Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

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Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan providing a steady and stable source of additional income for the local community in particular poorer families. Selection should also be based on: � Local preferences. � The adaptive capacity of each potential crop particularly in relation to local climatic and bio-physical conditions (drought, flood, wind, soil, pests and disease etc) • Develop a comprehensive plan aimed at maximising production from homestead gardens while maintaining the ecological integrity of the ECA • Work with local communities to initiate activities to increase the number, type, and yield of existing horticultural crops in homestead gardens • Based on a detailed analysis of data collected, introduce new and economically viable horticultural varieties as a means of increasing food security, generating income, and ultimately reducing pressure of the ECA • Identify alternatives for communities whose gardens become inundated during the flooding season • Engage and help establish as required cooperatives especially involving women which support well managed and economically viable homestead gardens Primary Outcome/ Output • Homestead gardens are making a significant contribution to household incomes and dependence on the natural resources of the ECA is minimised • Homestead gardens are managed sustainably and without the use of agro-chemicals Constraints • Local communities may resist the introduction of new crops • Annual flooding may pose a significant hurdle to overcome • Financing the introduction of new horticultural crops may prove to be quite expensive 7.2.12 Irrigation Water is seemingly abundant in the Haor especially during the months of rain when the ECA floods for up to five months of the year. During the winter months, however, the landscape changes dramatically and what was just a large inland freshwater lake becomes fertile ground for agricultural activity. To irrigate newly planted crops farmers draw water from a variety of sources including canals, rivers, beels, and underground water tables. The current system for the irrigation of horticultural and agricultural crops within the ECA is, however, largely unregulated and as a result the indiscriminate use of water is significantly impacting the ecology of the Haor. The diversion of waterways and pumping of beels for irrigation purposes is, for example, disrupting fish migratory pathways and degrading habitats for fish, wildlife, and aquatic vegetation. At this stage, more information concerning current irrigation practices is required in order to make a proper assessment of the impact on Haor ecology. Data collection should be undertaken in close collaboration with local farmers, the Water Development Board (WDB), and Upazilla Agriculture Officers. Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 31
Management Actions Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan • Identify all sources of water used for irrigation purposes • Document all forms of irrigation practised in the ECA including traditional, indigenous, and contemporary • Identify and document the ecological and socio-economic impacts associated with each different form of irrigation • Identify the type of crop requiring the most amount of water and conversely that which requires the least • Identify sites in the ECA that are prone to drought and where the pressure for irrigation is likely to be highest • Provide technical, and where feasible financial, support to farmers in the adoption of irrigation strategies which are less harmful to the environment • Identify and promote the use agricultural and horticultural crops that are the least dependent on excessive irrigation • Provide technical, and where feasible financial, support to farmers in the adoption more drought tolerant agricultural and horticultural varieties • Support the development of local by-laws which restrict or prevent the use of environmentally unfriendly irrigation practices Primary Outcome/ Output • Irrigation is regulated and managed in a sustainable manner Constraints • Unregulated irrigation throughout the ECA is widespread and well entrenched and bringing about change is likely to be slow and difficult 7.2.13 Medicinal Plants The medicinal plants of Hakaluki Haor once an integral part of the swamp forest ecosystem have now largely been incorporated into the homestead gardens of the local communities living in and around the ECA. Some of the most common include Neem (Azadirachta indica), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Aggor (Aquillaria agallocha), Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica), Damur (Ficus Lispida), Tulni (Ocimum sanctum), Thankuni (Centella asiatica), Bohera (Terminalia Bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). These plants are used by local village doctors and others skilled in the knowledge of their therapeutic applications to treat many common ailments. The sale of these plants is also used to supplement the incomes of many poorer families. Wild medicinal plants in Hakaluki Haor are now becoming increasingly rare largely because most of the original swamp forests have been cut-down, and also as a result of over-harvesting. The conservation of both wild and homestead garden medicinal plants will not only benefit local communities, but is also important for biodiversity conservation. Management Actions • Collect socio-economic data concerning medicinal plants of the Haor including information on: � Use of each plant in treating ailments both for humans and farm animals such as chickens, goats, cows, buffalo, sheep, fish etc. Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 32
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