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Year 14: Issue 46 October-December 2015 theNEW CEGISLET TESR Quarterly Newsletter of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) Upcoming Events National Dissemination Workshop on Capital and Pilot Dredging of River Regional Workshop on South-South Cooperation System of Bangladesh in Flood Management, Guangdong, China CEGIS’ Annual Picnic Innovation Seminar Inside Regional Workshop on South-South Cooperation in Flood Management Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop on “Bangladesh: Revision and Alignment of National Action Program with UNCCD 10 Years Strategic Plan and Framework” Workshop on Drinking Water Security Engr Md Waji Ullah, Executive Director, CEGIS attended the workshop from Bangladesh in Polder Areas The Regional Workshop on GWP like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Rising Sea Level: Observations and “South-South Cooperation in Flood Pakistan, China, Georgia, Sri Lanka, Trends Management” is one of the Nepal, Kazakhstan, Sweden, France, Feasibility Study of “Patuakhali - constructive and proactive approach and Japan were present as keynote Gopalganj 400 kV Transmission Line of the Global Water Partnership presenters on different issues. & Gopalganj 400/132 kV (GWP) to address the importance of Sub-station” The entire event had eight different and to draw more attention on flood EIA Study for Sirajganj 225 MW sessions, spread over four as water management of the partner consecutive days. Executive Director Combined Cycle Power Plant Project countries. The workshop, (Dual Fuel- 3rd Unit) of CEGIS, Engr Md Waji Ullah “South-South Cooperation in Flood participated in this regional Impact of ICT on Groundwater in Management” was jointly organized Bangladesh cooperation workshop as the by the Global Water Partnership spokesperson from Bangladesh. He Traffic Impact Assessment and Future China and Global Water Partnership, presented a keynote paper on a case Traffic Modelling Sweden. The event was supported by from Bangladesh - “Community Tobacco Cultivated Fields the Research Center on Flood and Based Flood Early Warning and Identification from Satellite images Drought Disaster Reduction (CDR), Information Dissemination System” in River Behavioural Analysis in the Kosi International Association for the second session which, was on River Basin Hydro-Environment Engineering and ‘Flood forecasting, monitoring, early 5-day Training Program on GIS Research (IAHR) and WMO/GWP warning and responses’. Group conducted by CEGIS Associated Programme on Flood discussions were conducted in a well Management (APFM). The aim of the constructed, participatory manner. Contracts and Agreements Signed workshop was to set a platform for between Various Agencies and Problems which could be identified, CEGIS the planners to work more closely opportunities that lay behind them together in the areas of common and suitable solutions that adequately interest of the region, which, by addressed them came out very consensus, is the issue of flood. The efficiently through group workshop also promoted formulation presentations after every session. of a podium for sharing of experience There was a field visit to the Foshan and knowledge, and exchanging of City to observe the water other forms of development resources Center for Environmental and management situations and flood on flood. One of the major agenda of Geographic Information Services management project on the Pearl this workshop is to initiate a step in (A Public Trust under the Ministry of Water Resources) River. The participants were warmly House 6, Road 23/C, Gulshan 1, Dhaka 1212 establishing a framework of received by the Director General of Bangladesh collaboration for enhancement of the Foshan Water Resources Bureau as Phone: 88 02 58817648-52; 9842581, 9842551 regional cooperation. Participants well as attained with imperative Fax: 880-2-9855935, 8823128 from different country, partners of Email: [email protected], Web: www.cegisbd.com (More on Page 2 ...) Year 14 Issue 46 Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop on “Bangladesh: Revision and Alignment of National Action Program with UNCCD 10 Years Strategic Plan and Framework” Participants at the workshop Bangladesh is a signatory to the United of Environment and Forests is finalize them. A number of Nations Convention to Combat implementing a project titled professionals from relevant Ministries, Desertification (UNCCD). As a Party to “Bangladesh: Revision and Alignment Government organizations, NGOs, the UNCCD, every country is obliged of National Action Program (NAP) with academicians and development to prepare a National Action Plan UNCCD 10 Years Strategic Plan and partners participated in the workshop. (NAP). The Government of Framework”. Engr Md Waji Ullah, Executive Bangladesh has drafted the