BDRunner Online:-
June 28:- Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that forests and natural resources are not only for the environment, but also for the economy, biodiversity and the security of future generations. Collective participation of all stakeholders must be ensured in managing these resources.
She said these things while delivering her keynote address at the workshop titled ‘Workshop for Second Cycle of the National Forest Inventory of Bangladesh and National Validation and Workshop on the Generation of the Land Cover and Natural Capital Map and Developing Integrated Collaborative Forest Management Plans’ at the Forest Department in the capital today.
The advisor said in the seminar organized virtually from her residence that forests should be seen as oxygen suppliers and havens for biodiversity rather than from the perspective of carbon trading.
He also said that if the developed world only buys carbon credits, they will not actually reduce emissions. Degraded forests need to be restored, community-based management and realistic management plans need to be prepared. Lessons need to be learned from past experiences and verification of successful projects should be done.
He mentioned that the information obtained from the second cycle of the National Forest Survey will play an effective role in the formation of a forest database, forest-based policy-making, proper use and conservation of natural resources and combating climate change.
The advisor said that the maps related to topography, land use and natural capital and integrated forest management plans will take us forward on the path of sustainable development.
He said that this program is a good initiative. Now there is a need for third-party analysis, online and technology-based monitoring and updating the information every five years. He said that we need to conduct this inventory with our own funding instead of waiting for foreign assistance.
Chief Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury presided over the meeting.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed, FAO Representative in Bangladesh Xiaokun Shi, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman and Executive Director of CEGIS Malik Fida A Khan spoke as special guests.
Representatives of the Department of Forests, development cooperation agencies, academia and research institutions were present at the seminar.
