Bangladesh

The loss of plants from floodplain ecosystems have resulted in further degradation of other ecological functions. To stop and reverse this trend, massive plantation programmes were carried out at three floodplain sites: Padma-Jamuna, Brahmaputra-Shitalakshya and Madhumati Floodplain. The overall objective being to increase native tree coverage and enhance productivity by establishing plantations through people’s participation. The report shows how this was accomplished.

Wetlands in Bangladesh are going through a difficult phase caused by exponential degradation and destruction of these ecosystems and dwindling of their valuable resources. Plant resources are more vulnerable due to over-harvesting and unwise exploitation.

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 Some of the information has been drawn from existing published and unpublished accounts.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 participatory land-use survey report is a major baseline activity of the Community Base Haor Resource Management Project. The survey was done in Pagnar and Sanuar-Dakuar haors.

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.

This report aims to provide proper guidelines and mechanisms for communities, to enable them to manage and sustain the current positive trends into the future. The recommended issues and concerns articulated by the stakeholders have been considered as priority components while formulating the “Exit Plan” of the Community Based Haor and Floodplain Resource Management Projects of SEMP.