in the inland waters Bangladesh. The Act
prohibits various destructive methods of fishing.
The East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy
Act, 1950:
This law has transferred ownership of wetlands
/Jalmahals from the Zamindars to
the government.
The Haor Development Board Ordinance, 1997
Among other thing this law requires the
Board:
a) To prepare projects and
schemes for development of the haors and
other similar low lying and depressed areas;
b) To approve projects and
schemes involving not more than twenty-five
lakh.
c) Taka each and to submit other projects and schemes costing
more than
twenty-five lakh taka to the government for approval;
d) To execute approved
projects and schemes; and
e) To supervise execution of
projects and schemes.
Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act 1995
and Environment Conservation Rules 1997:
The Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act
of 1995 was promulgated for environmental conservation, improvement of
environmental quality, control and mitigation of environmental pollution in
the country.
The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules
1997 is another step taken by the Government lo supports the conservation of
bio-diversity.
2.8 International collaboration:
Recognizing the environmental, social and
economic consequences of wetland loss, Bangladesh has initiated some national
action programmed to address the conservation.
2.8.1 Ramsar convention
Ramsar Convention, named after the town of
Ramsar, Iran, where it was adopted in 1971 has specific objectives of
conserving wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl
habitat. In October 1992 there were 70 contracting parties to the convention.
In joining it the countries are required to designate suitable wetlands within
their territories for inclusion in a special list. Bangladesh designated
59,500 ha of Sundarbans when it become signatory to the convention in May 1992
.The principal focus of the convention is upon listing of the sites (UNCED,
1992).
This has now been extended to formulation and
implementation of plans to promote the wise the use of wetlands .At the third
meeting of the contracting parties in Regina, Canada, in definition of the
wise use of wetlands was adopted as follows:
"The wise use of wetlands is their sustainable
utilization for the benefit of human kind in a way compatible with the
maintenance of the natural properties of ecosystem"
Natural properties of the ecosystem are
defined as:
'Those physical biological or chemical
components such as soil water plants, animas and nutrients, and the
interactions between them"
Successive conference have encourage
cooperation between contracting parties on the management of shared wetlands
and their resources providing opportunities for exchange of information and
transfer of technology and urged for development assistance policies to be
pursued in support of wetlands conservation.
2.8.2 World heritage convention
The World Heritage
Convention serves to conserve objects of' "outstanding universal value" that
are part of the natural and cultural heritage of the world. Its value in
maintaining natural ecosystems is therefore very specific and limited. In
addition, in contrast to the Ramsar Convention, sites cannot be designated
unilaterally by the contraction parties but are selected by the World Heritage
Committee from proposals made by the parties in whose territories the sites
are situated (Biber-Klemm, 1991). However, the inclusion of sited on the World
Heritage list can serve, as a powerful argument in securing international
support for their conservation and management needs, and many wetlands have
already benefited from these prestige.
2.8.3 Bonn convention
Recommendation 32 of the
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972,
asked governments to undertake actions to protect by international legislation
migratory species that cross international boundaries. Work towards such
legislation was undertaken by the Federal Republic of Germany in close
consultation with the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, and was concluded in 1979
with the signing of the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals or the "Bonn Convention" (Boere, 1991).
The Convention is a basic nature conservation
convention aiming to conserve wild animals, including birds, regardless of the
origin and nature of the threats they are facing.
2.8.4 Biological diversity
convention
The Biological Convention signed
at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in June 1992 by over 150 governments
provides a framework to enable the government to decide how best their
biodiversity can be conserved. Government agreed that it is vital to address
the caused of biodiversity loss and to maintain the ecosystems and habitats
through in situ conservation (UNCED, 1992).
In the Convention, governments affirm that
they have sovereign rights over their own biological resources, but are
responsible for conserving biodiversity and for using their biological
resources in a sustainable manner.
Further, the Convention recognizes the
traditional dependence of many indigenous and local communities on biological
resources, and the desirability of enabling local communities to share
equitably in the benefits arising from the use of indigenous knowledge.
Finally, the Convention recognizes that more
money is needed to conserve biodiversity, and that increased investment will
bring considerable environmental, economic and social benefits at local,
national and global levels.
2.9 Ramsar criterion on Hakaluki Haor
Hakaluki Haor is a highly
significant site for a wide variety of waterfowl, particularly Anatidae. Its
overall significance is perhaps best expressed with refers to the various
criteria for inclusion as a Ramsar site. In a comprehensive 1995 survey,
Hakaluki Haor was deemed to fulfill the following five Ramsar criteria (Halis,
1996).
"It is a particularly good representative
example of a wetland which plays a substantial hydrological, biological or
ecological role in the natural functioning of major river basin"(Ramsar
Criterion 1 .c).
"It supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered
species of plant or animals, or an appreciable number of individuals of any
one or mere of these species."(Ramsar Criterion 2.a).
"It is of specials value for maintaining the
genetic and ecological diversity of a region because of the peculiarities of
its flora and fauna.”(Ramsar Criterion 2, b).
"It regularly supports 20,000
waterfowl."(Ramsar Criterion 3.a).
"It regularly supports substantial number of
individuals from particular group of waterfowl, indicative of wetland values,
productivity or diversity (Great Cormorant, Tufted Duck)" (Ramsar Criterion
3.b).
More recent observers have pointed to a sixth
criterion met by the site, i.e., "It regularly supports 1% of the individuals
in a population of one species or subspecies (UNDP, 1994).
2.10 Management and regulations of wetlands (Nishat
et al., 1993):
2.10. 1. Historical aspect
From colonial times
lands and other resource in the country were mostly under private ownership
perpetually granted by the British under the Permanent Settlement Regulations,
1793, these estates, or Mahals as they were called, comprised almost every
kind of resources available on a specific fiscal-geographic areas. Often, the
Jalmahals, especially the closed fisheries, were made part of such estate .The
legal history of the marshy tracts, haors or baors, which can be termed as
wetlands, hence formed an almost integral part of the land tenure history. The
land and all resource on or attached to land were subjects of settlement to
private parties. As a result when East Bengal becomes the eastern province of
Pakistan in 1947, 91 percent of the land was under permanent settlement and
only 5.5 percent under "public property" status or khas mahal. The wetlands
which formed part of the zamindars estate were within the "sub-tenancy making
power of the landlords" which could be either an absolute occupancy right or
usufructuary right.
2.10.2 Abolition of Zamindari
The Zamindari system
was abolished and all rent receiving interests were acquired by the under the
State Acquisition and Tenancy (SAT) act of 1950. The lawful settlers under the
Zamindari were made owners or tenants under the state The terms tenant is used
incase of non agricultural land governed by the Non-Agricultural a Tenancy
Act, 1947).
The Land Management Manual of 1991 Provides
elaborate guideline for managing 10,108 public Jalmahals vested with the
Ministry of Land .The manual enumerates the following management rules:
a) The fisheries measuring
up to 20 acres are entrusted with the Thana
administration.
b) The fisheries managed by
the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
would be available and accessible to the scientists and
researchers of
the Department of Fisheries for investigation and
environment
information collection.
c) The fisheries not being
more than three acres in size would be
preserved by the Union Parishad so that people can
exercise their
customary right of using the waters for domestic
and other purpose.
These fisheries would not be leased to any one.
d) All other fisheries
covering an area larger than 20 acres would be
granted to ijaradars through open auction.
2.10.3. Institutional and policy conflicts
It is clear
wetlands under the management of various sectoral public institutions are
being treated as something other than wetlands. Each sector maintains its
compartmentalized priorities irrespective of adverse impact on other sectors.
The mono institutional approach has reduced the potentials of wetlands. The
question is what are the policies relevant to wetlands in Bangladesh? Since
there is nothing called wetlands in the law of the land but being regulated
under various legal statuses, it is essential to study those sectoral policies
or guidelines on fisheries, agriculture water resource development, etc.
It is essential to
identify the policies and legislative or regulatory issues that are
responsible for destruction or act as hindrances to wetlands conservation or
sustainable use. Unless the issues are identified, it would be difficult to
purpose practicable recommendations.
2.11 Occupation and social identity of the HHs:
As illustrated in Table 1, the primary occupation of households living around
Hakaluki haor is agriculture, closely followed by fishing. Just under half of
the populations are engaged in other activities, many of them wetland-based,
including manual laborers, boatmen, small traders and remittances from abroad.
Table2.2: Distribution of population by upazila and main occupation of
head of the household in Hakaluki haor:
| Upazila | ||||||
Main Occupation
| Barleka | Fenchugnj | Golapgnj | Juri | Kulara | Total | |
| Agriculture
| 27.8% | 38.0% | 26.0% | 37.9% | 51.3% | 37.9% |
Fishing | 27.5% | 30.8% | 32.7% | 14.1% | 19.2% | 23.3% | |
Labor | 22.4% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 11.4% | |
Boatman | 0.2% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% | |
Small trading | 6.5% | 7.0% | 7.1% | 11.3% | 5.0% | 7.3% | |
Remittance | 8.7% | 7.2% | 17.5% | 8.7% | 11.1% | 10.3% | |
Others | 6.9% | 10.7% | 9.4% | 14.1% | 7.1% | 9.4% | |
Total | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 99.90% | 100.00% | 99.90% | |
Source: CNRS, 2004.
2.12 Problems of biodiversity of Hakaluki Haor:
2.12.1 Causes and Reasons of problem
The Sylhet region is highly rich in wetlands
among other regions of Bangladesh. The wetland of Hakaluki Haor, which is one
of the biggest wetlands in South Asia, is situated in Sylhet, and the Ramsar
site Tanguar Haor, but these haor are now in threatened condition due to
destructive activities, mismanagement & lack of awareness, local people
killing migratory birds & unsustainable use of wetland (Jewel, 2005).
