World single largest Mangrove Ecosystem conservation

through

comprehensive initiatives by Md. Maksudur Rahman

About the Sundarbans Mangrove ecosystem Our focused activities area is the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh. The Sundarbans is the UNESCO declared Natural World Heritage site as well as RAMASAR Wetland site which is known as the largest single mangrove forest in the world. Sundarbans mangrove flagship ecosystem is the natural safeguard and livelihood support for 3.2 million climate vulnerable coastal people. The Sundarbans covers 4% of total area of Bangladesh and 40% of the total forest of the country. It is the home of various types of species including many rare and endangered flora and fauna such as the iconic Critically Endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, estuarine crocodile, Turtle, Dolphin, wild birds etc. Sundarbans is a biodiversity hotspot. According to the forest department, there are about 334 species of trees, 165 species of Algae, 13 species of Orchids, about 400 species of wild animals (about 35 reptiles, 315 birds and 42 animals) and more than 291 species of Fishes in the Sundarbans. Many species of Sundarbans trees have life-saving medicinal attributes. Millions of people living near the Sundarbans earn their livelihood by collecting honey, and honey-wax, fish, crab and Nypa (thatch) from the forests. Those who collect Nypa from the Sundarbans are called ‘Bowali’, ‘Mowali’ collect honey, and those who collect fish and crab are called Fishermen.

There are many accepted stories about the Sundarbans in folklore, such as Gazi-Kalu-Champabati, Bonbibi and others. Different types of fairs like Banbibi Worship, Gazi-Kalu fair and Rashmela, are held at different times of the year in the Sundarbans region. These festivals bring endless joy to the lives of the forest-dependent people who live far from the diversions of the city.

It is a matter of great regret that 35% of mangrove forests have been reduced since 1980s from the world because of excessive human interference and every year 2.1% mangroves are decreasing (Ref: FAO 2003). Sundarbans is also in serious jeopardy of losing its origins from the world.

In these circumstances, we have to consider two main problems of the Sundarbans coastal communities; those are ever growing poverty and lack of biodiversity education.

About Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS)

Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) is a non-profit, non-political organization committed to sustainable socio-economic development, conservation of natural resources, use of clean energy and protection of the environment through action research and implementation of specific activities.

BEDS exists to address and solve integrated environmental and socio-economic problems. It has been working on: issues arising from global warming and sea level rise; preparedness to respond to natural hazards; mobilizing communities to eradicate unplanned and unsustainable over-harvesting and use of natural resources; bringing together different stakeholders to stop the extinction of rare species of flora and fauna; preserving Sundarbans biodiversity loss; minimizing the adverse impact on the eco-system due to accelerated human population growth; opposing human rights violations; and promoting gender equity. In addition, BEDS works to improve socio-economic conditions for the most vulnerable communities by focusing on food crises, farming, fisheries, education, health and nutrition and unemployment.

BEDS was formed on July 26, 2010 and registered from the NGO Affairs Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office and Department of Social Services of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh to work with the grassroots-level community. The organization promotes the long-term co-existence of people and natural ecosystems on our planet, creating harmony among all living beings.

Vision: To promote ecological balance and create harmony between humans and their environment

Mission: To build the capacity of the most vulnerable communities in the region to ensure sustainable use of natural resources, provide eco-friendly means of living, reduce the adverse effects of climate change and improve their socio-economic condition while maintaining the ecological balance.

Objectives: 1. Advocate to preserve existing natural treasures; 2. Conduct research to maintain the ecological balance; 3. Reduce the adversities arising from climate change; 4. Provide sources for clean energy; 5. Implement disaster risk-reduction strategies among the most vulnerable communities; 6. Establish human rights through good governance; 7. Create livelihoods opportunities for the most vulnerable populations; 8. Improve integrated water resource management and eco-habitat; 9. Ensure proper water, sanitation and hygiene within communities; and 10. Enhance women’s empowerment by emphasizing equitable development.

