Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31
Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan
(Kulaura, Barlekha, Fenchugonj, Paschim Juri, and Golapgonj) in two Districts (Moulvibazar and
Sylhet).
Methodology for the mapping of the ECA has been developed. It has involved site visits throughout
the ECA, the use of GIS, and extensive formal and informal consultation with local community
members, as well as with relevant government agencies. This research has generated a significant
amount of data which has permitted initial work in defining the ECA into a number of zones. These
zones are being defined as follows:
Core Zone: No settlement, high number of water bodies, and fallow land
Zone Two: Little settlement but dominated by agriculture and other activities
Buffer/ Activity Zone: Multiple land use patterns dominated by settlement and agriculture
Each zone will require a different set of management objectives. These have been tentatively
defined as:
Core Zone: Strict conservation area containing fish sanctuaries incorporating important migration
channels, critical bird habitats, and swamp forest regeneration and re-vegetation sites. It should also
promote minimal disturbance from local communities in the form of fishing, farming, grazing, and
other resource extraction activities such as firewood collection.
Zone Two: While incorporating elements of strict conservation as in Core Zone 1, Zone Two
would primarily focus on the concepts of sustainable use and wise management of natural resources
in support of local community livelihoods. Emphasis should be placed on integrated conservation
and development approaches and the introduction of alternative income generating activities (IGAs)
aimed at easing pressure on the ECA ecosystem overall and in particular maintaining the integrity
of the Core Zone.
Buffer/ Activity Zone: constituting the outer ring of the ECA, the Buffer/ Activity Zone will
primarily be managed in terms of its key ecological and sociological features that are likely to have
a significant impact on or form an integral part of the Hakaluki Haor ecosystem such as rivers, tea
estates, industrial developments, plantations, and anything else that may affect the ECA’s
ecological integrity. Emphasis will be placed on minimising adverse impacts on the Haor
ecosystem, raising awareness, education, and capacity building.
As part of the ECA mapping exercise, a significant amount of work has also been undertaken to
assess the ecological appropriateness of the gazetted boundary. This has mostly involved
identifying the boundary and then travelling its length to develop a first-hand understanding of its
key features, and perhaps more importantly to ascertain whether or not there are ecologically
significant areas which have not been, but which should be, included in the gazette.
Management Actions
• Continue mapping activities to further define appropriate management zones of the ECA
• Update and refine relevant databases
• Create new databases as required
• Prepare a report which document the ECA mapping methodology and approach
• Procure and analyse recent satellite and aerial imagery
• Use GIS software to create a map showing each of the management zones and their respective
features
Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 27