Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

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1. INTRODUCTION Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan Hakaluki Haor internationally recognised as a site for wintering populations for globally significant waterfowl, and regarded as one of the country’s most important fisheries and largest inland freshwater wetland, is now an ecosystem considered to have reached a state of critical degradation. In recognition of the urgent need to protect Hakaluki Haor, the Government of Bangladesh in 1999, under the provisions of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA), declared this site as an “Ecologically Critical Area” (ECA). In 2002, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Department of Environment (DoE) initiated the “Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management at Cox’s Bazar and Hakaluki Haor” Project (CWBMP). The specific objective for Hakaluki Haor is “to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of globally significant wetland biodiversity at Hakaluki Haor through its management as an ECA”. This DRAFT Conservation Management Plan represents one of the project’s key outputs for Hakaluki Haor. Defined in the CWBMP project document are a number of important elements relating to the management of Hakaluki Haor all of which have been incorporated into this draft plan. It is important to note that as the availability of baseline data is still limited and as research efforts are still on-going, areas of this management plan are not as well covered or articulated as they could be. In this regard, this management plan is to be regarded as working document in progress that will be updated as new information becomes available. The decision to move forward with the development of this plan despite limited information was based on the urgent need to have a coherent framework to begin activities aimed at the sound and sustainable management of Hakaluki Haor as an ECA. Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 1
Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project BGD/99/G31 Hakaluki Haor Draft Conservation Management Plan 2. MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 2.1 Political, Legal, and Institutional Context The management of Hakaluki Haor is framed within the context of Bangladesh’s broader environmental legal, policy, and institutional framework. The major elements of this framework are summarised as follows: 2.1.1 Policy Context • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1991): Bangladesh has signed and ratified the Biodiversity Convention. How does the CBD relate to Hakaluki Haor • Ramsar Convention (1992): How does this Ramsar Convention relate to Hakaluki Haor • UNCED Country Report (1991): The report emphasises the “enormous importance” of the country’s wetland areas, “…both as havens of biodiversity and as major sources of the nation’s livelihood” (MOEF 1991). The report calls for the development and implementation of pilot wetland protection projects with effective community participation, and it names Hakaluki Haor as one of six priority sites for such projects (Ibid.). • National Conservation Strategy (NCS, 1991- Now Revised): The NCS provides specific strategies for sustainable development. • 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 bodies 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 (EIA) should be conducted before undertaking new projects for water resources development and management; • National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP, 1995): The NEMAP identifies priority environmental issues that require immediate attention including wetland management and advocates an integrated and inter-sectoral approach. • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan: Add information here – how does the NBSAP relate to the management of Hakaluki Haor 2.1.2 Legal Context The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA) defines the environmental regulatory regime aimed at supporting the country’s drive towards the sound and sustainable management of the environment and its natural resources base. Among the measures instituted by this law is a provision for the Declaration of Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs). In April 1999, the authority granted under BECA was utilized for the first time, as the Director General of the Department of Environment (DOE) officially declared Hakaluki Haor and five other sites as ECAs. Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act (Revised) – Add relevant information here Prepared by UNOPS Consultant Mr. Sulma Warne August/ September 2005 for Project BGD/99/G31 2
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Draft CMP HH - the Department of Environment

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