Environmental Issues of Environmental Issues of BangladeshBangladesh

Dr Mahfuzul HaqueDr Mahfuzul Haque

Points for DiscussionPoints for Discussion

Eco-Profile of BangladeshEco-Profile of Bangladesh Issues of Concern: water quality; air quality; Issues of Concern: water quality; air quality;

population growth; poverty and malnutrition; population growth; poverty and malnutrition; natural disaster; threats to agriculture; pressure natural disaster; threats to agriculture; pressure on lands; forest depletion; fisheries; industries on lands; forest depletion; fisheries; industries etc.etc.

Debates over sustainable agriculture, hill Debates over sustainable agriculture, hill agriculture, sustainable energyagriculture, sustainable energy

Eco-Profile of BangladeshEco-Profile of Bangladesh Bangladesh is a live deltaBangladesh is a live delta 150 million people confined within 144,000 sq kms150 million people confined within 144,000 sq kms Around 230 rivers and tributaries cris-cross the country like a Around 230 rivers and tributaries cris-cross the country like a

meshmesh 40% of land mass less than one meter (3.3 ft) above sea level 40% of land mass less than one meter (3.3 ft) above sea level 3 major rivers carry 2.4 billion tons of silt (1/53 major rivers carry 2.4 billion tons of silt (1/5th th global silt) global silt)

annuallyannually 54 common rivers and 92% of catchment area of these rivers 54 common rivers and 92% of catchment area of these rivers

is outside Bangladesh territoryis outside Bangladesh territory Catchment Areas: Bangladesh: 08%, India: 62%, China: 18%, Catchment Areas: Bangladesh: 08%, India: 62%, China: 18%,

Nepal:08%, Bhutan: 04%Nepal:08%, Bhutan: 04% Water sharing issue is multilateral and not bilateralWater sharing issue is multilateral and not bilateral

Eco-ProfileEco-Profile of Bangladesh of Bangladesh

HaorsHaors and and BaorsBaors in the North, North-East and in the North, North-East and WestWest

BarindBarind in the West: changes taking place . in the West: changes taking place . Ground water level falling due to massive Ground water level falling due to massive irrigationirrigation

Chittagong Hills Tracts in the South-EastChittagong Hills Tracts in the South-East Flood plain: 80%, Hilly: 12%, uplifted terrace: Flood plain: 80%, Hilly: 12%, uplifted terrace:

8%8%

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Coastal areas in the south subject to salinity Coastal areas in the south subject to salinity intrusion and natural disasters: (580 km coast line: intrusion and natural disasters: (580 km coast line: St Martins to Satkhira)St Martins to Satkhira)

Natural disasters like flood, cyclone, tornado, Natural disasters like flood, cyclone, tornado, tidal bore, draught and desertification are tidal bore, draught and desertification are common featurescommon features

Bad floods: 1987, 1988, 1998, 2004, 2007Bad floods: 1987, 1988, 1998, 2004, 2007 Conical shape in the Bay of Bengal attracts Conical shape in the Bay of Bengal attracts

cyclonic storms causing enormous casualtiescyclonic storms causing enormous casualties

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Unplanned Population GrowthUnplanned Population Growth: : In a country of 150 In a country of 150 million people, 50% population is below 15 years of age. million people, 50% population is below 15 years of age. Unemployment, poverty, lack of basic facilities, rural-Unemployment, poverty, lack of basic facilities, rural-urban migration causing mushrooming of slums continueurban migration causing mushrooming of slums continue

Poverty and MalnutritionPoverty and Malnutrition: : About 48% people are About 48% people are living below poverty line, 20% under extreme poverty living below poverty line, 20% under extreme poverty and 10% ultra-poor. People suffer from food crisis for 3-4 and 10% ultra-poor. People suffer from food crisis for 3-4 months in the months in the MongaMonga hit region in the North. Due to poor hit region in the North. Due to poor literacy and life expectancy, high infant and maternal literacy and life expectancy, high infant and maternal mortality rate, the country is under stressmortality rate, the country is under stress

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Natural DisasterNatural Disaster: : The floods of 1987 and 1988 were The floods of 1987 and 1988 were devastating. 1998 flood inundated two-thirds of devastating. 1998 flood inundated two-thirds of Bangladesh for two months. 2004 and 2007 floods Bangladesh for two months. 2004 and 2007 floods continue to wreck havoc. Besides floods, cyclones, continue to wreck havoc. Besides floods, cyclones, tornadoes, tidal bores, tornadoes, tidal bores, Sidr 2007Sidr 2007, , AilaAila 2009 continue to 2009 continue to visit us.visit us.

