A vibrant country rich in natural beauty and heritage, Bangladesh plays an important role in protecting the environment not only for its people but for the entire world. The country's forests, rivers, wetlands and wildlife are a priceless part of our lives. This natural heritage is rapidly becoming endangered due to various reasons like illegal deforestation, pollution, climate change and rampant urbanization. Therefore, conservation of natural heritage is of immense importance. It not only protects the environment, but also ensures the security of people's livelihood.
The most important resource among Bangladesh's natural heritage is the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. It alone contains about 40% of the world's mangrove forest, and is a sanctuary for many biodiversity. But in the last few years, this forest area is shrinking due to continuous deforestation, industrial waste, and climate change.Not only the Sundarbans, but other natural resources of Bangladesh such as haors, rivers and wetlands, and the ecosystem of the hilly areas are also endangered. Due to river pollution, illegal encroachment, and agricultural activities, the water flow of the rivers of Bangladesh is being obstructed and the wetlands are being filled. About 5,000 square kilometers of rivers and wetlands have been lost in Bangladesh in the last few decades, which has a serious impact on the environment.
There are many laws in Bangladesh to protect natural heritage, including the "Environment Conservation Act 1995", the "Forest Act 1927", and the "Wetlands Act 2000". These laws provide vision and direction to protect natural resources. Deforestation, illegal hunting, and river pollution have been identified as punishable offenses. However, these laws are not being implemented properly, resulting in continued loss of natural resources. Due to weak administrative structures, lack of law enforcement, and political pressure, the law is not being properly implemented in many cases. As a result, instead of being punished according to the law, criminals often get away with it and environmental conservation activities are being hampered.
To preserve natural heritage, it is very important to take developmental steps. First, the participation of local people is very important. Awareness must be created among them and their active participation in protecting the environment must be ensured. Along with the government, NGOs and local organizations need to be involved in this initiative. Second, the use of technology should be increased. The condition of forests and river basins can be monitored and analyzed through satellite images. Third, environmental education programs should be started in schools and colleges, so that awareness about the environment is created among the new generation and they are more interested in protecting the environment.
The forest area of Bangladesh is currently about 15 percent, which has decreased by almost half since 1970. The Sundarbans currently covers an area of about 6,000 square kilometers, but it is shrinking every year. For example, since 2015, the Sundarbans has shrunk by about 150 square kilometers. River pollution and wetland filling are causing a weakening of the natural environment. The condition of rivers and wetlands in Bangladesh is very bad, with 60% of rivers being highly polluted. These statistics paint a true picture of the environmental crisis in Bangladesh and indicate the need for us to take more effective measures.
Bangladesh has legal punishment provisions to protect natural heritage. According to the "Environment Conservation Act 1995", there are provisions for fines and imprisonment for activities that pollute the environment. Deforestation can be punished with 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of 5 lakh taka. Penalties have been prescribed for river pollution, wetland filling and other environmental crimes. But the reality is that these laws are not being implemented properly. Stricter measures need to be taken to enforce the punishments of the law. Proper monitoring and administrative structures should be strengthened in the implementation of the law, so that effective measures can be taken to protect the environment.
Environmental pollution has become a major crisis in Bangladesh. Air, water, and soil pollution are increasing, especially due to industries and vehicles. Air pollution levels in Dhaka and other cities have reached dangerous levels, posing a serious threat to human health. River pollution and plastic waste are also shrinking the country's water bodies. These pollutions are wasting our natural resources and posing a threat to biodiversity. To address this problem, not only government initiatives but also awareness raising among the people is needed.
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, where the impact of climate change is being observed the most. Rising sea levels, erratic rainfall and temperature changes have caused extensive damage to the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Rivers are drying up, wetlands are shrinking, and forests are also being damaged. Climate change is having a serious impact on Bangladesh's agriculture, water resources and human livelihoods. It is emerging as a major threat to natural heritage.
Bangladesh has signed the "Ramsar Convention" and the "Convention on Biological Diversity", which ensure international cooperation.Through these agreements, Bangladesh is receiving support for the conservation of natural resources at the international level. Many international organizations are cooperating with Bangladesh on environmental conservation and are providing assistance to Bangladesh through special projects. These international agreements are playing an important role in environmental conservation in Bangladesh and their implementation should be made more effective in the future.
There are several successful environmental conservation projects in Bangladesh. The "Government Project to Protect the Sundarbans" is a successful example. This project has taken various steps to conserve the Sundarbans, such as restoring forest land, conserving wildlife, and creating alternative livelihoods for the local people.In addition, a project called "Haor Development Project" is underway, which has taken various steps to protect and develop the environment of the haor region. Through these projects, it has been possible to protect forests, wetlands, and rivers, which has made an important contribution to the environmental development of Bangladesh.
The contribution of local people is very important in preserving natural heritage. It is essential to increase their awareness and ensure their active participation in conserving the environment. If the local people become aware of conserving the environment, they will be able to ensure proper use of their resources, which will have a long-term impact. Work is underway to increase awareness among the people through various NGOs and local organizations, but more extensive campaigning is needed.
The role of education and research in conserving the environment is immense. It is possible to increase awareness among the people through education on environmental issues, and new ways to protect the environment can be invented through research. Various universities and research institutions are working in Bangladesh to protect the environment, which are playing an important role in solving environmental problems. Implementing these studies can improve the environment in Bangladesh.
Some more steps are needed to protect natural heritage, such as the use of sustainable energy, forest restoration processes and the use of recyclable materials. These steps are very important for the long-term protection of the environment and society. Implementing these steps will make it possible to protect our natural heritage and improve the environment.
Protecting natural heritage is not only an environmental responsibility, it is a deep responsibility for our future generations. Despite the critical state of natural resources in Bangladesh, we can win the fight to protect the environment with the right steps and effective legal framework.If the government, local people, NGOs and international cooperation work together to protect natural heritage, it is possible to protect our environment and biodiversity. Therefore, we need to take effective initiatives now to protect the environment, so that we can leave a healthy and sustainable environment in the future.
The writer is LL.B. Student, Department Of Law, World University Of Bangladesh
