How important is biodiversity conservation for attaining MDGs?

A part of Ashulia wetland ecosystem in rainy season where the local people use to trap fresh water fishes; whereas in the dry season the wetland habitat is being filled up for construction and housing extension

Here we are concerned with biological reference of environment which now has at least two different interpretations e.g. natural environment and artificial or techno-environment. Technological environment is artificial, developed due to the use of various technological know how, use of insecticides, chemicals fertilizers, pesticides, GMO seeds, HYV, industry expansion, etc. etc.

The millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was derived from the Millennium Declaration adopted in 2000 at the Millennium Summit, which was attended by 156 heads of states or governments. In 2000, the 189 member states of the United Nations agreed to a broad set of goals setting international development priorities for the coming years. Most of the goals are envisaged to be globally achieved by the year 2015. There are eight goals and 18 targets.

The first goal is 'Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger' with two targets: (a) Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day; (b) Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

The second goal is 'Achieve universal primary education' with a single target: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

The third goal is 'Promote gender equality and empower women' with again single target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and to all levels of education no later than 2015.

The fourth goal is 'Reduce child mortality' with one target: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.

The fifth goal is 'Improve maternal health' with one target: Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.

The sixth goal is 'Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases' with two targets: (a) Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS; (b) Halve halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.

The seventh goal is 'Ensure environmental sustainability' with three targets: (a) Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources; (b) Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water; (c) By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.

The eighth goal is 'Develop a global partnership for development' with six targets: (a) Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system (includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction-both nationally and internationally); (b) Address the special needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) (Includes: tariff and quota free access for LDC exports; enhanced programme of debt relief for HIPC and cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) for countries committed to poverty); (c) Address the special needs of land locked countries and small island developing states (through the programme of Action for the sustainable development of small Island Developing States and the outcome of the 22nd special session of the UN General Assembly); (d) Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term; (e) In co-operation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for descent and productive work for youth; (f) In co-operation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries; (g) In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.

The first seven goals and the 11 targets under them are the ones to be pursued by the developing countries, while the 8th goal involves action by developing countries in terms of further expansion of the role of market and globalisation but also calls for assistance to be provided to them by the developed countries.

The targets to be achieved have been set for 2015 with reference to 1990 as the base year. The targets set are to reduce the relevant deficit by half or by two-thirds or by three-fourths or to be fully alleviated. In so far as poverty reduction is concerned, for example, the targets are to reduce the proportion of extremely poor people to half by 2015 in relation to 1990, and also hunger by the same proportion.

At least two conditions must be fulfilled, if a country has to achieve or at least make significant progress towards the MDG targets. One relates to the capacity of the country to implement policies and programmes effectively. In most developing countries, governance is poor in terms of human capability on one hand and lack of transparency and accountability on the other. That is, inefficiency and corruption are the two hallmarks of governance in these countries. It is, therefore, essential that the developing countries take necessary steps to establish good governance, including rule of law and improvement in the economic and social management capacity. Obviously, these are involved tasks and cannot be fulfilled quickly. But it is crucial that governance targets are set and solid progress towards those targets made by taking necessary action with determination.

In Bangladesh perspective, main constraints for the development are the corruption and inadequacy in administration. In a short time it is not possible to describe MDGs and their importance in Bangladesh, nevertheless, here we find that the MDGs could be dealt under the 8 heading as follows: 1. Bangladesh and MDGs. 2. MDGs and promoting gender equality. 3. MDGs, Bangladesh, WTO and TRIP. 4. MDGs, poverty eradication and Bangladesh. 5. Achieving MDGs and constraints in Bangladesh. 6. Attaining MDGs and Bangladesh. 7. Review of PRSP and 8. MDGs and the conservation of biodiversity.

Now, I like to draw attention on how the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are related with biodiversity conservation. It is to be said that, out of 8 goals, the 7th goal deals with ensuring environmental sustainability". Environmental sustainability in our planet is prerequisite for all development goals and targets. Accordingly biodiversity conservation or conservation biology is the epicentre of all frontiers of environmental sustainability. Out of two factors (biotic and abiotic factors) of an ecosystem in any region of the world, biotic factor is comprised of two aspects (plants and animals) in that ecosystem. If we fail to maintain environmental soundness in any area of the world we cannot even initiate any plan for any kind of development. Environmental soundness is highly dependent with the species richness of the plant and animal populations in any area of the world. This species richness and the nature of well and proportionate interaction in between the bio-resources and the physical factors there in the ecosystem are highly necessary.

Biodiversity conservation or conservation biology has got great role in the maintenance of species richness and proper functioning of an ecosystem. Conservation of biodiversity means the conservation of biotic and abiotic combination together and their interaction to provide the sustainable situation for living organisms there in an ecosystem. If the normal proliferation and reproduction of all living organisms and their interaction with abiotic factors fail there in an ecosystem, then ecological imbalance remains in its persistence. This is why persisted ecological imbalance makes the environment unfavourable for initiating any kind of development plan or programme. And this is why the biodiversity conservation stands as epicentre for the sustainability of the global developmental goals and targets. In the present world biodiversity conservation is highly associated with the following aspects and field of development in the global perspectives.