Hakaluki Haor in the northeast of Bangladesh
is one of the countries largest and most important inland freshwater wetlands.
However, it is fast becoming a degraded ecosystem unable to effectively
perform the vital functions and services it once used to. Fish slocks are
dropping, water quality is deteriorating, birds are no longer as abundant as
they used to be, mammals such as foxes and fishing cats are now a rarity,
endemic plant species (many of which are crucial for the livelihoods of local
communities both in terms of their properties to nourish and heal) arc
becoming hard to find, and swamp forests and reed swamps have all but
disappeared. In addition, the Haor is becoming less deep as a result of
deforestation, sedimentation, drainage, and river diversion for irrigation.
This degradation and ultimate loss of biodiversity is caused by a number of
factors, many of which are economic in nature such as the conversion of swamp
forest for agriculture, unsustainable fishing practices, fuel wood collection,
bird hunting, overgrazing, and over-harvesting of wetland resources.
Problems and causes of problems of
biodiversity of Hakaluki Haor arc discus on the below:
2.12.1.1 Problems of Biodiversity: Fishery
- Decline in fish production
-Some species are already
extinct
-Some species are going to be
extinct.
-Decline of fish feed
-Decline in shelter/lack of
trees/ bush
-Intermediaries are reaping the
benefit. Genuine fishermen are reduced to
fish Laborers
-Over harvest of haor water for
HYV agriculture
Causes/Reasons of the problems:
- Over-exploitation of
fisheries resources
-Use of pesticides, fungicides
and herbicides in the upland tea gardens
-Waste from the Fenchugonj
fertilizers factory dumped into the water
system
-Waste from the paper mill in
Assam dumped into the water system
-Use of current nets/ cloth
nets for catching fish/fingerlings
-Fishery communities are not
organized.
2.12.1.2 Problems of Biodiversity: Birds
- Decline in migratory and
local birds
-Loss of habitat/food/ shelter
۞
Causes/ reasons of the problems:
-Loss of food including different
varieties of small fishes, snails, mussels,
oysters, etc.
-Hunting of birds
-Use of firearms
-Use of light
-More human settlement in previous
adjacent areas
2.12.1.3 Problems of Biodiversity: Animal
Diversity
-Domestic animals such as cows,
cattle, buffaloes, goats arc depleting
grazing grounds
- More and more lands arc being
brought under HYV agriculture
-Decline in bathans
-Vaccination and treatment
services are inadequate. As the haor area is
remote, service accessibility is a major problem.
-Wild animals are being
depleted with destruction Of forest.
۞
Causes/ reasons of the problems
-Reduced availability of fodder
2.12.1.4 Problems of Biodiversity: Plant
Diversity
-Decline of trees
/depletion of forest resources
-Population explosion
-Hijol / Barun trees arc
gone, Loss offish shelter/ breeding ground
-Long standing water
-Loss of herbal trees
-Aquatic plants are gone
۞
Causes/ reasons of the problems:
-Use of timber in furniture
making, burning bricks
-Conversion of forest land
into agriculture
-Reduced dependence of
consumers/ patients on herbal medicines /
-kabirajee medicine
2.12.1.5 Problems of Biodiversity: Agriculture
- Local varieties of rice
are disappearing
- Land
productivity/fertility is reduced
۞
Causes/ reasons of the problems
-Attraction for HYV
agriculture
-Use of chemicals and
pesticides in HYV agriculture
-Loss of biomass/organic
fertilizer with the depletion of trees
-Siltation
-Reduce availability of
water
-Water logging
2.12.1.6 Problem: Water resource
-Pollution of water
-Reduced aquatic productivity
-Depletion of aquatic plants
-Depletion of aquatic
animals/ shamuk /jinuk /snails
۞
Causes/ reasons of the problems:
- Sand coming across
the border resulted in siltation
- Waste from factories
dumped in to the river/water system
2.12.2 Threatened phenomena of Hakaluki Haor:
These include the following specific threats:
- Loss of Redland and swamp
forest areas due to conversion for
agriculture;
- Reduction in surface area
and depth of mother fisheries and other
aquatic habitats (beels). Due to sedimentation,
drainage and river
diversion for irrigation;
- Degradation of reed land
and grassland habitats due to overgrazing
within the haor, and;
- Minor risk of degradation
of aquatic habitat due to agro-chemical
pollution from tea estates.
The following threats related to
over-harvesting of resources have been identified: o
-Loss of reproductive capacity of fishery due to inappropriate
fishing practices;
-Loss of genetic diversity due to
increasingly intensive tillage of high-yield
varieties (HYV) of rice;
-Unsustainable levels of fuel wood
collection;
-Over-harvesting of amphibians,
including turtles and frogs; and « Reduced
bird populations due to hunting.
2.12.3 Causes of biodiversity loss at the
Hakaluki Haor:
The following have been identified as key
causes of biodiversity loss at the Hakaluki Haor site:
1. No legally instituted protection
measures for ecologically critical areas
2. No effective management authority
at field-level
3 Limited participation by local
communities in resource use decision-making
4. Inadequate information on status
and functioning of critical ecosystems
5. No integrated management planning
for ecologically critical areas
6. Limited opportunities for
alternative sustainable livelihoods
7. Lack of alternative sources of
fuel wood and fodder
8. Limited public awareness of
environmental issues
9. Lack of technical knowledge,
capacities
10. Poor enforcement of fisheries and
wildlife protection acts.
CHAPTER: 3 (THREE)
Background of the Study Area:
3.1 Location and significance:
Hakaluki haor is a complex ecosystem, containing more than 238 interconnecting
bee/s /Jalmahals (CWBMP 2005). The most important beels are
Chatla, Pinlarkona, Dulla, Sakua, Barajalla, Pioula, Balijhuri, Lamba, Tekonia,
Haorkhal, Tural, Baghalkuri and Chinaura. The total area of the haor is
approximately 18,000 ha, including the area which is completely inundated during
monsoon. Of this total area, beels (permanent wetlands) cover an area of 4,635
ha. This 18,000 ha area represents area demarcated as EGA declared by the
Government of Bangladesh for Hakaluki haor.
Hakaluki haor lies between latitude 24° 35' N to
24° 45' N and longitude 92° 00' E to 92° 08' E. It is bounded by the Kushiara
River as well as a part of the Sonai-Bardal River to the north, by the
Fenchuganj-Kulaura Railway to the west as well as to the south, and by the
Kulaura-Beanibazar Road to the east. Hakaluki haor falls under the two
administrative districts (Moulobibazar and Sylhet) and five upazilas (Barlekha,
Kulaura, Fenchuganj, Golapganj and Juri).
Some 190,000 people live in the area surrounding
Hakaluki haor. The two main sources of livelihood for these people are fisheries
and agriculture. Depending on how water levels are controlled, tensions arise
between the areas available for fish versus the area befitting for agricultural
production. An important task facing wetland managers is thus to find equitable
ways to achieve the balance between these sometimes competing forms of
production.
Map 3.1: Map of
Hakaluki Haor
3.2 Agricultural production
There are three major rice
crops in Bangladesh: Aus, Aman and Boro. Of them, Boro is the main form of
production in the haor area, while Aus and transplanted Aman are almost
universally found on highland and medium highland floodplain ridge soils. Aus
are widely transplanted in this wet region; elsewhere, sprouted seeds are sown
on wet puddle soils. Most such land remains fallow in the rainy- season. With
irrigation, HYV Boro is followed by rain fed transplanted Aman .
On lower land, mixed Aus and
Aman or deepwater Aman are the traditional practices on basin margins, with
local Boro paddy or grass land (used for dry season cattle grazing) in basin
sites.
With LLP irrigation, the area under Boro paddy
mainly early maturing local varieties has greatly expanded in the past 30
years, thus considerably reducing the area formerly under grassland and reed
swamp. Rabi crops such as vegetable, spices, sweet potato, potato, pulses and
mustard are mainly grown on loamy-bank soils.
3.3 Natural resources Fisheries
Haors and Floodplains in Bangladesh are
important sources of fisheries resources for the country. Kalibaus, Boat, Rui,
Ghagot, Pabda and Chapila are the main fish species of the Haor. From the
Kushiyara there are frequent upstream movements of fish towards the beels and
tributaries of Hakaluki.
Beels in Hakaluki haor are important for
fisheries. They provide the winter shelter for the mother fisheries, and in
early monsoon these mother fisheries produce millions of fries for the entire
downstream fishing communities. Consequently, protection of these fisheries not
only benefits local people, but also all the people in the lower floodplains.
Floodplains are also an important source of fisheries resources within the EGA.
At the same time it important to note that each
of these beels also provide a natural habitat for different species of fishes.
However, many of the beels have lost their capacity to provide shelter as mother
fisheries, and hence are subjected to severe degradation due to-
a) Sand deposits from upstream rivers and canals,
b) Using complete
dewatering technique for fishing activities and
c) Absence of aquatic
plants to provide feed and shelter for parent
fish.
Chatla beel has come under threat of sedimentation from the Juri River.
To counteract this threat, an embankment was constructed to deflect river
sediments away from the beel.
Most of these beels are leased out by the
Government of Bangladesh for fishing activities for at least a period of three
years, with provision for renewals. Each beel has a surrounding land area known
as kanda where reeds and swamp forests used to exist in the past. Over time,
human pressure, encroachment and also land allocations by the government to the
landless has reduced the reed and the swamp forest area which provided shelter
and feed for fish during the monsoon.