Award: BEDS wins prestigious Environmental Award in 2017, 2016 and 2015 from the Department of Environment, Khulna Division, Khulna, Government of Bangladesh for its outstanding contributions in Environmental Education Activities.

Integrated initiatives for Mangrove flagship ecosystem conservation in Bangladesh by BEDS

Environment and Ecosystem Services School Education

Environmental education is the prime program of BEDS. So, from the very beginning, BEDS has been focusing on environmental education service and becomes a pioneer organization on education program in Bangladesh especially in the Sundarbans region.

Considering the importance of mangrove ecosystem for sustainability in the delta region, BEDS is now

implementing the Sundarbans Mangrove Biodiversity Education, Environmental Education, Nature Observation Education, Tree plantation and Waste Management Education through building capacity of

teachers and students by using series of developed innovative, interactive and pragmatic education materials such as booklets, education games, video documentary, posters etc. Now we are conducting our

education program among 200 primary and secondary schools throughout Bangladesh and the National Curriculum Textbook Board is considering to include these materials as supplementary text books in

schools.

Community Education We constructed a Green Education Center (GEC) and Training and Cyclone Shelter nearby mangrove ecosystem. In village education we have been giving formal and informal education on mangrove ecosystem Towards Eco Village promoting Green Housing, Green Education and among the villagers. It was also to protect the ecological balance of the nearer riverine and mangrove Green Business for ecosystem based adaptation forest.

BEDS is also implementing an ecosystem based adaptation project named Eco Village Project in Bangladesh where comprehensive activities (Green Housing, Green Business, Green Education and Green Energy) are being done. BEDS planted almost 2, 20,000 mangroves in the river bank and planted more than 100000 trees in the schools ground and households by involving villagers, students and teachers.

BEDS organized International Seminar on the Sundarbans and the Relevant Issues. BEDS has also implemented a research study project on Trans-boundary rivers in Bangladesh which is directly link with mangrove ecosystem.

Significant changed throughout our education program

 Students and communities knowledge on environment and mangrove ecosystem is increased so now they are engaging themselves with nature conservation as well as mangrove ecosystem conservation activities by themselves  We become successful to bring positive changes to the communities attitude and manner who are living beside the forest towards nature and natural assets  The motivated students and community are motivating others resources harvesters for practicing nature conservation activities

Mangrove Plantation and Restoration by the students and villagers

Around 25000 students are enjoying Award Giving Ceremony for Developing Public Awareness on Biodiversity Mangrove Ecosystem Education among the Sundarbans Education Game Eco Village Model Conservation Communities

Cleaning Activities by the Students Green Education Center for Villagers Study on Trans-Boundary Rivers under the Environmental Education is enhancing Ecosystem for Life Project Future Leaders

International Seminar on the Sundarbans Nature Observation Education for Tree Plantation activities at School ground Teachers Training Program

and the Relevant Issues Students

Green Energy BEDS has been working to promote the green energy at the non-electrified Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh. To light up villages is an initiative by distributing different types of 2800 Solar Lamps and 504 solar home systems among coastal families. These solar lights decreased the necessity to purchase kerosene, which is associated with respiratory diseases and global warning.

Solar School Project: An 11.2 kw/hour solar station has been installed in the Sundarbans region. This station has been providing electricity to the school. Under the project we also distributed solar lights among the students. They carry the lights to the school each day to re-charge it and students are also getting multi -media class facilities.

Community Empowerment Project Based on Solar Energy: An additional two 7.5 kw/hour and a 3.0 kw/hour solar battery charging stations have also been installed in the project area. The villagers are accessing multiple services from these three stations such as battery charging, battery and solar lamp renting etc. The villagers are also able to conduct studio, internet, computer, and photocopy business using the produced solar energy.