The practice of biodiversity conservation is highly related with the modern world and society under the following headings. 1. Biodiversity and poverty. 2. Biodiversity in Food security. 3. Biodiversity in production of crops. 4. Livestock and biodiversity. 5. Biodiversity in global fisheries. 6. Biodiversity, forests and forestry. 7. Wildlife and biodiversity. 8 Biodiversity and human health. 9. Road construction and biodiversity. 10. Regional approaches and biodiversity. 11.Genetic resources use and biodiversity. 12. Biotechnology and biodiversity. 13. Trade policy and biodiversity. 14. Sustainable use of biodiversity. 15. Maintenance of wetland ecosystem and biodiversity. 16. Tourism and biodiversity. 17. Global change and biodiversity. 18. Environment and biodiversity. 19. Social issues and biodiversity. 20. Biodiversity and religious beliefs. 21. Biodiversity, world history and the human philosophy.

In 2004, the subject of "biodiversity and global change" was analysed by a group of scientists, nature lovers, economists and social scientists. In this analysis some social issues and scientific issues have been identified. According to the participants in the group some significant points and fields of exercise were found to be considered for future environmental development in connection with the biodiversity conservation and global changes. J.D. Vigne pointed out that the outlook for 2010 will be the biodiversity and the expansion crisis in human society. A. Teyssedre indicated that the planet is towards a sixth mass extinction crisis of species. P. Curry and Serge Morand analyzed the 'marine biodiversity and global change'. They pinpointed that this subject is rendering the situation of a dynamic interaction with a human component. J.F. Guegan and F. Renaud gave their attention towards an ecology of health and environmental impact. They emphasized that biodiversity and global changes are significantly related and interdependent. M. Trommetter and J. Weber dealt with sustainable development and global change. They critically analysed the sustainable development building and the role of biodiversity conservation for maintaining sound environment around. G.C. Genot and R. Barbault concentrated their attention in the field of conservation policy.

The scientists have found deep association and assemblage among the subject of conservation policy, making environment sound, maintenance of ecosystem well-functioning, sustainable development and the strengthening of development different social issues.

Under the abstract of the above attempted summaries, it is evident and clear that all development programmes and future projects are deeply associated with the question of biodiversity conservation and bio-resource protection. One addition could be made here with emphasis that the world summit in 2002 was held in Johannesberg. The contributors, scientists and social scientists in the Summit were concentrated on four principal issues. The subjects of the issues were as follows: 1. Economic and social issues in sustainable development. 2. Biodiversity: a heritage under threat, the ruthless pursuit of resources and the very essence of life. 3. Desertification and its relationship to the environment and development: a problem that affects us all. And 4.

Climate change. Here it is also found that out of four identified issues for global development and environmental soundness, two were in the subject of biodiversity conservation or/and related to the subject. It goes without saying that association of MDGs and the environmental management is the demand of the new age and it is for the genuine reason of sound protection of environment and nature.

A part of Ashulia wetland ecosystem in rainy season where the local people use to trap fresh water fishes; whereas in the dry season the wetland habitat is being filled up for construction and housing extension.

Biodiversity depletion can cause environmental devastation and mal-developmental situation in Bangladesh also. Bangladesh is full of rivers and aquatic bodies. In the country (round the year), the typical ecological condition is to be remained wet, otherwise not only the agriculture is hampered, but also other aquatic bio-resources are always in the troublesome survival condition. Existence of bogs and marsh lands is the characteristic ecological feature of the country. Wetland ecosystem is one of the important factors for maintenance of sound ecological condition in the country. If wetland biodiversity is depleted because of unscientific and unplanned urbanization then automatically bio-resource sustainability will cause mal-directions in the national programmes of all development attempts. Nearby Dhaka city, the entire Ashulia area is under the wetland ecosystem. In the rainy season, the area remains under 12 feet water in average and then that entire area could be utilised as fresh water fish breeding ground and also for the increase of other aquatic bio-resource proliferation site. This will bring economic support and development than more any other attempts if it could be arranged in scientifically planned ways. Moreover, this could be made in more sustainable and environmentally sound way and also for longer time period. But in the name of urbanisation, the characteristic ecology of the wetland habitat is going to be brutally killed and the bio-resource over there has seriously been endangered. So, the biodiversity conservation in the ecosystem is going to be permanently stopped here. This type of brutal attempts to the biodiversity sustainability will seriously threat not only biodiversity conservation but also will create many frontiers of constraints for the sound development of the nation as a whole. Rather this area should be taken under RAMSAR site selection by global declaration. Not only the Ashulia wetland ecosystem, there are many such ecological other\areas passing the critical days in such situation. If the situation is not taken under serious consideration by proper authority, definite change of the local ecology will cause the change in ecology and climate for the worse.

M. A. Bashar is professor Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh Open University.