Saint Martin is a island of love and passion for Bangladesh. In 1972 there were 112 settlements on this island. Now about 12 thousand people live in this 8 km long island. Apart from this, with the pressure of huge number of tourists every day, St. Martin is in a dying state. Now the island's corals, algae, sea turtles, red crabs, snails, oysters and other aquatic animals and biodiversity are now on the verge of extinction. A research article published in the International Journal of Ocean Science on St. Martin in September 2020 states that the island could be completely coral-free by 2045.
Due to these dangers caused by uncontrolled tourism, the temperature of the island is at least 3 degrees Celsius higher than other parts of the country. 300 coconut trees have died in the past few months due to whiteflies. The diminution of coconut trees is the reason why each coconut costs more than 200 taka there. Previously, there was a substantial coconut harvest. This occurrence is one of the visible representations of the natural calamity that St. Martin is experiencing.
The current interim government took various decisions to protect Saint Martin. According to the decisions, Tourists can visit Saint Martin Island in November But had to return to the day without spending the night. Tourists are getting the opportunity to visit St. Martin and spend the night there in the two months of December and January. However, the number of tourists is fixed at two thousand per day. It will be closed to tourists from February.
Once the people of this island used to make a living by fishing, but now more than 60 percent of them are involved in the tourism business. Out of 209 resorts and cottages on the island, 59 are owned by locals, 84 are owned by people from various cities including Dhaka. And 66 local houses are used as cottages.
Several policies can be implemented for them that will have a significant impact on the national economy, as well as increase local income without affecting the environment. Such as processed products made from locally caught fish for example dried fish, fish powder etc., which can be exported outside the country or sea salt can be processed to produce high quality gourmet salt, which can be exported abroad.
There are about two hundred cameramen and more than two hundred auto drivers on the island. As a result, it becomes a significant issue that many people's livelihoods are threatened by controlling tourists in St. Martin. But if the island does not survive, how will the tourism business survive?
In this circumstance, it is critical to provide alternate revenue for the local residents. What are this possible alternatives? In this instance, government and non-governmental organizations should work together to coordinate efforts.
Several policies can be implemented for them that will have a significant impact on the national economy, as well as increase local income without affecting the environment. Such as processed products made from locally caught fish for example dried fish, fish powder etc., which can be exported outside the country or sea salt can be processed to produce high quality gourmet salt, which can be exported abroad. We can consider this island as a small SDG Model zone and developing non-traditional products through training, each waste in those zone can be processed in several steps and 10-15 ready products will be made and will go to different countries according to the pre-order, even a dried leafwill notspoil in this region, it is possible to export millions ofdollars from the island's nontraditional products.
Polythene is the biggest pollutant for the island. Meanwhile, various initiatives are being taken to control the use of polythene across the country, one of which is eco-friendly packaging. Eco-friendly packaging solutions can be created using natural materials from these islands.
As this is the major sector of the tourism industry in Bangladesh, skilled manpower can be created by providing hospitality and service industry training to island residents.
Recently, the island is entering the era of integrated waste management (plasma reactor) through waste-to-power generation.Undoubtedly, this is a commendable initiative of the present government of Bangladesh. Local people can be involved in implementing this project and given opportunities to work.
It is noteworthy that, according to the sources of Cox's Bazar Public Health Engineering Department, two tons of human waste and two tons of solid waste are generated every day by the people living in Saint Martin Island. Apart from this, during the three months of the tourist season, 4000 plastic bottles, chips and other plastic-polythene packaged everyday products are generated by 2000 tourists every day.
Hope this eco-friendly project of the government will be implemented soon andthe lively youth of Saint Martin's island return.
The writer is a Co-ordinator, World linkup, Student, IER, University of Rajshahi
