Irfanullah, Haseed Md.

This document summarizes Bangladesh’s existing capacity in addressing climate change, biodiversity and land degradation problems and concerns assessed through country-wide consultations. It includes an action plan developed to improve the country’s capacity in the public and private sectors and at individual, institutional and policy levels. The document has been divided into seven major chapters, namely: Introduction; Climate Change; Biodiversity; Land Degradation; Synergy; Capacity Development Action Plan; and Monitoring and Evaluation.

IUCN Bangladesh has undertaken this initiative in association with Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) under the Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP) in the Madhumati Floodplain. Under this project one of the interventions is to promote alternative livelihood options. Baira farming was one of the options suggested by the people of that area. Moreover, variations could be identified in this traditional cultivation system in different parts of the country, indicating baira cultivation to be in an evolutionary phase here.

This book primarily based on observation made during field trips to different haors and floodplains in the SEMP project areas by plant experts, IUCNB staff and partner NGOs. Experience and ideas of the local communities of these wetlands were also considered while preparing the manuscript. Some of the information has been drawn from existing published and unpublished accounts. This book will provide a guideline for future wetland plant resource conservation and management.

The present report compiles the awareness raising initiatives take under the Community Based Floodplain Resource Management Project, a component of the SEMP. It details out the justification of such interventions, approaches considered and chosen activities to enhance people’s awareness level at the project areas in the floodplains. A number of recommendations are also suggested to make the initiative more participatory and effective in attaining the targeted impacts.

The present report compiles the awareness raising initiatives taken under the Community Based Haor Resource Management project, a component of the SEMP. It details out the justification of such interventions, approaches considered and the chosen activities to enhance people’s awareness level at the project areas in the haor basin. A number of recommendations are also suggested to make the initiative more participatory and effective in attaining the targeted impacts.