Bangladesh is home to the world’s largest mangrove forest, and, as such, we have the privilege and responsibility of protecting its natural beauty and bio-diversity.
It is heartening, then, to see the government designate more than half of the total region of the Sundarbans as a sanctuary in a move to protect the ecologically-critical area.
The ban on collecting all types of wild resources from sanctuary areas will no doubt go a long way in the preservation of forest area and the protection of endangered species which call the Sundarbans home.
This is a good time to think long-term and arrange for alterative employment for those whose livelihoods may depend on the forests resources, like fishermen who rely on the aquatic resources of the Sundarbans area.
These new rules and regulations must be upheld, with maps of the protected area sent out to all parties concerned.
These measures must not be just for show -- we need to follow through, with action taken against those who break the rules and continue to endanger the ecosystem.
The Bengal Tiger, an icon for Bangladesh, has seen its numbers dwindling in recent years, and this can be attributed largely to human activity in the Sundarbans.
By protecting the Sundarbans, we will also be protecting these majestic beasts, which occupy a delicate place in the ecological balance of the Sundarbans.
Ultimately, this great mangrove forest of ours is a vital sanctuary for wildlife and a natural bulwark against the sea; and our ability to protect this forest is a mark of our development as a nation.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