School Education Program on Renewable Energy: We have also been conducting clean energy Around 5000 Villagers and students are getting benefit from three solar stations, solar education program among students and communities by our developed education materials. home system and solar lamps Significant changed by this small initiative  Almost 80% people (approx 2600 families) of our project site are getting benefit from the solar energy  Communities are saving 250 to 350 BD Take/month/family by avoiding Kerosene and using that money to their development activities  Rate of respiratory diseases is decreased from those families  People of non-electrified area are getting all sorts of electric facilities More than 20 villages are enlightened with Students are now reading more at night  Communities are now aware of the facilities of green energy and trying to make business by using the solar energy getting benefit from three by the solar lamps getting benefit from renewable energy solar stations, solar home system and solar three solar stations, solar home system lamps and solar lamps

Multimedia class has been introduced by Photocopy, printing, studio, laminating, internet the solar energy facilities, battery charging etc Business are being conducted by the community Livelihood improvement of the forest dwellers This is an established truth that the poverty is one of the main barriers for conservation not only in Bangladesh but also around the world. Most of the Sundarbans coastal communities depend on the mangrove forest. Generation after generation they have been involving themselves with resource harvesting practices. With the succession of time, number of resource harvesters is increasing and the volume natural resources are decreasing. So, the earning of the forest dwellers is decreasing accordingly and the daily commodity price is also increasing in Bangladesh. So the, forest dwellers engage themselves with mangrove destructive activities for their survival. In this circumstance, Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem will be demolished in near future. We know the local communities are the key actors for conserving their sounding ecosystem. So, BEDS Collected processed and packaged Sundarbans Mowal Honey Livelihood Development of Fishermen Families by Crab Fattening Collected processed and packaged Sundarbans Mowal Honey started to assist the resource harvesters for improving their changed the honey collector’s lifestyle by the honey collectors livelihood by the sustainable use of limited natural resources such as promoting natural honey, mangrove pickle and handicraft making and others non timber forest products business. We are also supporting the resources harvesters for conducting crab fattening, homestead gardening, organic vegetable making and climate friendly crop and fish cultivation activities. We are providing skill development training to the communities for conducting eco tourism activities in the Sundarbans region. Significant changes throughout our initiatives

 The local communities are conducting different nature friendly business and getting profit from it.  Our targeted beneficiaries are not involved with nature destructive activities as they did before Promoting Eco Tourism Business through Eco Tour Guide Homestead Agriculture by Fisherman Families  Their livelihood is improved and as a result poverty is reduced from those families Training in Sundarbans Area  They are being benefitted by natural resource management and at the same time they are playing vital role in mangrove ecosystem conservation.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Climate change is a global issue for sustainable development. Bangladesh is one of the most victimized countries for climate change. Sundarbans coastal region is the front line of global climate change due to it’s geographic location. People of coastal region have to struggle with the natural calamities regularly for the sake of their life. These natural hazards have been gradually increasing because of the adverse impact of climate change. The major hazards in Bangladesh caused by climate change are cyclone, storm surge, floods, drought, over and shortage of rainfall, salinity intrusion, sea level rise, river erosion, water logging etc. During recent past, two havoc climatic disasters (Super Cyclone Sidr, 2007 and Cyclone Aila, 2009) totally washed out all of the coastal infrastructures and public properties and so many things.

BEDS initiatives to reduce climate change hazards BEDS is very much concerned about global climate change issue and has taken strong initiatives to reduce the disaster risk of the vulnerable coastal communities. BEDS has constructed a Cyclone Shelter near the Sundarbans coastal region so that climate vulnerable people can take shelter during disaster period. We have educated coastal people on how to assess their own vulnerability through Hazard mapping, Seasonal calendar, problem trees etc. We have educated those communities about disaster signals, pre, post and during disaster preparedness activities. We also formed Village Disaster Management Committees for Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction activities. BEDS has introduced different Training and Cyclone shelter climate adaptive techniques among these vulnerable communities as a means of climate change adaptation.

