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Public Disclosure Authorized REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Trans-boundary elected representative workshop on Challenges and Management of Public Disclosure Authorized Sundarbans Landscape: Finding a Shared Way Forward on Sundarbans On MV Paramhansa Cruise; 20 – 22 March, 2015 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Objectives of the event .................................................................................................................. 5 1.3. Scope of the event ......................................................................................................................... 6 2. Background for the event .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1. Assessment of current situation .................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1. Key issues and challenges ............................................................................................................... 6 2.1.2. Current perception of key stakeholders ......................................................................................... 7 2.1.3. Possible problem solving approaches ............................................................................................. 7 2.2. Approach and methodology .......................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1. Justification for the selected event ................................................................................................. 8 2.2.2. Salient features of the pre-event consultation and communication process ................................ 8 2.3. Stakeholders and participants ...................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1. Key stakeholders and participants in the event.............................................................................. 9 2.4. Design of the event ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.4.1. Type of Event ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.4.2. Selection of issues and content .................................................................................................... 10 2.4.3. Methodology used to ensure maximum participation and outcomes ......................................... 11 3. Description of Event .................................................................................................................................. 12 3.1. Description of the deliberations, presentations, etc. .................................................................. 12 3.2. Key findings and recommendation ............................................................................................. 28 3.3. Outcome of the event.................................................................................................................. 34 3.4. Way forward ............................................................................................................................... 35 4. Lessons learnt ......................................................................................................................................... 36 4.1. Salient features ........................................................................................................................... 36 4.2. Challenges faced ......................................................................................................................... 36 4.3. Degree of engagement ............................................................................................................... 37 4.4. General recommendation ........................................................................................................... 37 2 5. Annex .................................................................................................................................................. 38 5.1. Background Materials circulated for the Event .......................................................................... 38 5.2. Summary of proceedings............................................................................................................. 67 5.3. List of participants ....................................................................................................................... 68 5.4. Details of photos and videos – Shared separately ...................................................................... 70 5.5. List of media coverage with dates .............................................................................................. 70 5.6. Details of media coverage ........................................................................................................... 71 3 1. Introduction 1.1. Background India, especially the state of West Bengal, and Bangladesh share a strong history, culture and geographical proximity. However the social and economic ties between India and Bangladesh are yet to unfold adequately and there is ample scope to enhance the relation further especially in the backdrop of rapid growth in both the countries. In late 2011, Bangladesh and India signed (non-binding) agreements on a host of issues to pave way for joint actions. The issues were for collaboration in international waters, information-sharing, disaster management, and addressing climate change induced issues; and memorandum of understanding on specific areas like (i) management of the Sundarbans, (ii) management of Royal Bengal tigers, (iii) fisheries, and (iv) exchange and sharing of information between the respective national televisions. Given the socio-political context of South Asia, unsurprisingly it has taken decades for Bangladesh and India to sign the aforementioned framework agreements on joint actions and also that the understanding are yet to be operationalized. But in the present discourse of climate change and rapid anthropogenic growth, it is necessary to build an institutional political framework involving elected representatives to push for operationalization of the agreements. This would also help in integration between two countries to improve both in their policy and practice; the absence of which not only affects economic development but also hampers management of shared natural resources such as forests and transboundary river basins. A special focus is needed for facilitating joint, sustainable development of the shared Sundarbans landscape with stress on realizing economic growth and enhancing climate resilience. This includes in building the confidence, knowledge and capacity of national and local institutions to effectively implement the 2011 Bangladesh-India Memorandum of understandings (MoU’s) for joint sustainable management of the Sundarbans landscape. Although the civil society, media groups, research bodies, and community-based organizations in both the countries are interested and participating, the crucial need is for the two national governments to take lead and ownership. It is felt that creating and sustaining a Joint Platform, comprising decision-makers representing government and non-government bodies in Bangladesh and India will be a very effective and sustainable way forward to ensure continuous and meaningful collaboration and joint actions. This Platform will plan and coordinate joint actions that help reduce poverty and vulnerability to high intensity weather events, promote prosperity in the shared landscape, and lead to better management of the globally significant natural heritage. In view to forge partnership for the Sundarbans landscape, WWF-India has been entrusted with organizing a multi-stakeholder engagement to develop an alternative scenario to the 4 “business as usual” informed by best available current knowledge and research. Along with other modes of inter and intra country exchanges on Sundarbans, trans-boundary elected representatives workshop has been planned with an aim to positively engage the fourth estate into conservation of trans-boundary Sundarbans and, through them, suitably influence both the policy and practice in India and Bangladesh regarding the agenda. The trans-boundary elected representative workshop spread from March 20th to 22nd, 2015 on cruise M V Paramhansa, involving 32 participants was organized under this backdrop. 1.2. Objectives of the event To facilitate the process of transboundary integration, World Bank, under its ‘South Asian Water Initiative’ (SAWI) programme, has focused on transboundary Sundarbans area. The overall objective of SAWI Sundarbans focus area programme is to operationalize the joint management of Sundarbans landscape for sustainable development and to deliver mutual benefits for two countries. Under this programme, along with Government of India; Government of Bangladesh; Government of West Bengal, civil society and media are slated to have key role. The programme identifies that a common process of dialogue and stakeholders’ engagement will be able to guide implementation of SAWI Sundarbans