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Sundarbans Day Today

'Save biodiversity of world's largest mangrove forest'

13 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Criss-crossed by rivers and adorned with a variety of flora and fauna, the Sundarbans is a great attraction for tourists but much is to be done to save the world's largest mangrove forest.Photo: STAR

The 8th Sundarbans Day will be observed in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna and Narail districts today through observance of different programmes. The programmes include cultural functions and discussion meetings on world's largest mangrove forest. On the occasion, a children's painting competition was held at Rupantar auditorium in the city yesterday morning. Children from different academic institutions took part in the contest. Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Sundarbans Academy Prof Anwarul Kadir at a press conference here yesterday demanded full implementation of the Khulna Declaration to save biodiversity of the forest. The Khulna Declaration was announced on Ferbruary 14, 2001 at the national convention on the Sundarbans inaugurated by the then president Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. The declaration, which contains 18 recommendations to save the Sundarbans and its biodiversity from extinction, is yet to be implemented. The recommendations include improvement of law and order in the Sundarbans to protect its biodiversity, stoppage of killing its animals including deer and tiger, positive move to make it a suitable tourist spot, dredging of canals and rivers passing by and through the forest and formation of a watchdog body comprising experienced forest officials, environmentalists, researchers, NGOs and public representatives with a view to saving the Sundarbans. The executive director of Sundarbans Academy accused the past four-party alliance government and a section of officials of Sundarbans Forest Division of not implementing any of the recommendations of Khulna Declaration. He urged the present government to take necessary steps to save the Sundarbans from looters, poachers, criminals and corrupt officials. “Sundarbans is not only a revenue earning source of the government but also a shield to protect the country's south-western region from onslaught of natural disasters. It also serves as a source of livelihood for several thousand people,” said the executive director of the Sundarbans Academy.