Flora, fauna disappear with shrinking wetlands
Experts tell seminar
A considerable portion of indigenous flora and fauna have disappeared from the country thanks to the shrinking of wetlands here, speakers observed yesterday.
Most of the country's extensive wetland that was once home to a huge biodiversity has been devastated because of short-sighted policies, they said.
The continuous shrinking of the marshy lands is another reason behind the receding enthusiasm of migratory birds from visiting the country, they added.
Speakers came up with the observations at a seminar on wetland management jointly organised by Bangladesh Forest Department, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Nature Conservation Committee (NCC) at the forest department in the capital.
Marghub Murshed, former adviser of NCC, said "It is imperative to conserve what is left of our wetlands since these marshy areas support the livelihood of millions and harbour a huge biodiversity."
Md Yunus Ali, chief conservator of forests of the forest department, said, "The wetlands in our country could be a great source of ecotourism since it attracts around 207 species of migratory birds."
However, some birds, for instance, Spot bill Pelican and Bengal Florican, has already disappeared because of the wetland shrinking, he added.
Yunus said, "Around 300 plant species and more than 400 vertebrae species are judged to be dependent on wetlands for all or parts of their life cycles."
"Marshy lands also make the livelihood of millions of people, particularly fishermen who constitute 10% of the country's total population," he said.
He also called for protection of the 47 major haors existing in the country that contribute around six to eight percent to the national GDP.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments