Fifth National Report of Bangladesh to the Convention on Biological Diversity Department of Environment Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity National Assessment 2015) Department of Environment Paribesh Bhaban E-16, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh Ph -88-02-8181800 Fax-88-02-8181772 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.doe.gov.bd November 2015 Minister Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh MESSAGE It is my great satisfaction that Bangladesh presents the Fifth National Report to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, (Biodiversity National Assessment 2015), which fulfils an important national commitment under the Convention. The Report results from broad consultations carried out with the various sectors of people working on biodiversity. I am very pleased with the publication that depicts an update on biodiversity status, trends, and threats and implications for human well-being, progresses made on implementation of NBSAP and its mainstreaming as well as progress towards achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Bangladesh is biodiversity rich a country. Our people have traditionally been conserving biodiversity generations-after-generations. Maintaining the richness in biodiversity is very important for supporting the economy of Bangladesh with food supply and livelihoods. To this end, Bangladesh has taken various development initiatives on management of areas important on biodiversity of the country. Bangladesh has been enhancing its support for the conservation and sustainable use of its biodiversity with remarkable outcomes, such as, increase of conserved areas of wetlands, expansion of vegetation cover and reduction of deforestation, as well as, generation of knowledge on biodiversity. At the same time, our citizen’s living standards are improving significantly through effective efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger. As one of the parties to CBD, Bangladesh remains committed to develop and implement policies and solutions to integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources into sustainable development strategies. The Government of Bangladesh strongly believes that there is no alternative to conserve biodiversity for ensuring well-being of the people. Our efforts towards protecting the ecosystems and the diversity of its biological components will further be enhanced with the publication of the report. The report will concurrently help communicate information on biodiversity and related action plans to global partners and guide the government for implementing its actions for the betterment of the local and global community. Let us make our all-out effort that will enable us to do everything possible towards conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. I wish the report would go a long way towards its implementation. (Anwar Hossain Manju, MP) Deputy Minister Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh MESSAGE It is indeed a great pleasure for us to see the publication of Fifth National Report to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, (Biodiversity National Assessment 2015). The report updated pictures of biodiversity that could be a useful document not only to the decision makers but also to the academicians and students who may use it as an education material. It is widely acknowledged that the current status of biodiversity in Bangladesh is under stress. Population pressure that makes over-dependence on ecosystem’s goods and services, pollution, habitat destruction through land use change, invasive of alien species and, above all, climate change is taking a huge toll on our biodiversity. The indomitable force of our people living in harmony with nature has been jeopardized by the frequent disasters of climate change. Despite all these odds and obstacles, we never followed do-nothing policies. Bangladesh signed CBD in 1992 and ratified in 1994. We ratified Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2004. We’ve also signed Nagoya Protocol on Access-Benefit Sharing in 2011. To the cause of biodiversity conservation, we developed National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in 2004 and National Biosafety Framework (NBF) in 2006. Towards protection and improvement of environment and biodiversity, our government in 2011 inserted the Para 18A in the constitution as fundamental principles of our state governance. The Para provides that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment, preserve and safeguard the natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife for the present and future citizens. The status and trends portrayed in the report have the impetus on implementing stronger efforts towards conservation of biological diversity, ensuring the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Being bio-rich a country, Bangladesh has to adopt adequate measures to halt further degradation of our precious biological resources. I strongly believe that our efforts towards biodiversity conservation would re-energize with the publication of the report. (Abdullah Al-Islam Jakob, MP) Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh FOREWORD I am pleased to observe the publication of the Fifth National Report. I am happy to note that the Biodiversity National Assessment 2015 has been prepared following consultative process involving a wide range of stakeholders and I wish to thank all of those who contributed to the process of development of the report. This report provides an opportunity to share experiences of Bangladesh with rest of the world. The report reveals that our biodiversity is under huge pressure of population and the onslaught of extreme events of climate change. Yet, Bangladesh made a tremendous progress in terms of taking development initiatives towards conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Bangladesh has already increased its protected areas and ecologically critical areas. The alternative income generating activities has already been taken in various wetlands and forest communities to conserve biodiversity. However, the initiatives are proving inadequate because of our resource constraints. We have to work towards fast-track mobilization of adequate financial as well as technological resources from developed world to halt the further degradation of biodiversity in the developing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh has taken development activity towards updating and mainstreaming NBSAP in line with Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Mainstreaming of biodiversity in different sectors would also be taken into account in the process of NBSAP updating activity. The report opens our eyes that we have great challenges ahead, but we are determined to achieve success in conserving biodiversity. Let us all work together and forge a network of cooperation to reverse the challenges of ensuring conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of its components. (Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed) DOE Director General Department of Environment Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh PREFACE Fifth National Report has been prepared in accordance with Article 26 of the Convention and decision X/10 of the Conference of the Parties. The structure of the report is based on the Guidelines for the Biodiversity National Assessment 2015 published by the secretariat of CBD. The report has been prepared by the Department of Environment with the gracious support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Thanks go to all the relevant stakeholders who contributed through workshops, written submissions and inputs. The report presents different aspects of biodiversity in Bangladesh in three chapters addressing the status and trends of biodiversity, progresses on implementation of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The content of the report could be an important reference material to update the country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The Department of Environment has taken various initiatives towards conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Various policies, acts and rules-regulations have been formulated, development projects are implemented. Media campaigns to raise public awareness on biodiversity were taken by various government and non-government organizations. In addition, citizen’s actions on biodiversity and nature conservation have increased. The academic institutions are being actively engaged in incorporating biodiversity in their curricula and research on various components of biodiversity. Yet, the present situation of biodiversity gives strong signals that we need concerted efforts to protect the remaining biological resources. Without active participation of the people from all walks of life, biodiversity conservation would be an unattainable task by the Government or any individual organization. On behalf of the Department of Environment, we always welcome collaboration of nature-loving people in our every initiative. We expect that the findings of the report will help formulating future conservation strategy and action plan on biodiversity. (Md. Raisul Alam Mondal) Director General