Protected Area
Dr. Ashraful Azam Khan
July 2016
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries
Protected Area
What is Protected Area
?
◼
A clearly defined geographical space, rec
ognized, dedicated and managed, throug
h legal or other effective means, to achie
ve the long-term conservation of nature
with associated ecosystem services and c
ultural values.
◼
“ Protected area implies the protection of
bio-diversity for sustainable utilization"
Protected Area
Protected Areas of Banglades
h
◼
Declaring protected areas has long been the
most effective and widespread measure for
conserving nature and natural resources aro
und the world
◼
Declaration of PAs for biodiversity conserva
tion is rather a new concept in Bangladesh
◼
In 1974, the Bangladesh Wildlife Preservatio
n Act defined three types of PA under differ
ent IUCN protected area management cate
gories in the country, namely:
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
◼
Wildlife Sanctuary:
An area maintained as an undisturbed breedin
g ground for wild fauna and where the habitat
is protected for the continued well-being of the
resident or migratory fauna.
◼
National Park:
A comparatively large area of natural beauty t
o which the members of the public have acces
s for recreation, education and research, and in
which the wildlife is protected.
◼
Game Reserve:
Normally comprises a relatively isolated area
meant for protection of wildlife in general and
to increase the population of specified species.
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
◼
In order to ensure in situ conservation of bio
diversity, the GoB has designated 34 protecte
d Areas and 12 Ecologically Critical Areas till
2012.
◼
Among the PAs 17 are National Parks while t
he remaining 17 are wildlife sanctuaries
◼
PAs managed under the Wildlife Preservation
Act
◼
Cover approximately 2700 sq.km which is ab
out 11% of the total forest area of the country
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
National Parks
National Parks
Location
Area (ha)
Established
1. Bhawal
Gazipur
5022
1982
2. Modhupur
Tangail/Mymen
8436
1982
3. Ramsagar
Dinajpur
27.75
2001
4. Himchari
Cox’s Bazar
1729
1980
5. Lawachara
Moulavibazar
1250
1996
6. Kaptai
Ctg Hill Tracts
5464
1999
Noakhali
16352.23
2001
7. Nijum Dweep
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
National Parks
National Parks
Location
Area (ha)
Established
Cox’s Bazar
395.92
2008
Hobigonj
242.91
2005
10. Khadim Nagar
Sylhet
678.80
2006
11. Baraiyadhala
Chittagong
2933.61
2010
12. Kuakata
Patuakhali
1613
2010
13. Nababgonj
Dinajpur
517.61
2010
14. Shingra
Dinajpur
305.69
2010
8. Medha Kachha
pia
9. Satchari
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
National Parks
National Parks
Location
Area (ha)
Established
15. Kadigarh
Mymensingh
344.13
2010
16. Altadighi
Naogaon
264.12
2011
17. Birgonj
Dinajpur
168.56
2011
Sub-Total
45745.33
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Location
Area (ha)
Established
1. Rema-Kalenga
Hobigonj
1795.54
1996
Bhola
40
1981
3. Sundarbans (East)
Bagerhat
31226.94
1996
4. Sundarbans (Wast
)
Satkhira
71502.10
1996
5. Sundarbans (Sout
h)
Khulna
36970.45
1996
Ctg Hill Tracts
42087
1983
Chittagong
7763.97
1986
2. CharKukri-Mukri
6. Pablakhali
7. Chunati
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Location
Area (ha)
Established
8. Fashiakhali
Cox’s Bazar
1302.43
2007
9. Dudhpukuria
Chittagong
4716.57
2010
10. Hazarikhil
Chittagong
1177.53
2010
11. Sangu
Bandarban
2331.98
2010
12. Teknaf
Cox’s Bazar
11615
2010
13. Tengragiri
Barguna
4048.58
2010
14. Dudmukhi
Bagerhat
170
2012
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Location
Area (ha)
Established
15. Chadpai
Bagerhat
560
2012
16. Dhangmari
Bagerhat
340
2012
17. Sonarchar
Patuakhali
2026.48
2011
Sub-Total:
224833.55
Grand-Total:
270478.88
Protected Areas Protected
of BangladesArea
h
Game Reserve
Game Reserve
1. Teknaf GR
Location
Area (ha)
Established
Cox’s Bazar
11615
1983
Ecological Critical Area
Ecological Critical Areas of Bangladesh
Ecological Critical Areas
◼
Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) are geographically delineated area
s which by themselves or in a network have distinguishing ecological
characteristics, and are important for maintaining habitat heterogenei
ty or the viability of a species, or contribute disproportionately to an e
cosystem's health, including its productivity, biodiversity, function, str
ucture, or resilience.
