Rehabilitation of Sidr damaged Sundarbans must be a priority
Thursday, 17 July 2008
The world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, which was damaged extensively by cyclone Sidr on November 15 last year, must be a priority of rehabilitation and conservation with a programme carefully designed not to disrupt the unique ecosystem, reports BSS.
According to a report of damage loss and needs assessment by the government with financial support from the European Commission the immediate strategy for the forest is not to allow any additional stress in the name of restoration to occur, which can exacerbate the damage.
The report observed that although the Sundarbans are naturally restoring and rejuvenating, the restoration of freshwater ponds inside and outside the Sundarbans should be carried out immediately to complement this process which is likely to cost Tk 10 million.
The forest department needs support of the order of Tk 69 million immediately to restore strategically important field offices and monitoring stations, which were extensively damaged by the cyclone.
The rehabilitation work for the forest department's infrastructure in the Sundarbans should also include alternative arrangements for transportation and communication.
Immediate plantation programme are needed in coastal areas other than the Sundarbans, the report said and suggested that the rehabilitation programme must be supported in part by public awareness activities and will provide immediate employment opportunities to affected community while also helping promotion of future coastal afforestation.
Nurseries also require immediate support for plant seedlings of indigenous and sustainable species.
The experts suggested for medium and long term priorities.
Among the medium term priority activities, systematic studies should be carried out on the natural restoration process underway in the Sundarbans and long-term environmental impacts of Sidr on Sunderbans ecosystem.
According to a report of damage loss and needs assessment by the government with financial support from the European Commission the immediate strategy for the forest is not to allow any additional stress in the name of restoration to occur, which can exacerbate the damage.
The report observed that although the Sundarbans are naturally restoring and rejuvenating, the restoration of freshwater ponds inside and outside the Sundarbans should be carried out immediately to complement this process which is likely to cost Tk 10 million.
The forest department needs support of the order of Tk 69 million immediately to restore strategically important field offices and monitoring stations, which were extensively damaged by the cyclone.
The rehabilitation work for the forest department's infrastructure in the Sundarbans should also include alternative arrangements for transportation and communication.
Immediate plantation programme are needed in coastal areas other than the Sundarbans, the report said and suggested that the rehabilitation programme must be supported in part by public awareness activities and will provide immediate employment opportunities to affected community while also helping promotion of future coastal afforestation.
Nurseries also require immediate support for plant seedlings of indigenous and sustainable species.
The experts suggested for medium and long term priorities.
Among the medium term priority activities, systematic studies should be carried out on the natural restoration process underway in the Sundarbans and long-term environmental impacts of Sidr on Sunderbans ecosystem.