There are claims that under the current practice
of land leasing, Hakaluki haor are in danger of losing nearly 32 fish species
out of 107 because of over fishing by the lessee. This is a serious threat to
fish stocks in the haor.
3.4 Waterfowl
Hakaluki haor is a very important resting
place for migratory waterfowls flying in from the north. The most interesting
species is the Barheaded Goose, which is now very rare in fresh water wetlands.
Other important species include Adjutant Stork, Bear's Pochard, Falcated Teal,
Broadbill Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Nordmann's Greenshank, Temmiinck's Stint,
Steppe Eagle and Osprey. In a survey conducted under FAR 6 in 1994, 64,000
waterfowl were counted in Haorkhal and 15,000 waterfowl were counted in Chatla
beel. Illegal poaching has been a threat to the waterfowl population.
3.5 Vegetation:
Ecological characteristics, particularly
vegetation patterns, differ sharply between the permanent and seasonal water
bodies in Hakaluki haor. Within the permanent water bodies, vegetation is less
dense in the monsoon than in winter, since the vegetation becomes submerged and
does not thrive without light. However, the aquatic vegetation that exists
begins germinating with the onslaught of the monsoon floods. Aquatic vegetation
occurs mainly in the shallower parts of the Haor. Other than the shorelines (kanda),
most of the open water areas are weed-free.
3.6 Livestock
Hakaluki haor is known as good grazing land.
People from villages around the haor and also from distant areas send their
herds for grazing in winter. During this time, herders make permanent shelters
near the beels and graze their animals for a period of 4-5 months. During
monsoon, many keep their herds in-house or send them to nearby hills for
grazing.(CWBMP Final draft, 2004)
3.7 Forests
Hakaluki haor contained a very dense swamp
forest in the past, but deforestation and the lack of conservation practices
have virtually destroyed this unique forest in the last two decades. Two small
patches of swamp forest remain in the Hakaluki haor. One is in Chatla beel
another is near the village of Kalikrishnapur. The plants which are common in
this type of forest are also found in homestead groves. With the exception of
these two swamp forest patches, the vegetation surrounding Hakaluki haor is
unique since it includes both swamp forest as well as mixed evergreen rain
forest.(CNRS, 2004)
Thatching material is the most useful natural
wetland product of the area. The people in the vicinity use this material in
various ways: for example as roofing, wall or wall panel material for their
houses and for making mats. The utilization of wetland products is now less
intensive, because in recent years the vegetation has decreased considerably.
Another important use of the resources from this
wetland is for fuel wood. Due to the scarcity of fuel wood around homesteads,
the people are becoming increasingly dependent on this source of fuel. Swamp
forest trees, except for hijol, are the most popular fuel wood in these areas.
However, all woody shrubs including grasses are also used for this purpose. The
naturally regenerating saplings in the swamp forests are being harvested at a
non-sustainable rate because of the scarcity of fuel.
Wetlands products are also used as bio-fertilizer or green manure. All the small
herbs and grasses grown in the Haor are used as green manure. Farmers living
around the Haor use these materials instead of chemical fertilizer. The soft
aquatic plants are gathered immediately after the monsoon and placed in piles in
the fields, to allow them to decompose.
There are many aquatic plants which are grown in
the Haor area, and are used as food, medicinal plants, duck feed, or for fuel.
These common property resources are of considerable importance to the poor.
3.8 Wetland goods, services and economic values
The haor system provides a wide range of
economic and non-economic benefits to the local people as well as to the people
of Bangladesh and the world at large. These include benefits in terms of fish
production, rice production, cattle and buffalo rearing, duck rearing,
collection of reeds and grasses, and collection of aquatic and other plants. The
haor system also protects the lower floodplains from flash floods occurring in
the months of April-May, recharges the water tables, maintains the supply of
fish in other lower riparian water bodies, provides habitat for migratory and
local waterfowl, and generates important carbon sequestration services. At the
same time, the unique haor system is a natural beauty both during the monsoon
months and the dry season. In monsoon, its unique physical characteristics make
it a huge natural bowl of water and in the dry season it is natural grassland
with a horizon nearly 35 km wide, with pockets of beels serving as the resting
place for migratory birds. Such a unique natural system, if appropriately
marketed, could be a major attraction for tourists. However, as of today, there
is little evidence of this.
The property rights regime of the haor is
complex. Most of the agricultural lands in the haor basin are private land.
While the majority of the water bodies are owned by the government and are
generally leased out for fishing activities, smaller water bodies are sometimes
owned by local villages or by a few families. The banks of the water bodies,
which were once tracts of swamp forests, are public land.
The cycle of economic activities in the haor
region also varies significantly with changes in the seasons. During the monsoon
months, most of the land is under water and so fishing is the major economic
activity. However, during this time leaseholders have no control over fish,
because they are spread over a large area and people are able to catch them
freely.
During the dry season, a large number of
activities take place.. Agricultural land under private ownership is often put
under Boro rice production. The banks of the wetland provide grazing grounds,
and herds of cattle and buffaloes are brought in. Water bodies are more
organized and defined, and leaseholders take full control of their fish
harvests. Local people collect building materials such as reeds for fences,
various plants and fuel wood for personal and commercial use, and sometimes are
engaged in hunting and poaching of migratory birds.
CHAPTER: 4 (FOUR)
Methodology:
4.1 Study Site:
Hakaluki Haor is administrated
under five Upazilas i.e., Kulaura, Borolekha, Fenchugong, Juri and Golapgong. My
study was conducted at Chata beel and Jolla beel of Hakaluki Haor,
situated respectively under Kulaura, & Barolekha Thana, Jaifarnagor & Talimpur
Union. In here, Chatla beel is situated under the Zafarnagar union, and
Juri Thana, adjacent respective villages are Sonapur, Vela Gau, Bachirpur, Kandi
gau, Chalbon etc. Total area of Chatla beel is 302.9630 ha (CWBMP, 2005). The
physical status of Chatla beel is moderately degraded. Ownership criteria
are khas. (Community agrees with Govt. list). My study was conducted on Sonapur,
Vela Gau. Village was selected on the basis of distance from the beel. On the
other hand, Jallar beel is situated under Talimpur union and Barlekha Thana and
adjacent respective villages are Sreerampur, Ranginagar, Molajuri, Dasghori etc.
Total area of the Jolla beel is 181.3670 ha. (CWBMP, 2005). Physical
status of Jolla beel is moderately Rich But, my study was conducted on
Sreerampur and Molajuri on the basis of distance from the beel. In here also,
ownership criteria are khas (Community agree with Govt. list).
4.2 Study Period:
The study period spans over a three (3) months period time starts from February,
2007 to April, 2007.
4.3 Sample Technique:
A simple random method was applied to gather
information on community based haor resource management and dependency pattern
of local peoples on Hakaluki Haor. Standard methods have been used for baseline
data collection on socio-economic, vegetation, fish and land use pattern etc.
4.4 Field Method:
To determine the nature of dependence of the
people on the haor resources and to estimate the used value of haor resources,
household level survey of 84, randomly chosen households were conducted between
March-April 2007. A modular questionnaire was developed to elicit information
from these households.
To value the productivity value of the Hakaluki haor, a structured
questionnaire was used with the following modules:
4.4.1
General Information:
This included general information
about the households such as total number of family members, number of earning
members, education, religion, occupation, food habit, sanitation, drinking
water, energy source, involvement with micro-credit system etc. This part was
designed to find out the socio-economic condition of the population living
around the haor area.
4.4.2 Agricultural Activities:
This part includes
questions on agriculture, land ownership, expenditure and income from
agricultural production, types of crops grown in the haor area, irrigation etc.
It was designed to investigate agricultural production functions and income
generation from agro-products in the haor area.
4.4.3. Fisheries:
This part was designed
to collect data on fish diversity of the study area; existing fish catch system,
fishing expenditure, production cost and earnings from fishing.
4.4.4. Access and Rights to Collect Haor Resources:
The questions of
this section concerned rights of the inhabitants to haor resources, obstacles
and hindrance they face during resource collection, labor market, partnership
and economic activities based on haor resources.
4.4.5. Livelihood, Haor Resources and Other Non-use Value:
This segment of the
questionnaire consisted of questions on livelihood aspects such as full
time/part time fishing, fish cultivation, livestock, collection of wetland
plants and other resources.
4.5. Data Analysis:
All data were collected using field
diary and data sheet. All the quantitative data were incorporated in MS Excell
data sheet for further analysis.
4.6. Limitations of the Study:
Limitations which arose during the study
are given below:
1. Budget constraint: No
financial support was available for the
accomplishment of the study.
2. Time constraint: For
in-depth study on regeneration status needs a
prolonged period, but the present study spans for only
six (6) months.
3. Unavailability on
secondary data: Till today there has not been any study
or survey on the overall status or management of the
swamp forest that
can be compared with the present study findings.
CHAPTER: 5 (FIVE)
Results and Discussion
5.1 Habitat category and land use pattern in
Hakaluki Haor:
Habitat categories of Hakaluki Haor are beel,
river or canals, fallow land, boro crops land and rabi crops land. The beels are
found to use for Fishing, bird hunting, aquatic vegetation collection for food,
fodder, fuel while River or canals for fishing, boating, and transportation.
Fallow land is use for Grazing, vegetation, grass and fuel collection, etc. boro
crop land use in winter rice cultivation at the seasonal parts of beels and haor
edges. Rabi crop land use for oil seeds and pulses cultivation at the higher
elevated land along the edges of the haor.
