Wetland Management Strategies in MSDP Area

Ishrat IslamProfessor

Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

Importance of Waterbodies and Wetland

Wetland is considered as one of the most important ecosystems on earth.

According to Ramsar Convention wetlands are defined as follows:

Wetlands include a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, peatlands, floodplains, rivers, and lakes, and coastal areas such as salt-marshes, mangroves, and sea grass beds but also coral reefs and other marine areas no deeper than six meters at low tide, as well as human made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs (Ramsar Convention Bureau, 2000)

Total Economic Value of Wetland

Direct Use Value

Indirect Use Value

Non-renewable/Irreversible

i.e. land filling

Renewable/

Managed

Agriculture Fishing

Natural Drainag

eTransport Active Recreati

on

Use Value Non-use Value

Option Value

Bequest Value

Storm water

retentionImprove water

QualityAir quality

Recreation/

education

Livelihood low income

Reduce Flood damage

Existence Value

i.e Preserving biodiversity

Future personal recreati

on

Future generation to enjoy

nature

Total conservation benefit

Total development benefit

Mymensingh Strategic Development Planning (MSDP) Area

MoU, UDD has been given a pilot project on “Preparing a Module for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Measures into Comprehensive Land Use Development Planning and Management for Mymensingh Strategic Development Planning (MSDP) Area”

The project areas constitutes Mymensingh municipality and surrounding 10 (ten) unions of with an area of about 27933.43 hectare

MSDP AreaHydrological Context

Mymensingh municipal area (located at center); northern part and western part of Mymensingh are located as such that is above 12.5 meter of flood water danger level.

Most of the places in Mymensingh are located below flood water danger level.

MSDP AreaHydrological Context

Almost entire area was flooded during 1988 and 1998. The flood map of 2009, 2010, 2011 shows low inundation. In these years mostly northern side of Mymensingh was badly affected by flood.

Mymensingh Strategic Development Plan (MSDP) (RuralArea)Hydrological Context

MSDP area is blessed with various categories of permanent and temporary wetlands which includes river, khals, irrigation canal, dighi, ponds, gher, marshy land, ditch area and lakes.

A huge stock of pond and marsh landIrrigation canalNetwork of khalsGher for fish cultivation

MSDP Area (Rural)Hydrological Context

Mymensingh has been one of the prominent rice and jute producing districts of Bangladesh.

Now a vast area of Jute/Rice fields has turned into ponds for fishery.

100% of the ponds and other water bodies of this region are perennial.

Mymensingh exports fish to other districts.

Taking lease of lands for fish farming is in practice. .

The sector is growing with backward and forward linkages.

Mymensingh Strategic Development Plan (MSDP) (RuralArea)Fisheries Sector

Mymensingh Pourashava AreaLanduse

Mymensingh Pourashava is the largest and most populous Pourashava of Mymensingh District.

It cover about 21.73 square kilometers. .

The Pourashava is agricultural based residential area (53.49%).

Land use category rea (sq.km.) Area (Acre) %

Residential 4.24 1047.35 40.03

Water bodies 3.01 743.67 28.42

Agriculture 1.43 352.24 13.46

Mixed Use 0.45 111.65 4.26

Transportation 0.31 77.88 2.97

Industrial 0.19 45.94 1.76

Open spaces 0.18 45.25 1.73

Administrative 0.16 38.61 1.47

Educational 0.15 37.6 1.44

Commercial 0.12 29.86 1.14

Restricted 0.12 29.08 1.11

Recreational 0.08 19.32 0.74

Places of Worship 0.05 11.4 0.44

Graveyard 0.04 9.72 0.37

Miscellaneous 0.04 9.22 0.35

Health 0.03 8.03 0.31

Total 10.59 2616.85 100

Mymensingh Pourashava AreaWaterbodies

Type Nos. Length (Km)Area

Acres %

Pond/Ditch 341 33871 88.46

Khal/canal 1 6.042 3456 9.03

River 1 962 2.51

Total 343 38289 100

Brahmaputra River passes through Mymensingh Pourashava and a large number of small and large water bodies have found in the Mymensingh Pourashava.

This river is a major natural resource for the city, particularly from recreational and transport perspectives.

No river flood problem but internal flood or water logging is common. Water logging because of absence of proper drainage system and

blockage of existing drains, haphazard expansion of settlements which obstructs the natural drainage system, poor and inadequate maintenance of existing river, khals, kutcha and pucca drains, unplanned construction of residential, commercial buildings, failure to preserve “right of away” for drains and disposal of solid wastes and garbage into the existing drainage system.

Under Second (UGIIP-II) project, the drainage master plan for Mymensingh Pourashava aims to develop the drainage to integrate storm water runoff, wastewater and road drains through primary, secondary and tertiary drains and natural streams so that they all function as an integrated system to prevent inundation and to reduce environmental contamination from wastewater.

Mymensingh Pourashava AreaDrainage Plan

Separation of sewage and storm waterEfficient collection and disposal of solid wasteRegulate land use and construction

Clear definition of different categories of water bodies.

Verification of the categories at ground level.

Particularly the size/shape and number of ponds is bit confusing.

Clarification of Collected Data

While undertaking wetland conservation program the policy makers would face the following basic queries.

What are the present function of the wetland?What is the ownership pattern?What areas should be conserved?What are the legal and institutional support?What would be the management strategies for the

conservation area? When and how to adopt the strategies?Who would carry out the strategies?

Policy Intervention to Ensure Wise Management of Wetland in MSDP area

Various socio-economic issues are associated with wetland management.

Moreover legal and institutional strength and setup is a prerequisite to manage waterbodies.

To develop wetland management strategies it is necessary involve the local people and different stakeholders because they are the users, beneficiaries, protectors or exploiters of wetland.

Benefits of existing waterbodies and threats of conservation.

Policy Intervention to Ensure Wise Management of Wetland in MSDP area

Ownership of waterbodies: Private/publicAccording to HC, river consists of a bed,

foreshores, and banks.District administrations to protect river foreshores with demarcation pillars, tree plantation and walkways.

Present functions/benefits of wetlandValuation of wetlandStakeholders involved with wetlandsTrend of loss/increase of wetland

Need for Necessary Data for Management of Wetland of MSDP area

Urbanization trend and impact on waterbodiesPollution(if any) types and sourcesGrowing fisheries sector and its impacts from

socio-economic and environmental point of view.Network of waterbodies and scope of integrating

waterbodies in urban and rural landscapeInstitutional role and legal strength to manage

wetlands.Peoples’ perception regarding management of

wetland

Need for Necessary Data for Management of Wetland of MSDP area

Wetland ManagementActs and Policies of Bangladesh

Waterbody Conservation Act 2000Environment Policy 1992 National Environment Management Action Plan

(NEMAP) 1995

Sectoral Plan and Policies such asFlood Action Plan 1989National Fisheries Policies 2009National Water PolicyJalmahal Policy 2009

Dimensions of Development Management Plan and Measures in Relation to Wetland Protection in MSDP Area

Thank You