Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

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Management Actions Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan • Undertake urgent research into current beel leasing arrangements in order to develop a sound understanding of the terms and conditions under which leasing contracts are drawn-up • Explore the possibility of modifying the leasing contracts so that fishing activities are undertaken in a manner that is more sound and sustainable • Initiate discussions with relevant government agencies to determine the feasibility of ending beel leasing arrangements especially for those sites that are ecologically significant for Hakaluki Haor and /or represent important habitats for threatened and endangered wildlife • Initiate discussions with local community groups so that their concerns and interests can form part of the overall debate • Develop partnerships with existing licence owners and provide technical, and where feasible financial, support to help ensure that all activities are undertaken in a manner that is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and consistent with the management objectives of the ECA • Monitor activities at beels that have been leased to ensure that they are being undertaken in a manner that is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and consistent with the management objectives of the ECA Primary Outcome/ Output • The leasing of beels as an activity in the ECA is minimised • Beels are leased, managed, and monitored under strict a code of conservation Constraints • The leasing of beels in Hakaluki Haor represents a significant earning potential for government authorities and as such there may be strong resistance and lack of cooperation in changing current leasing arrangements 7.2.7 Land Ownership Land in Hakaluki Haor is either owned privately or by the government. Ownership, however, is not always clear cut or straightforward and there is significant potential for confusion to arise especially over the coming years when many areas of the ECA are going to be developed as sanctuaries and critical habitats for swamp forest, birds, fish and other ecologically significant species. Management Actions • Undertake research to establish what proportion of the land in the ECA is privately owned and what proportion is owned by the government • Prepare maps which show the relationship between privately and publicly owned land • Initiate discussions with Assistant Commissioner’s Land Department and inform them of all management initiatives which relate to the use of land in the ECA • Ensure that all land arrangements are clear before setting aside and establishing sites such as sanctuaries and critical habitats for swamp forest, birds, fish and other ecologically significant species. • Identify mechanisms to effectively and efficiently resolve land dispute issues Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 25
Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan Primary Outcome/ Output • Land ownership in the ECA is clarified and does not present an impediment to conservation activities Constraints • Up-to-date information on land ownership is not easily accessible • On-going land disputes may severely disrupt urgent conservation activities 7.2.8 Conflict of Interest Issues Although the Government of Bangladesh has declared Hakaluki Haor as an Ecologically Critical Area requiring urgent protection and management, not everyone shares this view. As land is scarce in Bangladesh, allocating so much of it to biodiversity conservation is not necessarily regarded as the best use of it. Furthermore, there are competing interests among those groups who want to use it for purposes other than biodiversity conservation. The primary conflict is between fishing communities who want access to the beels and its aquatic resources and farmers who want to convert the land for agricultural purposes. Interest from other groups include those who want keep the land clear for the grazing of their cattle such as sheep, goats, cows, and buffaloes, and those who want to retain the land and water bodies to rear domestic ducks. Management Actions • Identify, through the PAPD/ Community Mobilisation exercise, the nature and extent of the conflicts that exist between different use interests in Hakaluki Haor • Organise, with the support of existing community networks such as Village Conservation Groups and CBOs, events that bring relevant stakeholder groups together as a means of identifying ways to resolve conflict of interest issues • Identify, where feasible, suitable alternative income generating activities that help minimise and eradicate conflict of interest issues • Initiate community driven pilot activities aimed at minimising conflict of interest issues • Monitor pilot activities and document lessons learned Primary Outcome/ Output • All stakeholders support the management objectives of Hakaluki Haor as an ECA • Conflict of interests issue are resolved expediently and different user groups are working together to support conservation Constraints • Suitable and lasting alternatives aimed at minimising conflict of interest issues may be difficult to identify 7.2.9 ECA Mapping and Boundary Identification The area of the Hakaluki Haor ECA is defined by the administrative boundaries of eleven Unions (Bhatera, Baramchal, Bhakshimail, Jaifarnagar, Barni, Talimpur, Sujanagar, Paschim Juri, Gilachhara, Uttar Bade Pasha, and Sarifganj) which fall under the jurisdiction of five Upazilas Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 26
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Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

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