Threats to Sustainable AgricultureThreats to Sustainable Agriculture: Excessive use : Excessive use of agro-chemicals, insecticides and pesticides along of agro-chemicals, insecticides and pesticides along with new hybrid crops continue to pose threat to our with new hybrid crops continue to pose threat to our agriculture. Loss of top soil, soil erosion, salinity agriculture. Loss of top soil, soil erosion, salinity intrusion, water logging due to FCD/I are affecting our intrusion, water logging due to FCD/I are affecting our agriculture.agriculture.

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Water Quality and AvailabilityWater Quality and Availability: Ground-water : Ground-water mining, arsenic contamination, pollution from agro-mining, arsenic contamination, pollution from agro-chemicals, industrial effluents and municipal wastes chemicals, industrial effluents and municipal wastes are all affecting our waters. are all affecting our waters.

Poor air quality:Poor air quality: Dhaka’s air relatively cleaner now Dhaka’s air relatively cleaner now due introduction of CNG. Brick kilns continue to due introduction of CNG. Brick kilns continue to pollute air in the vicinity. Government suggested to pollute air in the vicinity. Government suggested to adopt environment friendly technologies, like hybrid adopt environment friendly technologies, like hybrid Hoffman kilns, Jig jag kiln and vertical kilns with no Hoffman kilns, Jig jag kiln and vertical kilns with no success.success.

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Depletion of ForestsDepletion of Forests: : Felling of trees for timber, Felling of trees for timber, fuel and fodder reduced our reserved forests by 50% fuel and fodder reduced our reserved forests by 50% in last 20 years. Salinity intrusion and top-dying in last 20 years. Salinity intrusion and top-dying affected the Sundarbans. Rubber, acacia replacing affected the Sundarbans. Rubber, acacia replacing the local indigenous trees.the local indigenous trees.

Pressure on LandPressure on Land: Land-use change affecting : Land-use change affecting agricultural lands coupled with landlessness due agricultural lands coupled with landlessness due to river-bank erosion. Common Property to river-bank erosion. Common Property Resources (CPR) over-exploited and getting Resources (CPR) over-exploited and getting reduced. reduced.

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Threat to FisheriesThreat to Fisheries: Effluent discharge, excessive use : Effluent discharge, excessive use of agro-chemicals, faulty shrimp fry collection, exotic of agro-chemicals, faulty shrimp fry collection, exotic variety, FCD/I structures and flooding are all variety, FCD/I structures and flooding are all threatening the fisheries sector.threatening the fisheries sector.

Energy CrisisEnergy Crisis: Crisis for fuel and fodder forcing : Crisis for fuel and fodder forcing people to use bio-mass at an alarming rate. Large people to use bio-mass at an alarming rate. Large amount of coal remains untapped. Age-old generation amount of coal remains untapped. Age-old generation forcing low yield of electricity. No growth expected forcing low yield of electricity. No growth expected soon.soon.

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Hazards of IndustrializationHazards of Industrialization: Industries, real estate : Industries, real estate buildings continue to pollute our water bodies, soil and buildings continue to pollute our water bodies, soil and air. Wetlands are being converted for housing and air. Wetlands are being converted for housing and industries at an alarming rate. industries at an alarming rate.

Rapid Urbanization:Rapid Urbanization: Unplanned urbanization putting its Unplanned urbanization putting its toll on the cities and towns. The capital has become toll on the cities and towns. The capital has become unlivable due to population pressure (10 million+), unlivable due to population pressure (10 million+), unabated rural-urban migration, mushrooming of slums, unabated rural-urban migration, mushrooming of slums, unplanned traffic, less roads in comparison to increasing unplanned traffic, less roads in comparison to increasing cars, load shedding, water crisis and gas crisis. The cars, load shedding, water crisis and gas crisis. The capital may be abandoned if no improvement takes place.capital may be abandoned if no improvement takes place.