Table (5.1): Habitat category and land
use of the Hakaluki Haor in winter and
monsoon seasons:
Habitat Category (Land cover) |
|
| |
|
| ||
Beel |
|
| Fishing, bird |
River/canals |
|
|
|
Kandi/ fallow land |
|
| Grazing, |
Boro crop |
|
|
|
Rabi crop |
|
| Oil seeds and |
Total |
|
| In monsoon, |
Sourse: CNRS-2000.
As can be seen from the Table (5.1),
16151.42 acres of land used for boro rice cultivation covering over 35% of the
total haor basin. Most part of almost every beels in the haor used for boro rice
cultivation. However, these lands go under water in the monsoon and use as
fisheries habitats and fishing is the major land use in the monsoon season. Rabi
crop comprising of oil seeds and pulses are also grown in the haor basin but at
the higher elevated lands along edges of the haor basin. Rabe land covers an
area of 8638 acres (about 19% of the total haor basin).
Photograph
5.1: Agriculture in Hakaiuki Haor.
During monsoon season, total area (45000 acres),
which were under different land uses in the winter season get inundated by river
flooding and rain waters. The whole haor become a single sheet of water and look
like a vast inland sea. During monsoon season, fishing and boat navigation
therefore, is the only use of the haor. Thousands of families subsist on fishing
in the flooded haor for their livelihood during monsoon season.
Apart from rice and oil seeds,
different types of vegetables are also produced. There are suitable areas in the
haor basin for winter vegetables cultivation but lack of irrigation facilities
has been considered as constraints for expanding the vegetables cultivation
practices. Water decreases in winter and suddenly increases during the April-May
(Boishakh). It is learned that different types of hybrid vegetables are
cultivated along with indigenous varieties.
5.2 Occupation of Household Head in the study
Area:
As it is seen from the following graph, more
than one third of the peoples were involved in agriculture (37%), followed by
fishing (22)% and day labor (11)% respectively. In the following figure 5.1,
details information was given:
(Figure 5.1): Occupation of Household
Head
5.3 Distribution of Monthly Family
Income:
As illustrated in Figure 5.2, there is
variation in average monthly income between households. Approximately half of
the populations earn between 1,500 and 5,000 BDT, and half above 5,000 BDT a
month. In here, total population are divided into five (5) categories like very
poor whose monthly income about less than 1500 BDT, poor whose monthly income
varies from 1500-3000 BDT, lower middle whose monthly income varies from
3000-5000BDT, middle whose monthly income varies from 5000-7000 BDT and last
one is rich whose monthly income above 7000 BDT. In below the following Figure,
details data was given here-
(Figure 5.2): Distribution of Monthly Family Income
5.4 Average Income of the Households
(Annul):
However, it was also clear during our
reconnaissance survey that the majority of the people living in the haor basin
are absentee landlords, and that most of the land are used only for one crop.
This means that land is not tilled as intensively as in other regions, a
positive sign for the environment. Consequently, the questionnaire included
questions regarding the source of income.
Figure 5.3 shows that a large majority of local residents receive their
income from crops (reflecting a dependency on haor land for rice cultivation),
the next important source of income is river or water bodies and the third
important source of income is remittance received from abroad.
Average income from crop selling (agriculture) was BDT
20,793 and 59.52% of the respondents earned this amount. The second main source
of income is share cropping and annual income was BDT 13,419. Remittance from
the expatriate Bangladeshis is the fourth source of income for 18%.
(Figure 5.3): Average Income of the Households (Annul)
5.5 Households Involvement with various local organizations related to Haor
mgt:
In terms of membership of organizations only
(33%) of the households were found to be involved directly with CNRS of which
(83%) was male and (17%) was female, Cooperative (35 %), Farmer Cooperative
(9.80%), Women Cooperative (10%) and so on as the following shows on Figure
5.4.
Figure 5.4:
HHs involvement with various haor related organization:
5.6 Quality of life:
Quality of life is an important element of decision making in conservation
efforts. Types of toilet used, source of electricity and source of fuel are
considered good proxy variables for quality of life.
In terms of toilet
facilities 54% of the households use ring slab, 26% uses sanitary latrine while
regarding source of lighting, only 32% used electricity (or had access to
electricity) and the large majority used kerosene. Considering the source of
water, 95% uses tube-wells and another 70% uses ponds
and rivers.
5.7 Source of Collection of Fuel in Haor Areas:
Regarding source of fuel for cooking, data shows that
timber residue and cow-dung were the two major sources of fuel for cooking
purposes. Over a quarter of respondent’s state that they collect these fuel
sources from the haor. 27% fuel was collected from
Photograph: 5.2-(a) A local people brought a Hijal log from the
haor area, 5.2(b)
Local people brought Gagra as shoulder loads
for domestic cooking.
the Haor, 25% fuel was collected from the village, 18% fuel was collected from
their own garden, 9 % fuel was collected from the market and so on as shows on
Figure 5.5:
(Figure 5.5): Fuel source in the locality
5.8 Ownership of Properties:
Nearly all respondents own their houses in the
Hakaluki haor area. This reinforces the observations above that people in the
Hakaluki haor basin are comparatively well-off in terms of property ownership,
compared to other parts of Bangladesh. Figure 5.6, in here given
percentage of owned properties-
(Figure 5.6): Ownership of
Properties:
5.9 Dependence of
Households on Haor Resources:
The property rights regime in the haor has several dimensions. First,
agricultural land is privately owned and operated; second, the leased out beels
are also private property for the period of lease while government regulates
operations through its district administration; and third, the kanda land is
government land with no private claims on it. These lands are the rural commons
where grazing activities, collection of reeds, duck rearing activities take
place. Various departments of the Government of Bangladesh including the
Ministry of Environment and Forests have claims on this land or on part of
Photograph: 5.3(a) A
grazing field in the locality during winter, 5.3(b) Duck rearing: one of
the major income generating opportunities in the area.
this land. To implement a management strategy
for the haor resources, it is important to understand the connectivity of people
with this land.
5.10
People who collect haor resources from the commons and the private lands:
About two thirds of the households living in the
region regularly visit the haor in order to collect wetland resources. However,
they face the threats from private operators. Our survey reveals that 46% of
them face such obstructions during collection of resources. 90% of them said
that the barriers come while fishing in the beels (whereas big beels are leased
out there are many small beels inside the haors which are part of the rural
commons but the leaseholders often encroach into their rights as common people
do not have legal papers to defend their access to these commons); (29%) have
reported resistance during bird hunting (which shows that government campaigns
to protect birds in the haors have found its footage); (19)% faced hindrance
during fuel wood collection and (14%) faced difficulties while grazing herds in
the commons.
In terms of whom the players are in creating such obstacles, As can seen from
the table 5.2, nearly 75% of the people found the obstacles coming from the
lease-holders, government & NGO’s officials were next in the line, (43%) and
then the land owners (42%) Local influential people, interestingly, do not
violate the rights of the common people on the beels/haor resources.
Table 5.2: Restriction on Haor resources utilization and access imposed by
several bodies:-
Category label |
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5.11
Local peoples fishing rights on the Beels:
Figure
5.7 shows that only (10%) of beel lease holders and cooperatives have legal
fishing rights. Nearly (50%) of the beels are 'open access' resources, 22% are
under private ownership, and in (1%) of beels villagers have common rights, and
in some beels rights are not well defined (0.5%).
This provides a picture of the potential for conflicts if there is an initiative
to unify or to redefine their rights without appropriate consultation or
participation and without amending legal regimes in the haor area.
(Figure 5.7): fishing
rights on the Beels by local Peoples
Photograph 5.4:
Three fishermen returning after fishing operation from the haor
5.12 Economic Activities in the Haor:
Other than fishing and rice
cultivation, there are various economic activities from which people benefit.
Figure 5.8 illustrating that fishing and fish related activities were the
major source of livelihood for the people. Nearly 83%
of people were involved in activities related to fish production from the haor.
Cattle grazing and duck rearing were also very common in the haor and nearly 97%
and 87% of the people were involved in it respectively. Fuel wood collection is
also an important economic activity while poaching of birds was also crucial for
nearly 16% of the people. About 9% people were involved in sand extraction while
about 6% were engaged in reed collection.
(Figure 5.8): Economic Activities in
the Haor
5.13 Initiators of Income Generating
Activities in the Haor:
Initiators are so much important
because without them, it is not possible to mange the whole activities were
happened in the Haor areas. As can be seen from the Table 5.3, private
individuals are the main initiators of economic activities. Around 9 % of the
jobs were initiated by the Lessee of the beels. Similarly, local Member of the
Parliament, or members of the elected local government institutions are
responsible for nearly 36% of the economic activities.
Table 5.3: Initiators of Income Generating
Activities in the Haor
Category Label | Observations | Percent |
Local MP | (Information collected from Local peoples)
| 2.87 |
Lessee | 82 | 9.80 |
Private Individuals | 110 | 84.47 |
Influential people | 21 | 2.51 |
Chairman/members of LGI | 3 | 0.36 |
Total | 240 | 100 |
5.14 Income Generation from various livelihood
Activities:
As can be seen from
the table, household income generated from various economic activities.
Table 5.4(A) shows that average income from capture fisheries were over
16,980 BDT per household, and that nearly half of households are engaged in
this. However, culture fishing was also a growing industry in the area,
providing an average income of 13,440 Taka for participating households shown in
the Table 5.4(B). Just under half of the populations were engaged in
collecting other wetland products for their residential use, and about 6% in
direct income-generation from haor resources.
Annual Income of
Households from Haor related Economic Activities are divided into the following
type:
Table 5.4(A). Aquatic resources:
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Table 5.4(B). Fish culture & Fish Trading:
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5.15 Average Income from non-aquatic
resources:
In here, food for human means
that aquatic fruits those were used as food like Singgara, Bat, and Halu etc.
