Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31
Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan
Primary Outcome/ Output
• A suitable ECA management model is developed and available for application at other ECAs or
similar ecosystems in Bangladesh
Constraints
• Many lessons learned only become apparent at much later stages in management
implementation and are therefore difficult to document in the short-term
• Individuals with the capacity to analyse and document lessons learned and build a model for
replication are limited
7.4.5 Institutional Set-up
The management of ECAs in Bangladesh is still very much in its infancy and discussions are ongoing
in terms of the most appropriate institutional mechanisms/ framework required to effectively
undertake the task.
Currently the responsibility to management ECAs in Bangladesh falls under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Environment and Forest’s Department of Environment. There is currently no office or
officer in the DoE directly mandated/ charged with overseeing the management of ECA in
Bangladesh.
In its efforts to manage Hakaluki Haor, the DoE has established a field office, referred to as the
Ecologically Critical Area Management Unit (ECAMU) in the town of Kulaura, Moulvibazar
District. This office is responsible for the implementation of day-to-day management of field
conservation activities including collaboration with local community groups and relevant
government agencies. One government officer known as the Ecologically Critical Area
Management Officer has been appointed to the ECAMU which currently houses a team of technical
experts whose costs are borne from external funding sources. The tenure of these technical experts
is limited and within the next few years alternatives will need to be found if the management of
Hakaluki Haor as an ECA is to realistically continue.
The ECAMU is required to report directly to the DoE. While in principle this seems logical, it is not
entirely consistent with the current District level government administration reporting lines. Further
thought therefore needs to be accorded to the way in which the role of the ECAMU will dovetail
with existing District and local level government frameworks.
Management Actions
• Consider the feasibility of establishing an ECA coordinating office within the DoE to more
effectively support the field-level management of Hakaluki Haor
• Consider the possibility of appointing and training a full-time government officer responsible
for heading the newly established ECA coordinating office within the DoE
• Charge the head of the ECA coordinating office within the DoE with the responsibility of
overseeing the development of an ECA management model than can be replicated throughout
the country in support of biodiversity conservation and the sound and sustainable management
of natural resources in Bangladesh
• Consider appointing within the next few years additional and appropriately technically trained
government personnel to the Hakaluki Haor ECAMU
Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 45