Integrated Coastal Zone Management imperative to save coast: Expert
Saturday, 11 December 2010
In the light of vulnerability of the country's coastal belt due to climate change, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is imperative to save the coastal belt from environmental degradation and to ensure food security in the coastal region.
Prof Dr BK Bala, Department of Farm Power and Machinery of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), told UNB that the coastal zone of Bangladesh was rich in natural resources offering many tangible and intangible benefits to the nation.
He said it is now well known that the coastal belt will be affected most due to global warming in near future, which would degrade the environment, eco-system and crop production in the region in coming years.
"Excessive fishing and over-exploitation of coastal resources, water quality deterioration, mangrove destruction for aqua-culture and conversion of agricultural land into aqua-culture ponds are the major problems that need to be managed on priority basis."
Dr Bala said ICZM considers the population, crop production, aquaculture and forestry, with two unique features of food security and environmental degradation (ecological footprint).
Prof Bala laid emphasis on the need for cultivating saline-tolerant varieties of paddy in the coastal belt for ensuring food security as well as protecting the environment.
"There is a lack of environmental consideration in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. The problem cannot be solved in isolation, an integrated and systematic approach is needed," he added.
Prof Dr BK Bala, Department of Farm Power and Machinery of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), told UNB that the coastal zone of Bangladesh was rich in natural resources offering many tangible and intangible benefits to the nation.
He said it is now well known that the coastal belt will be affected most due to global warming in near future, which would degrade the environment, eco-system and crop production in the region in coming years.
"Excessive fishing and over-exploitation of coastal resources, water quality deterioration, mangrove destruction for aqua-culture and conversion of agricultural land into aqua-culture ponds are the major problems that need to be managed on priority basis."
Dr Bala said ICZM considers the population, crop production, aquaculture and forestry, with two unique features of food security and environmental degradation (ecological footprint).
Prof Bala laid emphasis on the need for cultivating saline-tolerant varieties of paddy in the coastal belt for ensuring food security as well as protecting the environment.
"There is a lack of environmental consideration in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. The problem cannot be solved in isolation, an integrated and systematic approach is needed," he added.