Mainly children were engaged to collect such types of food materials. Those are
delicious. Sometimes, aquatic fruits were sold by them in the market and create
scope for earning source. Table shows that average income from such types of
fruits materials was 4.78%. Cattle feeding were the main issues in there,
providing an average income was 3,430 TK. (35.71%). Secondly, fuel wood was
about 2,620 TK (20.24%). And so on.
Table 5.4(C). Average Income from non-aquatic
resources:
Items | Observation | Percent | Average Annual Income |
Food for human | 4 | 4.76 | 3,480.00 |
Feed for cattle | 30 | 35.71 | 3,430.00 |
Roofing materials | 2 | 2.38 | 1,085.00 |
Fencing materials | 6 | 7.14 | 888.00 |
Fuel | 17 | 20.24 | 2,620.00 |
Others | 1 | 1.19 | 2,425.00 |
D. Annual income from other income generating
activities:
In here, Vegetables cultivation was
the main source which is about to 27.38%, second
income source was small business which was related to the Haor
activities, is around to 12 %. Handicrafts and cane made materials also a source
of income but very small percentage.
Table5.4 (D): Annual income from
other income generating activities:
Other Activities | Observation | Percent | Annual average income |
Small business | 10 | 11.90 | 26,300.00 |
Handicrafts | 3 | 3.57 | 7,600.00 |
cane made materials | 3 | 3.57 | 5,833.00 |
vegetable cultivation | 23 | 27.38 | 2,613.00 |
Others | 3 | 3.57 | 1,666.00 |
5.16 Resources collection by poor peoples from Hakaluki
Haor:
The local people reported that 10-15
years back there were abundance of aquatic vegetation in the Hakaluki Haor area.
Indiscriminate harvestion of the haor vegetation i.e. the grasses, herbs, shrubs
and swamp trees (Hijol, barun, karoch. etc.) has caused elimination of vast area
of plants. Once there in the deep haor was Hijol forest, now it is completely
not seen in the area.
A total of 106 species of hydrophytes under different
groups have been observed in the Hakaluki Haor area (CNRS, 2004). Hydrophytes
have strong seasonal abundance and occurrences. Among the 48 species of wet
season hydrophytes, 8 species were marginal, 14 were rooted emergent, 4 were
submerged floating, 5 were rooted submerged, 11 were emergent with floating
leaves and 6 species were free floating (CWBMP, 1999)..
Among the dry season plants
75 species of hydrophytes (59 genus and 36 families) exists; whereby feeding
plants 15, medicinal plants 9, fuel-providing plants 6, vegetable producing
plants 6, starch yielding plants 3 and ornamental plants 1.
Photograph
5.5 Paniphal: an important edible wetland species
found frequently in the
locality.
A total of 115 species of terrestrial plants
were observed during wet and dry seasons respectively. Among the wet season
vegetation 29 species of shrubs, 16 small trees, 5 trees like and 62 species of
trees were observed. In the dry season, 151 species were observed under 122
genus and 60 families. Among the species of dry season; Supari, Aam, Dumur,
Kanak, Chamir, Kanthal, Jai bansh, Muli bansh were dominant in this region. Agor
is dominant in northeastern side of the Haor. Among all of the plants, fruit
tree 27, medicinal plants 11, timber yielding plants 38, flower/ ornamental
plants 14, beverage producing plant 1, fiber yielding plants 11, spice and
condiments plants 2, rubber yielding plant 1, and sugar yielding plants
2.(CWBMP, 1999)
Here given some species collection status before 10 years ago
to till now:-
5.16(A). Collection Status before 10 years ago:
As illustrated in Table 5.5,
huge number of species likes Hijol, Nolkhagra, Gagra etc, abundance of Fishes;
Grasses etc were presented in there. As an example for this, 15-20 pcs Hijol
Trees were collected within 1-1.5 hours, 50-60 pcs Nolkhagra, 2000-300 pcs Gagra,
3-4 kg Fish and 4-5kg Grasses were found respectively within 1-1.5hours, 1 hour,
1 hour and 1 hour. It’s proved those 10 years ago, Hakaluki Haor had a great
abundance of natural resources.
Resources | ||||||
| Status | Status | Present
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Nol |
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Gagra |
| 1 mile |
| 1-2 mile |
| 2-2.5 mile |
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Table 5.5, Resources Collection Status by Poor Peoples
5.16(B) Collection Status before 5 years ago:
As can be seen from the
Table 5.5(B), five (5) years ago from today, a considerable amount of Haor
resources were presented in there. As for example, 1015 pcs Hijol, 30-40 pcs
Nolkhagra, 200-300 pcs Gagra, 3-4 kg Fish, and 4-5 kg Grasses etc were found
respectively within 2-2.5 hours, 1.5-2 hours, 1.5-2 hours, 2 hours and 2 hours.
5.16(C).
Present collection status:
In Table C, showed that Haor resources
touched a dead condition. As for example, nowadays only 1-2 pcs of Hijol are
collected within 3-4 hours, but 10 years ago, huge amount of Hijol could be
collected within 3-4 hours. Rest of the Haor resources also to be the same
condition like grasses, fish etc.
Above the following discussion, we can say that, Hakaluki Haor faces a
great threat of their environmental condition because of decreasing its natural
resources which had played a great role to balance its environmental condition.
But, nowadays due to the absences of natural resources, it’s loosed the
balancing environmental condition. Such type of condition was created because of
the illogical harvest of its resources. Large number of population within
adjacent the Hakaluki Haor whose are fully dependent on its resources. As a
result, it creates a great pressure on the Haor resources. Day by day, peoples
demand is increasing, as a result pressure also increase on the Haor resources.
But resources are limited and could not fulfill the increasing demand. Haor
resources are collected in unwanted way; as a result it becomes to be
Ecologically Critical Area.
5.17 Resources used pattern by the
local people:
Most of the people’s in
the Haor areas are poor, Illiterate. Most of the time, they lead their life by
practicing farming, sometimes it’s converted to farming. It’s mainly depending
on the seasonal variation. Using pattern of resources of the Haor areas also
depend on the social condition of the Haor adjacent people’s.
Illustrating in the Table 5.6, in case of poor men, main
occupation was the Farming, Labor was the secondary occupation. In cause of
them, Most of the family members like male, Female, and Child are involve for
doing such types of work. Here, noted that their monthly income varies from
3000-3500 BDT.
In case of middle man, their
main income source was also farming, secondary income sources were poultry, take
lease Beel from the Government. In here, male were involve for doing their work.
Their average monthly income varies from 5000-5500 BDT. Most of the people are
such type of group in the Haor areas.
And, in case of Rich man, their
main income also come from the farming, but a major part of the income also come
from the remittances, also come from the leased Beel. Here also only involve
male person. Their average monthly income varies from 15000-16000 BDT.
Table 5.6 Resources used pattern by the local
people
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| Poultry, Leased Beel, Small Business. |
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| Leased Beel, Remittances |
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Above average discussion, here we see that, adjacent peoples in the Haor area
are fully depend on the Haor resources, specially middle man and poor man are
fully involve on Hakaluki Haor for their livelihood activities. Here also noted
that most of the people are under the poor and middle criteria. So, we can
easily say that every person in the adjacent Haor area is depending on The
Hakaluki Haor. So, Hakaluki Haor deals a great value for every living stage of
the adjacent peoples.
CHAPTER: 6 (SIX)
Recommendation and Conclusion.
6.1 Recommendation:
After appraising the
prevailing conditions through discussions with participating NGOs, various
personnel and local people as well as field visits, it was realized that some
practical initiatives should be taken to reverse the current plant resource
degradation and improve the peoples socio-economic condition whose are living
adjacent to the Hakaluki Haor areas. In the light of the objectives and outputs
of the Sustainable Environment Management Programmed, the following
recommendations are being proposed.
6.1.1
Establishment and management of Hijol-Koroch plantations:
Of all the prevailing
species found in the Hakaluki Haor, Hijol, koroch, barun, Gagra etc. are the
most important, useful and demand-oriented ones. Their abundance in the area is
only a history now. Over-use, coupled with conversion of Hijol and karoch rich
areas into paddy fields and lack of regeneration efforts have pushed the tree
resources to the edge of extinction. Nowadays, only a few scattered clumps of
old trees could be seen as remnants of the once flourishing freshwater forest
cover. It is high time we paid attention to protection and reestablishment of
these species.
The
potential sites for Hijol and Koroch are
•
The kandu
areas of
the bttof
basins
•
Submergible embankment edges in the floodplains
•
Submergible roadsides in the floodplains
•
Edges of the kuas
in the
floodplains
•
Edges of excavated canals and their banks in both areas
Plantation may be
established by involving local community groups through a mechanism of sharing
the yield. In case of roadside plantations, the roadside farmers likely to be
affected by the shade from the trees in the future could be included along with
the benefit sharing group and their probable losses. Alternatively, these
farmers could separately be included in the
programmed as a stakeholder to
achieve the desired goal of sustainability of
these plantations.
Community involvement
with a benefit sharing mechanism, in any tree planting/ afforestation programme
is assumed to be the key to its success. A clear cut agreements, elucidating the
proportion of benefits that would accrue to different stakeholders, need to be
enforced and if required, such agreement should be registered. A scheme through
any “food for work” programmed or daily wages, for watching and maintenance of
the newly planted trees during the first two or three years of planting could
ensure success.
6.1.2 Using
native plants in the plantation programme:
It is wise to plant indigenous species in any plantation
programme. The use of indigenous plants to a given region is crucial in habitat
restoration. In a
wetland
restoration program, indigenous plants offer many advantages and help
to create
self- sustaining, low-cost habitat maintenance.
