Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh Local Government Engineering Department Haor Infrastructure and Livelihood Improvement Project (HILIP) Level-3, RDEC Bhaban, LGED H/Q Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207 Final Report Action Research on Analysis of the Environmental Impacts of Large Scale Expansion of Pond Fisheries and Climate Change Effects under HILIP, LGED September 2019 13C/8C Babar Road, Block-B, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. Tel:880-2-55020295, 01711521105 Table of Contents List of Abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. viii 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 2. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................... 1 3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................... 4 4. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 5 4.1 Study Area ...................................................................................................................... 5 4.2 Data Collection through FGDs, KIIs, In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and Survey 5 4.3 Development of Tools of Data Collection .............................................................. 6 4.4 Qualitative Data Entry to the Computer and Compilation ................................. 7 5. RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 7 5.1 Tasks Based Activities and Achievement .............................................................. 7 5.2 Outcomes through In Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) .......................................................................................................................... 7 5.2.1 Demographic Characteristic ...................................................................................... 8 5.2.2 Education Level ............................................................................................................ 8 5.2.3 Main Occupation of Pond Owner’s .......................................................................... 9 5.2.4 Land Holding ................................................................................................................. 9 5.2.5 Homestead Pattern .....................................................................................................10 5.2.6 Livestock Assets ..............................................................................................................10 5.2.7 Possession of Household Articles.........................................................................11 5.2.8 Possession of Agriculture Equipment ..................................................................11 5.2.9 Availability of Basic Utility Services ......................................................................12 5.2.9.1 Electricity Connection ...............................................................................................12 5.2.9.2 Drinking Water Facilities ..........................................................................................12 5.2.9.3 Sanitation Facilities....................................................................................................13 5.3 Final Outcomes through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) ..........................13 5.4 Final Outcomes through Key Informants’ Interview (KII) ................................16 5.5 Fish Species Diversity and Abundance through In-Depth Interview ............19 5.5.1 Status of Perennial and Seasonal Ponds .............................................................19 5.5.2 Assessment of Impact of Fish Culture .................................................................21 5.6 Assessment of Fish Culture: Impact of Exotic Species on Natural Fish Population .........................................................................................................................................23 5.7 Roles of Women in Pond Fish Culture ..................................................................27 i 5.7.1 Assessment of Environmental (Physical, Biological and Social) Situation28 5.8 Environmental Impact ...............................................................................................28 5.8.1 Impact of Flash Flood ................................................................................................28 5.8.2 Impact when Number of Fish Culture Units Increased .....................................29 5.8.3 Impact of Escape of Cultured Fish to Haor Water .............................................30 5.8.4 Impact on Pond Culture – When Insecticide are Applied in Agriculture .....30 5.8.5 Physical Environment ...............................................................................................31 5.8.6 Water Quality ...............................................................................................................31 5.8.6.1 Determination of Water Quality of Ponds ............................................................32 5.8.6.2 Water Quality Collected from the Project Area ...................................................35 5.8.6.3 District wise Analysis of Water quality as determined through Field Test .36 5.8.7 Soil Quality ...................................................................................................................37 5.9 Ecological Environment............................................................................................38 5.9.1 Flora ...............................................................................................................................38 5.9.1.1 Aquatic Flora ...............................................................................................................39 5.9.1.2 Creepers Plants ...........................................................................................................40 5.9.1.3 Terrestrial Herbal Flora .............................................................................................40 5.9.1.4 Shrubs ...........................................................................................................................41 5.9.1.5 Terrestrial Trees ..........................................................................................................42 5.9.2 Fauna .............................................................................................................................43 5.9.2.1 Amphibians ..................................................................................................................43 5.9.2.2 Mammals .......................................................................................................................44 5.9.2.3 Reptiles .........................................................................................................................44 5.9.2.4 Resident Birds .............................................................................................................45 5.9.2.5 Fishes ............................................................................................................................46 5.9.2.6 Biodiversity Status of Fish Species.......................................................................46 5.10 Climate ...........................................................................................................................47 5.10.1 Temperature .................................................................................................................47 5.10.2 Rainfall ...........................................................................................................................49 5.10.3 Water Level Characteristics .....................................................................................51 5.10.4 Groundwater in Haor areas ......................................................................................52 5.10.5 Irrigation ........................................................................................................................53 5.10.6 Crop ................................................................................................................................53 5.11 Matrix Analysis for Identifying Mitigation Measures on Environmental Impacts .........................................................................................................................................54 5.12 Reporting obligations ................................................................................................55 ii 6. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND IMPACTS ..................................56 6.1 General Considerations ............................................................................................56 6.1.1 Potential Impacts of Activities of Aquaculture Development .........................56 6.1.1.1 Impacts on Water Resources ..................................................................................57 6.1.1.2 Impacts on Land Resources ....................................................................................57 6.1.1.3 Impacts on Agricultural Resources .......................................................................57 6.1.1.4