Significant changes throughout our initiatives  The vulnerable Sundarbans coastal communities can assess their hazards by themselves  They are regularly measuring the water level of the nearby river and collecting data to justify the changes  They don’t go for resource harvesting in disaster time and take shelter in Cyclone shelter  Local villagers are now practicing climate adaptive businesses and producing climate friendly crops.  Now a day the communities listen news bulletins of Radio and Television to confirm Hazard Mapping by the Villagers Measuring, collecting and preserving water about weather forecast as well as observe disaster signal. level information by the vulnerable  They are much more aware of disaster preparedness than before. communities

Gender Development The Bangladeshi community is quite a progressive society and allows equal rights for both men and women in terms of education and occupation. Unfortunately this progressiveness has yet to reach interior areas where women are still confined to the kitchen. Some women go to the Sundarbans to collect natural resources and provide a helping hand to the family. They exploit the natural resources but are still not able to make a substantial contribution to overcoming poverty. Due to lack of education they also don’t have access to skilled job opportunities. Therefore, BEDS is working to provide livelihoods options to empower women in the region. The initiative has already distributed sewing machines and provided training in tailoring to help women become Production of Organic Vegetable by Female Farmer Women Groups are learning how to make Eco Products financially independent. BEDS provided skill development training program to those backward women groups with the experts of governments Youth Development sector on livestock raring, poultry farming and handicraft making. Now, these groups of women no longer need to go to the Sundarbans for their livelihood. These society-based eco- friendly livelihood activities will help reduce the adverse effects on the Sundarbans’ ecosystem.

Significant changes through our initiatives  Our targeted women groups are now able to make sustainable contribution to their families by their own earning.  They are now earning from tailoring activities, handicraft making as well as poultry and livestock raring.  The women groups have stopped collecting natural resources from the Sundarbans  The outlook of the society towards women has been changed.  Now the women groups are equally contributing to the family Sundarbans Fishermen Women Groups are making Mangrove Pickle Making Handicrafts using Local Materials (Craft for Conservation) income and taking part in the family decision making.

Health and Sanitation Scarcity of safe drinking water is the major problem of the Sundarbans coastal people. People of this region are completely dependent on ponds and rain water for their drinking purpose. They do not refine pond and rain water and drink it directly. As a result, water born diseases break out. Most of female members had to engage with collecting drinking water in maximum time of a day. Maximum times in dry season water level of those ponds get down and sometimes get dried. So, acuteness for the want of water is felt. So we tried to solve this social problem of the poor Sundarbans communities through re-excavating ponds and improved the water quality through installing Solar Pond Sand and Filter (SPSF). We formed Pond Management Committee (PMC) and finally we handed Coastal People are getting Safe Drinking Water from Solar Pond Sand Public Awareness Program on Water and Sanitation over those ponds among the MPCs. Now the villagers and Filter (SPSF) are taking water from those ponds regularly and PMC are taking care of all the facilities.

Significant success throughout our initiatives Ratna Roy is a woman of 27 years old. She needs 30 litters fresh water at least per a day for her family for cooking and drinking purpose. In the past, she had to walk 5 kilometers to take water but the water was not purified. Now a day she collects fresh and purified water from the installed SPSF. Before this, it took two hours to take only one pot (10 to 15 Litters) of water but now water access is much easier, within the short distance and less time consuming than before. Even they can take water from the SPSF at night. During rainy season she doesn’t have any problem to collect water because of the constructed concrete road right before the Solar Pond Sand Filter. As this water is purified her baby and other family members are now free from water born diseases. Health, Hygiene and Sanitation Education for Waste Pickers Hygiene Education among the Students

Women and Child Rights

The fishermen families around the Sundarbans have the belief that natural resources are never going to be ended. So, the children and their families give little consideration to education, resulting in high dropout rates. They are lured by the easy available resources near their home, and the easy money they can make exploiting these resources. The vicious cycle of poverty has created a more permanent problem of dependency on the Sundarbans ecosystem. BEDS is implementing a Literacy Education Service Program in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh. The main objective of the project is to reduce the number of dropout children. Awareness programs have been conducted to encourage Education Materials Support for Children to continue their Education Regular Education Service to Fishermen Children parents to send their children to school. Books, school bags, school uniforms, and solar lights are provided to encourage the children. Some of the supported students have done well on their school examinations. These superstitious communities consider girls as the burden of their family. They don’t provide the girls proper education and marry them off at an early age. As a result, those immature girls fall in premature pregnancy problems, sometimes they give birth of malnourished baby and sometimes they die miserably. To drive away these problems from the society BEDS has been conducting different awareness raising activities among the communities which have positive impacts on the society.

