RANGPUR, Jan 09, 2019 (BSS) – Experts have stressed on conservation of
beneficial insects, indigenous species of birds, fishes and animals from
extinction to maintain ecological balance in the nature.
“Many useful insects, indigenous birds, animals and sweet water fishes
are currently not being seen due to reduction of forest areas over the recent
decades,” Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Mamunur Rashid said.
Some other indigenous species of beneficial insects, birds, fishes and
animals are facing impending threat now and their reproduction being hampered
due to negative impacts of climate change creating imbalance in the nature.
“The extinction process still continues due to reduction in forest
areas, drying up of water bodies, rivers and tributaries and unsystematic use
of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, change in soil properties and other
reasons,” he said.
Director of Begum Rokeya University unit of the Riverine People and
Associate Professor of the university Dr Tuhin Wadud expressed concern over
the deteriorating situation in the nature due to climate change.
He said many species of migratory birds visited the country every year
during winter since ancient times when adequate number of water bodies,
marshy lands, ponds, canals, forests and hilly sanctuaries remained
undisturbed.
“However, we observed fewer numbers of migratory birds visiting vast
char areas, rivers, ponds and other water bodies on the Brahmaputra basin in
recent years though their number was high even two decades backs,” Tuhin
added.
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)
here Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said the changing climate has affected
ecological balance threatening existence of many useful insects, indigenous
birds and sweet water fishes.
“The encroachment of forest lands, felling of trees, drying-up and
shrinking of water bodies and lack of proper managements and conservations of
the rivers, tributaries and other water bodies are other reasons behind the
situation,” Islam added.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office here Md Moniruzzaman
said the changing climate has caused imbalance in the nature, extinction of
beneficial insects and birds and scarcity of animal foods in forests reducing
animal populations.
As a result of ecological imbalance in the nature, animals like
elephants are coming out of forests in search of food to plain areas of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Sherpur and other areas in the
country to have foods.
Currently, the utility of cultivable lands has been increased
significantly with increased crop intensity to enhance crop productions for
meeting food demand of the growing population.
“All lands are under crop cultivation in all seasons and chemical
fertilisers and pesticides are being used indiscriminately causing further
ecological degradation and threatening existence of useful insects, birds and
animals,” Moniruzzaman added.
District Fisheries Officer Anisur Rahman said reduction in areas of the
flood plains, open water bodies, breeding and grazing fields and drying and
silting up of ponds, rivers and tributaries caused extinction of native sweet
water fishes, insects and birds.
The experts laid emphasis on taking adequate steps right now to conserve
beneficial insects, indigenous species of birds, sweet water fishes and
forest animals for maintaining ecological balance and bio-diversity in the
nature for a better future.