1 Proceedings of Upazila Inception workshop Patuakhali 24 August 2017 Integrating Community-based Adaptation into Afforestation and Reforestation (ICBA-AR) Programs 2 TABLE OF CONTENT SL NO CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER 01 SUMMARY OF INCEPTION WORKSHOP 03 02 BACKGROUND OF THE INCEPTION WORKSHOP 06 03 OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP 06 04 ABOUT PATUAKHALI 06 05 ABOUT GALACHIPA 08 06 ABOUT RANGABALI 10 07 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 12 08 PRESENTATION ON THE ICBA-AR PROGRAM 13 09 OPEN DISCUSSIONS 13 10 KEY SPEECH DELIVERED IN THE WORKSHOP 14 11 SPEECH OF THE CHIEF GUEST 15 12 SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORKSHOP 15 13 GROUP WORK SESSION AND PRESENTATION 15 14 MEDIA COVERAGE 18 15 PARTICIPANTS LIST OF THE INCEPTION WORKSHOP 20 17 ANNEX: SIGNED INVITATION LETTER 21 3 SUMMARY OF INCEPTION WORKSHOP The Ministry of Environment of Forests (MoEF) with support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) & United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) have taken up the “Integrating Community-based Adaptation into Afforestation and Reforestation (ICBA-AR) Programs” in Bangladesh to reduce climate vulnerability of communities to the adverse impacts of climate change through participatory planning, community-based management and integration of livelihood with coastal afforestation and reforestation. The ICBA-AR project was officially launched through a workshop held on 22 March 2017 in CIRDAP, Dhaka. The district level inception workshop for Patuakhali district was held on 24 August 2017 in Galachipa Upazila Parishad Complex. As per suggestion of the Deputy Commissioner, Patuakhali to organize the event at Upazila level, and to ease the participants from Upazila level we organized it at Upazila level. It was held with the presence of Patuakhali district, Rangabali and Galachipa Upazila level participants. Due to an emergency case Dr. Masumur Rahman, DC, Patuakhali could not attend the program. The inception workshop was graced by Mr. Shamsuzzaman, Upazila Chairman, Galachipa as the chief guest. Additional Deputy Director of DAE, District Livestock Officer, and Divisional Forest Officer from district were joined as guests of honour. Mr. Rezaul Karim, UNO, Galachipa chaired the workshop. The event marked participation from different departments, government agencies like Agriculture Officer, Livestock Officer, Fisheries Officer, Social Welfare Officer, Co-operative Officer, Youth Development Officer, Forest Range Officer, Education officer, Assistant Director-Cyclone Preparedness Programme along with their assistant officers were participated in the meeting. Representatives from NGO, Freedom Fighter, Journalists, Civil Society, Educationist, Municipality, Local Government- Upazila & Union Parishad, Village Defense Party, Beneficiary were attended the meeting. Mr. Kabir Hossain, Communication Officer, ICBA-AR project, UNDP, at his welcome address he welcomed and thanked all the participant for coming here and said that the ICBA-AR project combines seven departments of the Bangladesh government. The specialty of the project is the participation of the government department and the local community. He mentioned that collaborative management system will be introduced into the project activity to ensure the effective participation of local people. He mentioned forestry, fisheries, agriculture, livestock departments are combinedly working for this adaptation project. He thanked to upazila and district administration to help to organize the workshop. Mr. Abdullah Z. Ahmad, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, ICBA-AR Project, UNDP Bangladesh outlined project’s objective, outcome, activities, timeline, deliverables, budget and challenges likely to be faced by the project through a power point presentation. He solicited continued cooperation and active participation from all relevant stakeholders to make the programme a success. 4 Md. Abu Hanif Mia, Chairman, Charmontaj Union Parishad, opined that in the area this kind of project activities is badly needed and he added this is the right time and right area for this project and thanked UNDP. Mr Ruhul Amin, Upazila Commander, Freedom Fighter, Galachipa, Patuakhali took part in the event and added valuable speech in the open discussion. During his speech, he expressed his great satisfaction on the project and communication with him for this event. He also appreciated the entire process of the project. He suggested working for the needy and poor people the targeted area. He assured his all sorts of cooperation and well wishes always. Md. Nasir Uddin, Journalist, The Daily Amader Somoy, he thanked authority to undertake the ICBA-AR project that will act for the betterment of human and coastal forest development. He requested to involve local journalist to implement important activity so that journalists can help to publicity the best practices among the mass people and to ensure transparency. Abul Kalam, Chairman, Panpotty Union, thanked UNDP & MoEF for their good initiative especially for the help of forest dependent extreme poor people. He expected that financial and forest management capacity of the most vulnerable people will be increased. They will be able to cope with climate change adaptation and mitigation. He ensured that all kind of support will be provided for the smooth operation of the project. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Secretary, Galachipa Press Club, emphasised on how to success the project and requested to involve the people directly in project activities. He also explained the importance of mangrove such as; Mangrove helps buffer Zone between the land and sea, protect the land from erosion. play an invaluable role as nature's shield against cyclones, ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines, breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals, Mr Abdul Wadud, Additional Director(Crop) told that being the project as a new intervention in this area, it is appropriate project for this area because natural disaster occurred here after a certain period so coastal greenbelt is a crucial issue. He also told that if we want to increase afforestation and reforestation we have also secure livelihoods for the forest dependent ultra-poor people. If all the department work integrating way project will be success. He expressed his deep satisfaction for forest and environment protection and adequate communication with relevant stakeholders. He assured his all kinds of support in implementing this project for the greater benefit of the poor and vulnerable people of coastal belt. Dr. Moloy Kumar Sur, District Livestock Officer, Patuakhali, said every year thousands of livestock, crops and human being are damaged and wash out due to climatic hazards such as floods, cyclone, storm surge etc. I am pleased to hear that there will be constructed Killa for livestock protection because maximum people in the coastal area reared livestock and poultry which are seriously damaged during natural 5 disaster. Adaptation and mitigation activities are essential in this area that will be undertaken by ICBAAR Program. Coastal greenbelt act as natural barrier during disaster. So creation of coastal greenbelt by this project through community involvement is praiseworthy. All concerned stakeholders are requested to help to implement the project effectively. Mr. Ajit Kumar Rudra, Divisional Forest Officer, Coastal Forest Division, Patuakhali, thanked MoEF and UNDP for selecting Galachipa and Rangabali Upazila for this project. Being related this project with afforestation and reforestation and especially his department, he welcomed the project and assured his all sorts of support and technical cooperation for the smooth implementation of the project. He stated that it is a follow up project of previous successful pilot project named CBACC Project from which forest dependent ultra-poor people increased income and achieved two international awards. When agricultural productivity improved through FFF model then their food consumption and health nutrition status will be increased. Mr. Shamsuzzaman, Upazila Chairman and Chief Guest of the program welcomed the project at his Upazila on behalf of the Upazila Administration. For proper and smooth implementation of the project he assured all cooperation as well. He said, I am aware about afforestation and reforestation. Everybody should have commitment otherwise we will fall a great problem due to climate change bad effect. An open discussion moderated by the Chair of the program Mr Rezaul Karim, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Galachipa for clarifications to participants on some key issues like project scope, safeguard, inclusiveness, how to bring all stakeholders together etc. He told that UNDP along with Ministry of Environment and Forest has implemented the country’s first LDCF project “Community based Adaptation to Climate Change through Coastal Afforestation (CBACC) project’ which planted 9,000 ha of mangrove and non-mangrove and benefitted over 20,000 households. The fish-fruit and forest (FFF) model of CBACC project awarded Earth Care Award from USA and ‘Peoples Choice Award’ from India. I saw CBACC project’s activity closely while I was UNO at Charfashion, Bhola. ICBA-AR is a follow up project of that Project. Project arena were selected most climatic vulnerable and remote areas. The project is being implemented by 7 government department. He explained the strength and weakness of former project. He thanked all participants especially district level distinguish guests for attending the program and effective discussion. He also mentioned that the ICBA-AR Programme is not only about reducing