Debate over Sustainable AgricultureDebate over Sustainable Agriculture

19721972: Food production was 10 ml MT with 3 ml MT : Food production was 10 ml MT with 3 ml MT shortage for a population of 75 mlshortage for a population of 75 ml

20082008: Food production was 30 ml MT with negligible : Food production was 30 ml MT with negligible shortage (2-2.5 ml MT) for a population of 150 mlshortage (2-2.5 ml MT) for a population of 150 ml

Amazingly 10 ml farmers make a silent revolution on Amazingly 10 ml farmers make a silent revolution on a fixed geographical area over 32 yearsa fixed geographical area over 32 years

High Yield Variety (HYV)/ GM crops High Yield Variety (HYV)/ GM crops HYV versus Indigenous VarietyHYV versus Indigenous Variety Use of agro-chemicals Use of agro-chemicals versusversus Integrated Pest Integrated Pest

Management (IPM)Management (IPM)

Invasion of agro- chemicals

Available of pheromone trap (IPM)Available of pheromone trap (IPM)

Picture: Application of pheromone trap

Food Production and Annual ImportFood Production and Annual Import

Crops/Products Total Demand Annual Import

Rice 30 ml MT 2- 2.25 ml MT (7% of total demand)

Wheat 3.5 ml MT 1 ml MT

Palm Oil 1.15 ml MT 1.15 ml MT

Sugar 1 ml MT 0.85 ml MT

Ref: Prothom Alo, January 2009

Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

Ground Water Ground Water versusversus Surface Water irrigation Surface Water irrigation In Barind, ground water level fell by 40 feet in In Barind, ground water level fell by 40 feet in

last 25 years and apprehended to fall 25 feet in last 25 years and apprehended to fall 25 feet in next 10 years due to excessive irrigationnext 10 years due to excessive irrigation

Barind faces creeping desertification, if Barind faces creeping desertification, if measures like surface water use, rain water measures like surface water use, rain water harvest, excavation of canals and proper harvest, excavation of canals and proper sharing of cross-boundary water are not takensharing of cross-boundary water are not taken

Debate over Sustainable Debate over Sustainable Hill AgricultureHill Agriculture

CHT is 1/10CHT is 1/10thth of Bangladesh in size of Bangladesh in size High lands in the central partHigh lands in the central part What agriculture is suitable for the hillsWhat agriculture is suitable for the hills Sedentary Cultivation Sedentary Cultivation versusversus JhumJhum

CultivationCultivation Use of agro-chemicals Use of agro-chemicals Sustainable Hill AgricultureSustainable Hill Agriculture

Debate over EnergyDebate over Energy

Sources of Energy?Sources of Energy? Non-Renewable Energy Non-Renewable Energy versusversus Renewable Renewable

EnergyEnergy Non-Renewable: Coal, natural gas, petrol, Non-Renewable: Coal, natural gas, petrol,

diesel, biomassdiesel, biomass Renewable: Bio-gas, hydro-power, solar, wind Renewable: Bio-gas, hydro-power, solar, wind

power, wave actionpower, wave action Whether clean energy affordable? Which Whether clean energy affordable? Which

energy is suitable for the country?energy is suitable for the country?

Further ReadingsFurther Readings

M. Haque, “Sustainable Management of Environment”, Q I M. Haque, “Sustainable Management of Environment”, Q I Chowdhury ed., Chowdhury ed., Bangladesh: State of Environment Report Bangladesh: State of Environment Report 19991999, Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh., Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh.

Probable QuestionsProbable Questions

What are the environmental issues and What are the environmental issues and concerns of Bangladesh? concerns of Bangladesh?

What are the adverse impacts of agro-What are the adverse impacts of agro-chemicals on the environment? For a country chemicals on the environment? For a country like Bangladesh, should we go for HYV?like Bangladesh, should we go for HYV?

What type of sustainable hill agriculture do What type of sustainable hill agriculture do you suggest?you suggest?

THANK YOUTHANK YOU