BSS-09 Region-based watershed management for live ecosystem stressed

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ZCZC

BSS-09

WATERSHED-MANAGEMENT (with picture)

Region-based watershed management for live ecosystem stressed

RANGPUR, Feb 27, 2020 (BSS) – Participants in a workshop here today
stressed on formulation and proper implementation of region-based watershed
management policy to build up a sustainable and live ecosystem.

They opined this at the workshop titled ‘Developing the Draft Watershed
Management Policy and Implementation Framework” held at a local hotel in the
city.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh
organised the event supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations under the Draft Watershed Management Policy and Developing
Implementation Framework Project.

The project aims to create a draft outline of the National Watershed
Policy for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and develop
an implementation framework for the policy.

Moderated by Professor Dr. Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of the Department of
Geology and Mining of Rajshahi University, officials, academics, scientists,
students, riverside people, professionals and civil society members
participated in the workshop.

Chief Executive Officer of Rangpur City Corporation Ruhul Amin Mian,
Divisional Director of the Department of Environment (DoE) Abul Kalam Azad
and Associate Professor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) and
Director of the Riverine People Dr. Tuhin Wadud attended the event as
resource persons.

Associate Professor of the Department of Disaster Management of BRUR Dr.
Md. Emdadul Haque, Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation AHM Mizanul Islam Mahbub, Deputy Director of the DoE Mezbahul
Alam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Dr. Md.
Sarwarul Haque, Chief Executive of Manobadhikar and Poribesh Andolan (MAPA)
Bangladesh Advocate AAM Munir Chowdhury, among others, participated in the
open discussion and forwarded recommendations for the policy.

Terming water as the prime source of life, the participants said region-
based proper management of water has become imperative to save the
agriculture, environment and biodiversity from adverse impacts of climate
change.

They suggested for formulating the watershed management policy keeping
the provision of ensuring the availability of water in all water bodies, flow
of water in all rivers and revive the derelict water bodies to bring back
equilibrium in nature.

They expressed concern over the drastic fall in supply of clean and
uncontaminated water due to inadequate water-flow in the rivers, silting up
of riverbeds and pollution caused by disposal of urban industrial and
sewerage wastes.

They stressed on harvesting rainwater for bringing farming fields under
surface water-based irrigation instead of lifting groundwater to supplement
the government efforts for formulating a sustainable watershed management
policy.

BSS/MI/MR/ MSY/1517 hrs