Native plants are
drought and disease tolerant, many are low-lived
perennials which survive for decades, attract
butterflies, native birds and
beneficial insects, help to restore plant diversity as well as stabilize and
replenish soil nutrients, and they are
sturdier than many of their non-native,
even cultivated cousins. Indigenous plants
also play a vital role in absorbing
excess nutrients from runoff and therefore preferred in buffer strips, filter
strips, and vegetated swales.
Although native plants require the same care and attention as exotics,
cultivated
species once established could survive and thrive for many years with little
maintenance. In the wetland restoration or restoration of swamp
forest,
indigenous species viz. Hijol, Karoch, Barun, Panibaj, Kash, Khagra,
etc. should
be given.
6.1.3
Tree planting in homesteads:
The crowded homesteads
have little opportunity for large scale tree
planting, but there are enough scope for improving the existing stock
and
replacement.
Some of the inhabitants of Hakaluki haor area commonly
growing Kanthhal (jackfruit) trees might be replaced by economically more
viable species like Safeda
(Manilkara achras},
Grafted
Boroi or Kul (Zizyphus mauritiana).
The
villagers may be encouraged to grow some fodder plants such
as Babla (Acacia nilotica), etc. to meet the
acute shortage of fodder during monsoon. In crowded homesteads, fruit species
should be preferred to the forestry species. But, when there is enough space
available, planting of forestry species such as Khoi Babla (Acacia nilotica),
Ashok (Saraca indicda), Kadom (Anthocephalus chinensis), Raintree (Albizia saman),
etc. would be beneficial for earning cash with little effort.
6.1.4
Plantation of patipata:
Patipata (Schumannanthus
dichotomd) is a very suitable crop for growing in any marshy fallow land.
The following sites under the project area in particular may be brought under
patipata cultivation:
Ø
The marshy fallow land in and
around the homesteads.
Ø
The shallow inundated areas of
haor area.
Ø
Third layer of vegetative “wave
and erosion combating” belt, next to the homesteads in most of the haor
and floodplain areas.
6.1.5
Establishment of three-layer vegetative protection belt for
homesteads:
The homesteads in the low-lying areas
(haor and beel) are subjected to wave action and water-thrust. Such features
often cause soil erosion. To protect the homesteads, especially during the
monsoon months, a vegetative protection measures is suggested in and around
them. Three such belts may be created one behind the other with a view to reduce
the intensity of wave action. The frontmost belts may be of karoch planted at a
close spacing of 4'x4'. The next belt may be of Khagra (Pragmites karka)
planted at a spacing of 1'xl'. The third belt will be the closer to the
homesteads and its edge can be planted with Patipata at a spacing of 1'xl'. The
width of these belts will vary from locality to locality, depending on the
availability of suitable sites for planting. Establishment of such layers of
vegetation will help to protect the homesteads from wave action. The karoch belt
may gradually be replaced by monsoon. In crowded homesteads, fruit species
should be preferred to the forestry species. But when there is enough space
available, planting of forestry species such as Khoi Babla (Acacia nilotica),
Ashok (Samoa indicd), Kadom (Anthocephalus chinemis), Raintree (Albizia saman)
etc. would be beneficial for earning cash with little effort.
6.1.6 Encouraging household based products:
It has been observed
that in haor areas, khejur (date palm) leaves are used for making mats by the
skilled locals. These workers may be organized a little further and provided
with snort training so Chat they can produce newer items like waste paper, fruit
baskets, lamp-shades, decoration pieces, etc. using khejur fronds. These
producrs are likely to fetch lucrative prices. . Groups may be organized and
assistance may be provided to these groups along with securing some sort of
marketing facilities in the nearby city markets. Similarly, necessary guidance
and training may be given to the organized groups to enable them to produce
quality mat and shitalpati from putipata. These will definitely help in poverty
alleviation in the project areas.
6.1.7
Restoration of Swamp Forest :
Remnant stands of haor swamp forest species mainly Hijol
(Batringtonia
aculangulata)
Koroch (Pongamia
pinnata) and Barun (Craiaeva
nurvala)
are still sparsely distributed
and common in some of the wetlands
areas. Swamp forests are under pressure from conversion to agricultural
land, grazing and felling.
These processes are very rapidly affecting the remnant
swamp forest adversely.
Stakeholders of the projects, therefore, identified
swamp forest restoration as one of the most important activities for
sustainable development and management of the wetland ecosystem.
6.1.8
Development and planning:
a.
The planning strategies for development of
Hakaluki Haor areas may
be developed keeping in view the
national needs and priorities for
their conservation and development.
b.
Participation of local communities/NGOs/CBOs/PVOs in planning,
implementation and management of
development interventions should be given due recognition by concern agencies.
c.
Environmental mitigation measures should be
made integral part of
all development projects, including
those under implementation, having
major adverse impacts through appropriate Environmental
Impact Assessment (E1A).
d.
Appropriate institutional framework needs to
be set up by involving
all
concerned agencies for effective coordination in sustainable
management.
6.1.9
Monitoring:
a.
Monitoring of impacts from development
interventions in haor areas should constitute a component of development projects.
b.
The critical areas should be continuously
monitored to ensure that
effective measures are taken for arresting further degradation
6.1.10.
It is
necessary to establish a National Wetland Committee consisting
of representatives from all relevant Ministries/Divisions/
Departments/Agencies/NGOs environmental groups/research
organizations and other concerned groups. The Committee would
give overall guidance to wetland management activities and monitor
implementation of the action programme. The Ministry of
Environment and Forest should take steps to initiate this kind of
arrangement.
6.1.11.
Involvement of concerned people from different quarter should be
ensured from the very initial stage of development schemes in the
wetland areas. There should be a continuous interaction between the
local people and the development agents. This exchange process can
reduce the adverse impacts of development schemes.
6.1.12 A final word on integration:
Fish, agriculture and
forest resources though renewable, are very closely tagged with land and compete
among themselves for the land, which is definitely scarce. Its allocation to
these competing uses need to be well judged and integrated to harvest the best
possible benefits, not only in terms of economic gain alone, but also for the
overall or global benefits such as biodiversity conservation, carbon
sequestration, etc. Thus integration of these sectors is of' utmost importance.
To achieve this goal, well-judged adjustments from time to time will be
required.
6.2 Conclusions:
The fact that Hakaluki haor has been designated as an
Ecologically Critical Area signifies its importance as a reservoir of
disappearing natural resources. This study underscores the reality that that
Hakaluki also constitutes an important source of natural capital, which yields
high economic and livelihood values to surrounding populations and the country
as a whole.
Survey findings show that more
than 80% of local households depend on wetland resources, and that the bulk of
income-earning and livelihood opportunities in the area are wetland-based. The
wetland also generates a series of economically important ecosystem services,
which function to underpin, support and safeguard essential production and
consumption processes. In total, it has been estimated that Hakaluki haor is
worth at least BDT 585 million, or an average of BDT 48,000/hectare.
(CWBMP-2000).
The study describes
inter-linkages between wetland ecology and economic processes. In addition to
confirming the economic value attached to wetland conservation, it highlights
the costs associated with the loss or degradation of wetland goods and services
in terms of losses to livelihoods and the economy.
To conserve biodiversity and protect the natural resources of
Hakaluki Haor the initiative and measure should be taken which are swamp forest
restoration and conservation, sustainable management of fisheries resources,
production of wildlife, resources substitution for conservation of wetland
ecology, ensure alternative sources of income and development of community based
organization.
Government should formulate
appropriate policy and necessary law and should to create awareness among (he
people to preserving it biodiversity. It is also necessary to co-ordinate among
different Ministry, specially Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Ministry of
water resource, Ministry of land.
References
Alam, M.K., Mohiuddin, M. and
Guha, M.K. 1991. Trees for low-lying areas of
Bangladesh.
FRI publication. Government of
Bangladesh. Forest
Research Institute, Chittagong, 98
pp.
Ali, M. Y. 1990. Open Water
Fisheries and Environmental Changes. In khan M.S.; Haq E.; Huq S.; Rahman
A.A.; Rashid S.M.A. and Ahmed H. 1994. Wetlands of Bangladesh. Bangladesh
Centre for Advanced
Studies in associated with Nature Conservation Movement.
Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209,
Bangladesh.
Akonda, A. W. 1989. Wetlands of
Bangladesh. In Khan M.S.; Haq E.; Huq S.;
Rahman A.A.; Rashid S.M.A, and
Ahmed H. 1994. Wetlands of
Bangladesh. Bangladesh Centre
for Advanced Studies in associated
with Nature Conservation
Movement. Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209,
Bangladesh.
Anonymous. 1999. Ecologically
Critical areas of Bangladesh [Online April 2007] URL:
http://ramsar.org/profile/profiles/_bangladesh.htm.
Biber-Klemm, S. 1991.
International Legal instruments for the protection of
migratory birds: An overview
of the West Palearctic-African flyways.
In
Nishat, A.; Hussain, Z.; Roy,
M. K. and Karim, A. 1993.
Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and Approaches for
Management. IUCN-The World
Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.
Boere, G. C. 1991. The Bonn
Convention and the conservation of migratory birds.
In
Nishat, A.; Hussain, Z.; Roy, M.K. and Karim, A. 1993.
Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and Approaches for
Management. IUCN-The World
Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.
CNRS (Centre for
Natural Resource Study), 2002. Bio-physical characteristics of Hakaluki Haor.
Pp: 7-20.
CWBMP (Coastal and Wetland
Biodiversity Management Project), 1999. Plant
Biodiversity. Department of
Environment. Government of the
People's Republic of
Bangladesh.
