Conservation of natural resources for healthy environment stressed

RAJSHAHI, Nov 17 (BSS): Conservation of natural resources has become an urgent task for addressing the adverse impacts of climate change that has been acknowledged as a major threat to the region in the present context, scientists and researchers say.

They viewed there is no way but to natural resource conservation in the region particularly the vast Barind tract to face the adverse impact of climate change.

Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu of Geology and Mining Department of Rajshahi University says there were many indigenous paddy varieties which required less or no irrigation. But, the eco-friendly varieties are now on the verge of extinction due to wide-ranging promotion of hybrid and high yielding varieties.

He, however, said the promoted varieties consume large irrigation and chemical fertilizer and pesticides which are detrimental to environment.

Many other native crop and vegetable varieties are gradually being replaced with high yielding varieties which are also harmful to our natural ecosystem and public health.

Apart from this, most of the native fish species particularly the small indigenous ones are on the margin of extinction due to massive absorption of exotic ones.

Prof Sabbir stated that the rain-fed transplanted Aman paddy has now become totally depended on irrigation that triggers huge pressure on underground water table which becomes a common concern.

Prof Bidhan Chandra Das of Department of Zoology of Rajshahi University referred to evidence- based method to support natural resource conservation in the dried area and its prospects and challenges.