first Participation of relevant stakeholders Director, CEGIS, graced the occasion National Action Programme (NAP) in was ensured in all the different steps of as the Special Guest and Mr QSI 2005 to address the land degradation, the process for preparation of the NAP. Hashmi, Additional Director General drought and desertification issues. Six regional workshops were arranged (ADG), DoE chaired the workshop. Dr Since the formulation of NAP, the at the divisional levels, and two S K Ghulam Hussain, Team Leader of socio-economic and environmental stakeholders’ consultation workshops the study presented the Draft Report of conditions of the country have been at the national level were organized NAP. The participants gave their changed while new issues have jointly by DoE and CEGIS. The valuable suggestions and comments evolved. Therefore, updating of NAP Second Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Draft Report in the interactive has become essential to address the Workshop of the Project was arranged feedback session. The report will be Desertification, Land Degradation and on September 21, 2015 at the finalized through incorporating the Drought (DLDD) issues under the Chameli Conference Room, DoE, comments and feedbacks received changing situation. Meanwhile, the Agargaon, Dhaka. The key objective from the participants. It is underscored Secretariat of UNCCD formulated the of the workshop was to share the Draft that NAP would be the key instrument 10-year strategic plan and framework Report on NAP new projects and in maintaining and restoring land and to enhance the implementation of the programs suggested to address land soil productivity and to mitigate the Convention for 2008-2018 around degradation and desertification in effects of drought and desertification in the globe in a consistent manner. Bangladesh and accordingly, receive Bangladesh following the guidelines of Therefore, the Department of feedback from the participants to UNCCD. Environment (DoE) under the Ministry Workshop on Drinking Water Security in Polder Areas CEGIS has successfully completed two workshops on drinking Director of CEGIS, along with the study team from CEGIS and water security with financial support from Bangladesh Water representatives from BWP were present in both the workshops. Partnership (BWP). The aims of these two workshops were to The participation of the affected local stakeholders - youth disseminate the understanding of the challenges of drinking and women from the selected polders and the representatives water security, and responsibilities of youth and women in the from different GOs and NGOs (UNO, Upazila Parishad selected coastal polders of south-west region of the country. Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, officials from UHFPO, BWDB, These workshops were held on 10 October 2015 and 15 DPHE and representatives from civil societies) made the October 2015 at Batiaghata Upazila Parishad Auditorium of workshops more significant and successful. As aimed, the day Khulna district and Amtali Upazila Parishad Auditorium of to day challenges of drinking water in both the selected areas Barguna district respectively. Engr. Md. Waji Ullah, Executive were delineated from the workshops. Regional Workshop on South-South Cooperation... (Continued from page 1) information about the workability of the flood control only a platform for dissemination of flood management system of Foshan throughout the years. situations of the regional counterparts but also an initiative A draft MoU was presented to the participants to inform for development of proposals and agreement to work that an attempt has been undertaken to join four water further through achieving well structured fund for future partner regions – Causasus-Central Asia, China, South research execution. Through this successful workshop Asia, South-East Asia in order to come forward with event, the idea of South–South cooperation got an impetus common water related issues and face similar water to step forward with prior willingness among the resources related challenges in the coming years. counterparts with win-win principles. This was a platform for the GWP to unite the Partners and achieving its The regional cooperation in Flood Management was not objective with proper execution of the strategic stride. 2 Year 14 Issue 46 Rising Sea Level: Observations and Trends - Farhana Ahmed, Climate Change and Disaster Management Division Climate change induced accelerated sea level rise makes hydro-morphological characteristics, the coastal zone has Bangladesh one of the most vulnerable countries in the been delineated into three regions: the Ganges Tidal Plain world (UNEP, 1989). It has been predicted that there will be or the Western Coastal Region; the Meghna Deltaic Plain rise in sea level

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