Choudhury, J.K. and Faisal, A.
M. 2005. Plant Resources of Haors and
Floodplains; An Overview.
IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Bangladesh Country office, Dhaka.
Dugan, P.J. 1990. Wetland
Conservation: A Review of Current Issues and
Required Action. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland. In Nishat, A.; Hussain,
Z.; Roy, M.Kr and
Karim, A. - 1993. Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and
Approaches for Management. IUCN-The
World Conservation Union,
Gland, Switzerland.
FAP (Flood Action Plan)-6, 1993. Wetland Resources
Specialist Study. Northeast Regional Water Management Project. Government of the
People's Republic of
Bangladesh. Bangladesh Water
Development Board.
Flood Plan Coordination Organization and Canadian International
Development Agency.
Gulati, N.K.I 981. A Glossary
of Forestry Terms. International Book Distributors,
Rajpur Road, Dehra Dun. pp:
190.
Ghani, A. 1998. Medicinal
Plants of Bangladesh. Chemical Constituents and
Uses. Asiatic Society of
Bangladesh, Dhaka, pp: 460.
Hails, A. J. 1996. Wetland
Biodiversity and the Ramsar Convention: The roles of the conservation on
wetlands in the Conservation and wise use of Biodiversity. Ramsar, Switzerland,
pp: 10-12.
IWRB, 1992.Action Programme
for the Conservation of Wetlands in South and
West Asia. In Nishat,
A.; Hussain, Z.; Roy, M.K. and Karim, A.
Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and Approaches for
Management. IUCN-The
World Conservation Union, Gland,
Switzerland.
Islam, A.K.M.; Nurul, M. and
Paul, N. 1978. Hydro-biological study of the
Hakaluki Haor in Sylhet.
Journal of Asiatic Society Bangladesh
(Science): 111-113
Karim, A. 1993. Plant
diversity and their conservation in freshwater wetlands. In Nishat, A.;
Hussain, Z.; Roy, M.K. and Karim, A. 1993. Freshwater
Wetlands in Bangladesh:
Issues and Approaches for Management.
IUCN-The World Conservation
Union, Gland, Switzerland.
Khan, M.S.; Haq, E.; Huq, S.;
Rahman, A.A.; Rashid S.M.A. and Ahmed H.
1994.
Wetlands of
Bangladesh. Bangladesh Centre
for Advanced
Studies in
associated with Nature Conservation Movement,
Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209,
Bangladesh, pp: 2.
Ministry of Environment and
Forest (MOEF), 1991. Bangladesh Country Report
for. United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development
(UNCED). Government of the
Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.
Dhaka.
Nishat, A.; Hussain, Z.; Roy, M.K. and Karim, A.
1993. Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and
Approaches for Management. IUCN-The
World Conservation Union,
Gland, Switzerland.
UNCED, 1992. Convention on
Biological Diversity; United Nations Commission for Environment and Development,
Rio
dc
Janerio, Brazil. In
Nishat, A.; Hussain, Z.; Roy, M.K. and Karim. A. 1993. Freshwater Wetlands in
Bangladesh: Issues and Approaches for Management. IUCN-The World Conservation
Union, Gland, Switzerland.
UNDP, 1994. Bangladesh: Coastal
and Wetland Biodiversity Management at
Cox’S Bazar and Hakaluki Haor.
pp: 21.
Yousuf, M., Rahman, M.O., Khan, M.S. and Huq, S.
1997. Angiospermic flora of
Chanda Beel, Gopalgonj district in
Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Journal of Plant
Taxonomy 4(2): 25-36.
Appendices
Appendix-1: List of wetland plants found in Hakaluki
Haor
Submerged:
Local Name | Scientific Name | Family |
Muamia, kaowathukri | Sagittaria guayanemis | Alismataceae |
Chhotokul | Sagittaria sagittifolia | Alismataceae |
Ghechu | Aponogeton nalans | Aponogetonaceae |
Ghechu | Aponogeton undulates | Aponogetonaceae |
Jhangi, katajhanji | Ceratophyllum desmerswn | Ceartophyllaceae |
Jhanji | Ceratophyllurn | Ceartophy11aceae |
Shayala | Blyxa echinospema | Hydrocharitaceae |
Kureli | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrocharitaceae |
Panikola, kaorali | Ottelia alismoides | Hydrocharitaceae |
Pataseola, Bicha | Vallisnaria spiralis | Hydrocharitaceae |
Keorafi | Potamogelon crispus | Potamogetoceae |
Keorali | Potamogeton mucronatus | Potamogetoceae |
Keorali | Potamogeton peciinatus | Potamogetoceae |
Free floating:
Local Name | Scientific Name | Family |
Topapana | Pistia staatiotes | Araceae |
Khudipana | Pemma pcrpusilla | Lemnaceae |
Khudipana | Spirodela polyrthiza | Lemnaceae |
Khudipana | Spirodela punctaia | Lemnaceae |
Guripana | Wolffia arrhiza | Lemnaceae |
Guripana | Wolffia microscopica | Lemnaceae |
Chotojhanji | Ulricularia aurea | Lentibulariaceae |
Chotojhanji | Utricularia exileata | Lentibulariaceae |
Chotojhanji | Utricularia stellaris | Lentibulariaceae |
Chandmala | Nymphoides cristatum | Menynthaceae |
Panchuli | Nymphoides indicum | Menynthaceae |
Sushnisak | Met si lea quadrifofiata | Mensileaceae |
Padma | Nelumbo nucifera | Nymphaceae |
Sada, Raktoshopla | Nymphaea none-half | Nymphaceae |
Nilshapla | Nymphaea setella | Nymphaceae |
Kochuripana | Vichhornia pseudoraphis | Pontederiaceae |
Kuripana, Indurkan | Saivinia psvudoraphis | Salvinaceae |
Tetulapana | Salvinia natans | Salvinaceae |
Kutipana | Volla pinnata | Salvinaceae |
Karpur | Limnophlla heterophylla | Scrophulariaceae |
Sedges & Meadows:
Local Name | Scientific | Family |
Dhol kalmi | Ipomoeae ftstulosa | Convolvulaceae |
Panichaise | Fleocharis dulcis | Cyperaceae |
Shola, Banda | Aeschynomena aspera | Fabaceae |
Katshola, Bhatshola | Aeschvnomena indica | Fabaceae |
Sitalpati | Clynogyne dicholoma | Marantaceae |
Panidoga | Ludwigia repens | Onagraceae |
Ekor, khuri | Selerostachya fusca | Poaceae |
Pinginatchi | Setariafusca | Poaceae |
Kulkulle, kauni | Selaria glaitca | Poaceae |
Bishkatali | Polygonum barbatum | Polygonaceae |
Bishkatali, Kukra | Polygonum glabrum | Polygonaceae |
Kukra | Polygonum lanatum | Polygonaceae |
Kukra | Polygonum pedunculare | Polygonaceae |
Bishkatali, Kukra | Polygonum stagninum | Polygonaceae |
Baranukha, kechur | Monochoria hastate | Polygonaceae |
Reeds:
Local Name | Scientific | Family |
| ||
Khagra, Nol | Phragmites karka | Poaceae |
| ||
Haicha, Sachishak | A Iternanthera sessilis | Amaranthaceae |
| ||
Kata note | Amaranthus spinosus | Amaranthaceae |
| ||
Fulkuri | Ageratum conyzoidcs | Asteraceae |
| ||
Machiti, Hachuti | Cetipeda orbicularis | Asteraceae |
| ||
Machiti, Hachuti | Cotula hemisperica | Asteraceae |
| ||
Assamlata | Eupaiorium odoratum | Asteraceae |
| ||
Tripankhi | Coldenia procumbens | Boraginaceae |
| ||
Baron | Cratacva nurvala | Capparidaceae |
| ||
Chapali ghash | Chenopodium ambrosoides | Capparidaceae |
| ||
Swarnalata | Cuscuta auslralis | Convolvulaceae |
| ||
Niratraba | Cypents cephaloles | Cyperaceae |
| ||
Panichaise | Eleocharis atropurpurea | Cyperaceae |
| ||
Morchagra, Banjhal | Crolon bonplandlanum | Euphorbiaceae |
| ||
Chitki | Phvllanthus dislicha | Euphorbiaceae |
| ||
Chitki | Phyllanthus reticulates | Euphorbiaceae |
| ||
Gotagamer, Panidumur | Trewia nudiflora | Euphorbiaceae |
| ||
Hijol | Barringtonia aculangula | Lecythidaceae |
| ||
Karanch | Pongamia pinnata | Papilionoideae |
| ||
Durba | Cynodon dactylon | Poaceae |
| ||
Chota fulka | Digitaria longifolia | Poaceae | |||
Gaicha, chapre | Eleusina indica | Poaceae | |||
Sadaphuli, Sadajabria | Denlella repens | Rubiaceae | |||
Bias, Panihijal | Salix teirasperma | Salicaceae | |||
Alughas, Kakdim | Glinus lotoides | MoUuginaceae | |||
Nemuti, Namuti | Grangea madaraspatana | Asteraceae | |||
Hatisur | Heliotropium indicum | Boraginaceae | |||
Brahmishak | Herpestis manniera | Scrophulariaceae | |||
Jalibet | Calamus tennis | Aracaceae | |||
Barahalkasunda | Cassia occidentalis | Fabaceae | |||
Minjiri, Eskikoroi | Cassia siamea | Fabaceae | |||
Bansupari, Chaur | Caryola urens | Aracaceae | |||
Thankuni | Centella asiatica | Apiaceae | |||
Bulkokra | Chaetocarpus casianocarpus | Euphorbiaceae | |||
Jambura | Citrus grandis | Rutaceae | |||
Bamanhati, Banchat | Cleorodendrum siphonanthus | Verbenaceae | |||
Narical | Cocos nucifera | Aracaceae | |||
Jhanjhani | Croialaria saltiana | Fabaceae | |||
Gab, Desighab | Diospyros perigrina | Ebenaceae | |||
Rajghanta | Datura suaveolcns | Solanaceae | |||
Mander, Piltamander | Erythrina variegate | Fabaceae | |||
Tilamander | Erythrina ovatifolia | Fabaceae | |||
Bot | Ficus benghalensis | Moraceae | |||
Hijulia | Ficus rumphii | Moraceae | |||
Assawath | Ficus rcligiosa | Moraceae | |||
Dumur | Ficus his pi da | Moraceae | |||
Jarul | Lagerstroemia speciosa | Lythraceae | |||
Am | Mangifera indica | Anacardiaceae | |||
Tikiokra | Mdochia corchorrifotia | Sterculaceae | |||
Veratilata | Mikanla cordata | Asteraceae | |||
Kala | Musa paradisiaca | Musaceae | |||
Tulshi | Ocimum amcricanum | Lamiaceae | |||
Bantepari | Physalis minima | Solanaceae | |||
Monchata | Randia dwnclorum | Rubiaceae | |||
Reri, Bheranda | Ricinus communi | Euphorbiaceae | |||
Rendi, Rain tree | Samanea saman | Fabaceae | |||
Harua, Batul | Sapium indicum | Euphorbiaceae | |||
Khudijam | Syzygium fruticosa | Myrtaceae | |||
Kalojam | Syzygium cumini | Myrtaceae | |||
Kathadam.Deshibadam | Terminalia catappa | Combretaceae | |||
Appendix-2: Globally Significant Wetland Species
Scientific | Local Name |
Alternanthera philoxeroides | Malancho |
Apnogeton spp. | Ghechu |
Colocasia esculenla | Kachu, loti |
Enhydra fluctuam | Helancha |
Eichhorina spp. | Kachuripana |
Euryale ferox | Makhna |
Hrgrophila auriculata | Kulekhana |
Ipomoea aquatica | Kalmi |
Nelumbo nucifcra | Padma |
Nymphaea nouchali | Shapla |
Otleiia alismoides | Ramkarola, sham kola |
Persicarea spp | Biskatali, Pani morich |
Trapa. maximowiczii | Singra |
Appendix-3: Survey Questionnaire:
1)
District Code:
2)
Number of
Family Members:
3)
Number of
Earning Family Members:
4)
Educational
Qualification:
5) Village:
6) What is the main occupation
of your family?