Significant changed throughout our initiatives . Developing Skill of Dropout Students Education on Women and Child Rights  Rate of dropout students is reduced.  Students and their parents are inspired by BEDS initiatives  Parents don’t engage their Childs in income generating activities  Rate of early marriage of the girls is reduced  Community becomes conscious on child and women rights

Wildlife Conservation and Protection

The Sundarbans region is very rich in terms of fauna. Many endangered species have made their home in this mangrove forest, including the pride of the nation, the Bengal Tiger. There are also turtles, dolphins, vultures and a rare bird species. But the frequent human interference has disturbed the habitat of these mighty species. BEDS has been instrumental in biodiversity and wildlife conservation for many years now in the Sundarbans region. BEDS are now conserving critically endangered species such as turtles, an aquatic bird (Masked Finfoot), dolphins, and vultures etc. BEDS was the first organization to find out

Vulture Conservation Education Fishermen Groups initiative for Conserving Dolphin and Turtle about the critically endangered or near extinct wild turtle species Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska) in the Sundarbans area. Research, Education and awareness programs are been organized among the communities surrounding the Sundarbans by BEDS.

Significant changes throughout our initiatives

 BEDS become successful in changing the coastal communities’ attitude towards wildlife conservation.  The local communities don’t catch fishes in the dolphin sanctuaries  The fishermen communities have stopped using small leak mesh for fishing.  They don’t kill any wild animals  They take instant initiatives to rescue the endangered wild animals whenever they are in trouble.  The coastal communities do not hesitate to raise their Drama for Conservation Education program with the fishermen community about the voices against wildlife hunting and trading. relation between the Sundarbans and us

About Md. Maksudur Rahman

Md. Maksudur Rahman was born on 28 December 1981 in a village name Shialidanga under Khulna District of Bangladesh nearby Sundarbans Mangrove forest. His Father was a famous and honorable teacher as well as social activist in this region and his mother is a housewife. After finished his school education he came from village to city for his higher education and finally he completed M.Sc in Zoology from National University at 2005. From the Childhood Maksud was keen to nature and he loved birds and others animal but he was hearted when the community killed any wildlife and destroy nature so he involved himself with a local nature conservation organization when he was a student since 2000. After completed his graduation he worked with national and international Nature/ Environmental/ Biodiversity/ Wildlife conservation organizations.

After getting married in 2009 he went to Dhaka (capital city) in search of a good job but everybody disappointed him by saying that they need time for giving a job then he returned again to Khulna. He thought that he can establish an organization in his own region for the wellbeing of nature and human. But establishing an organization, getting the government registration and raising fund for smooth execution of organization is not an easy task and it is too much difficult in Bangladesh. He thought that it was the biggest challenge in his life. Small seed money was needed for establishing the organization but he was almost empty; then his friends and well-wishers supported and cooperated him because they had a faith to Maksud that he can able to do good for nature. Maksud faced several problems during getting the organizational registration but that time few of honest government higher officials and big hearted people supported him so finally he succeeded to form Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) in 2010 and got the government registration in 2013. Within a very short time BEDS becomes a reputed organization among the communities and already did few remarkable jobs on environment sectors in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh by the leadership of Maksud. . Still Maksud is facing lot of problems for doing his job and sustainability of the organization. Maksud intent is to establish a reputed environmental organization in Bangladesh which will be long run by own fund for solving local environmental problems.

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All of our small initiatives are for conserving mangrove

ecosystem

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Contact Md. Maksudur Rahman Chief Executive Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) House #03, Road #20, Nirala R/A, Khulna-9100 Telephone: 88041721123, Mob: + 88-01712 868004 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Skype name: beds20111, www.bedsbd.org

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Building a Future in Which Humans Live in Harmony with Nature