'Forests dwindle by 40 pc in three decades'
Addressing a gathering at Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) in Srimangal yesterday she said destruction of biodiversity had also threatened the environment and ecology of the country.
However, some recent steps taken up by the government in association with the USAID and other bodies would help bring a big change in the country's forest resources in near future, she hoped.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The ambassador said a joint and collaborative approach can ensure the recovery of declining natural resources in the country.
In this context, she praised the self-regulated fishing on the wetlands at Hail haor in Srimangal where the Management of Aquatic ecosystem through Community Husbandry (MACH) project has already been working satisfactorily.
Patricia also praised the developments achieved at Lawachhera National Park where the Nishorgo project has achieved a lot with the active participation of the local stakeholders who had been entrusted with the job of guarding the forest.
The ambassador also visited some stalls set up to display the works and achievements of the MACH and Nishorgo projects being implemented by different government agencies with the assistance of the USAID.
State Minister for Environment and Forests Jafrul Islam Chowdhury was present as chief guest at the gathering which was also addressed by Uday R Sharma, vice- chairman of South Asia for World Commission for Protected Area (WCPA), Deputy Secretary of fisheries ministry Fokhrul Islam, Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Yunusur Rahman and Chief Conservator of Forests Osman Gani.
Earlier, a roundtable was held at BTRI auditorium to mark the second day of the weeklong programme styled 'Co-management Week'.
World Bank Country Director Christine Walich, ADB Country Representative Hua Du, government officials and NGO representatives from home and abroad including India, Nepal and Srilanka took part in the roundtable.
The speakers highlighted the impact of degradation of forests and wetlands which provide a lifeline to 80 percent people who live on a poor income in rural areas.
They also discussed efforts to improve the management of forest resources and the lessons learnt from two pilot projects to bring local stakeholders together with the government in a collaborative management process.
The projects are Management of Aquatic ecosystem through Community Husbandry (MACH) supervised by fisheries and livestock department and Nishorgo Support Project supervised by the forest department.
The events of the week included field trips to the project areas including Lawachhara National Park and Hail haor and a roundtable.
On this occasion, about 300 stakeholders involved directly on the management of pilot projects around the country came together to share their experiences.
The pilot projects have community elements.
The Nishorgo project is aimed to protect the country's forest and biodiversity for future generation while the MACH project focuses on conservation and rehabilitation of degraded or lost aquatic habitats.
The organisers said by holding stake holders' convention, seminars and roundtable they wanted to create awareness about conservation of resources, collective responsibilities of the stakeholders, providing motivation to those unsung heroes who are already working locally for protecting the environment and finally to engage policy makers in co-management to address the problems of forest and fisheries sectors.