a. Agriculture
- (own land, leased, orchard, nursery)
b. Fishing
- (full time, part time, leased, guard, trader)
c.Transport related
activities - (Boatman, bus driver)
d.
Laborer - (Agriculture, industrial, trading)
e. Small business
- (handicraft etc.)
f. Remittance
g. Others
- Livestock, poultry, herbal healers student, service holder)
7)
Average monthly income?
1.
Maximum 1500
BDT
2.
1500-3000 BDT
3.
3000-5000 BDT
4.
5000-7000 BDT
8)
What were the income sources?
|
| |
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| |
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| |
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|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
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| |
Small industry |
| |
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| |
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|
| |
9) Type of house: Please provide information on type of house you are living
(only for bedroom, kitchen and drawing room)
|
| |||
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10)
Type of latrines in the house:
1= Sanitary 2=Ring/slab
3= Open latrine
4= Bush/ open place/canal/river bank
5= Others
11).
Source of water for drinking, cooking and
bathing:
1= Deep tube-well
2= Shallow tube-well 3= Well
4= Pond/canal/river water 5= rain
water 6=Tap water
7= Others
12)
Source of light:
1 = Kerosene 2=
Electricity 3= Bio-gas
4= Candles 5= solar lamp 6= Battery
powered light
13) Information about fuel wood collection:
|
| Quantity ( uses) | ||
Low | Medium | High
| ||
|
|
| ||
|
|
| ||
|
|
| ||
4. Dry Trees |
|
| ||
5. Others |
|
| ||
Note: M=
Male, F= Femal
14) Other expenditure by the
family:
|
|
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|
15. a) Involving any organization?
|
1= irrigation/Pump
6=cooperative
2= farmer's association 7=youth society
3=Fishermen society 8= women cooperatives
4= farmer-labor union 9=industrial labor union
5=volunteer
b) Family members who
are involve?
16) Do
you own the land where you grow crops? 1= Yes 2=No,
17) Economic activities in
Haor:
Items | Land Used in Haor (%) | Produced | Consumed | Selling | Quantity |
Crops |
|
|
|
|
|
Rice |
|
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|
Fish |
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Vegetables |
|
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Poultry |
|
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Grazing |
|
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Others |
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|
|
18) Do you visit the haor to
extract its natural resources? Yes=1 no=2
19) Do you face any restrictions
during resource collection? Yes=1 no=2
20) What are the activities get hindered in haor?
(1) During fishing
(2) Tree cutting
(3) Fuel wood collection (4) Herb
collection
(5 Hunting (6) Sand
extraction
(7) Food collection 8) Fodder
collection
(9) Grazing (10)
Poultry
(II) Cow dung
collection (12) others
21)
Who imposes the restrictions?
1.
Government
2.
Lease holder
3.
Influential
persons
4.
Land owner
5.
Others
22)
Are you or your family members involved in fishing?
1.
Fish catching
2.
Whole selling
3.
Individual
selling
4.
Fish drying
5.
Fish weaving
6.
Net selling
7.
Fishing boat
8.
Labor
9.
Ice selling
10.
Ice factory
23)
What are the existing fisheries resource management practices?
1.
Community
based management
2.
Leasing
system
3.
Open access
4.
Equal right
5.
Village right
6.
Individual
right
7.
Others
24) How do people
participate in the existing fishing
system?
1.
Labor
2.
Trading
3.
Food
collection
4.
Service
5.
Others
25) What are the economic activities that depend on
haor resources?
1.
Commercial
fishing
2.
Fuel wood
collection
3.
Bird hunting
4.
Nol khagra
selling
5.
Sand
extraction
6.
Grazing
7.
Poultry
8.
Others
26) Who are the initiators
and who are the workers in implementing the
activities?
1.
Local MP
2.
Lease holder
3.
Local people
4.
Influential
persons
5.
Others
27) Who are working as labors?
1.
Locals
2.
Villagers
3.
Day labors
4.
Others
28) Please answer the followings if you and/or your family
members are involved in any haor resource collection/extraction.
Items | Participants (M/F/C) | Uses | Quantity |
Fish |
|
|
|
Grass/ Nol khagra |
|
|
|
Hijol/ Korach Phul |
|
|
|
Singra/ Paniphol |
|
|
|
Chan/ Baida /Eilla |
|
|
|
Vegetables |
|
|
|
Snails / Shinai |
|
|
|
Birds |
|
|
|
Herbs /Medicinal plants |
|
|
|
Others |
|
|
|
29).Do you sell anything that
you collect from Haor?
Yes =1 No =2
30).How much that contributes
to your income?
1)
Below 10%
2)
10%-50%
3)
50%-90%
4)
90%-100%
31)
How much of your annual income you spend on
enhancing and regenerate haor
resources?
1)
Below 10%
2)
10%-20%
3)
20% - 30%
4)
Above 30%
32). what vehicle you and your family members use
carry luggage?
1 = Rickshaw
2 = Non motorized van 3 = Taxi/ jeep
4 = Pick up van/ truck
5 = Bus/ Mini Bus
6 = Motorized van/ Baby taxi
7 =Motor cycle
8 = Cycle
9 = Boat
10 = Engine Boat
11 = Walking
12=Other.
33).
what is your monthly expenditure on transportation?
1)
Below 100
Taka
2)
100-200
3)
200-400
4)
400-500
5)
Above 500
Taka
34).How is you benefiting from
migratory birds?
1) Meat as
food 2) Selling 3) Pet/breeding 4) Increases
fish
number 5) Aesthetic
6) Enhance rice production by providing fertilizer
35) What is the reason of
flooding in haor area in your opinion?
1) Decreased depth of the river bed due to
sedimentation
2) Decreased depth of the
haor bed due to siltration
3) Absence of embankment
4) Fish culture
5) Other
36) Why should we protect the haor: (Please mention any 5 of
the below).
1) Source of
livelihood
6Aesthetic
and source of recreation
2) Source of food
7) Good
transportation route
3) Source of silt that that make the land fertile
8) Protect the natural beauty
4) Source of fuel
9)
supply of water
5) Increase fish production 10)
others
37) Dependency pattern in adjacent Hakaluki Haor :
Income Group | Activities | Results | Quantity ( TK) | Remarks |
Poor |
|
|
|
|
Lower Middle |
|
|
|
|
Middle |
|
|
|
|
Rich/ Member / Chairman |
|
|
|
|
38. Resources collection by poor peoples from
Hakaluki Haor:
A. Collection Status before 10 years ago?
Items | Amount | Distance | Required Time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Collection Status before 5 years ago?
Items | Amount | Distance | Required Time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Present collection status:
Items | Amount | Distance | Required Time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39. Have any Haor based Cottage industry in adjacent Hakaluki Haor?
1. Yes. 2. No
40. Resources used pattern by the local people:
| Activities | Main source? | If no, then- | Engaged people (M/F/C) | Income From Haor (TK) | ||
Primary | Secondary | Yes | no |
| |||
Poor man |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Middle man |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rich man |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Others |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.
.
.