Ecological Critical Area
Ecological Critical Areas of Bangladesh
ECA’s
ECA’s
Location
Area (ha)
Ecosystem Type
1. Sundarbans (10 k
m landward peripher
y)
Bagerhat
292926
Coastal-Marine
2. Cox’s-Teknaf
Cox’s Bazar
20373
Coastal-Marine
3. St. Martin’s Island
Cox’s Bazar
1214
Marine Island wit
h coral Reefs
4. Sonadia Island
Cox’s Bazar
10298
Marine Island
5. Hakaluki Haor
Sylhet
40466
Inland Fresh Wat
er Wetland
6. Tanguar Haor
Sunamgonj
9797
Inland Fresh Wat
er Wetland
Ecological Critical Area
Ecological Critical Areas of Bangladesh
ECA’s
ECA’s
Location
Area (ha)
Ecosystem Type
7. Marjat Baor
Jhenaidah
325
Ox-bow lake
8. Gulshan-Baridhara
Dhaka City
101
Urban Wetland
9. Rivers-Buriganga,
Turag, Sitalakhya, Ba
lu, Tongi canal
Dhaka City
7605
River
Total Area:
383105
Protected and Ecological Critical Area
Threats to PA and ECA’s of Bangladesh
◼
In Bangladesh, protected areas are part of the Reserved Forests and have
been notified as Pas after severe ecological degradation and destruction.
The following are some major challenges concerning sound PA manage
ment in the country:
◼
Rural poverty and the high unemployment rate in the surrounding of pro
tected areas
Conflicts between the Forest Department and local forest-dependent peo
ple due to ignoring local people’s customary resource use practices
Fuel wood collection, illegal poaching and overexploitation of other nontimber forest resources
Poor and inefficient management facilities due to a shortage of trained p
ersonnel, modern equipment and budget deficiencies;
◼
◼
◼
Protected and Ecological Critical Area
Threats to PA and ECA’s of Bangladesh
◼
◼
The absence of a proper monitoring body and improper implementation
of laws and
Lack of people’s awareness about the importance of biodiversity.
Protected and Ecological Critical Area
Conclusions and Recommendations
◼
The Government needs to manage PAs through an adaptive collaborativ
e management system and should immediately consider the following in
order to achieve a long-term and effective PA managerial system:
◼
Implementing poverty reduction strategies around PAs by developing alt
ernative income generating (AIG) activities and providing micro-credit f
acilities to the rural people.
◼
Create opportunities to develop the tourist industry (ecotourism) based o
n protected
Protected and Ecological Critical Area
Conclusions and Recommendations
◼
Adopting a participatory PA management regime which ensures the equi
ty of the local people in decision making and benefit sharing.
◼
Restore and manage buffer zones as an alternative resource exploitation
zone, as well as fixing an allowable resource exploitation limit from the P
As; this offers both ecological and economical sustainability in the local e
nvironment and livelihoods.
◼
Formulate a separate institutional body for the management and monitor
ing of PAs.
Protected and Ecological Critical Area
Conclusions and Recommendations
◼
Promote capacity building of PA managerial staffs by designing specializ
ed courses in the conservation and management of PAs.
◼
Generate and create internal income sources (e.g., selling entry tickets, p
ermissions for photographs, souvenir, etc.) for the sustainable financing
of protected areas.