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The Royal Bengal Tiger population is at risk in Sundarbans

By
Zulker Naeen
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0
Sundarbans

Bangladesh struggles to protect the threatened Bengal tiger population in Sundarbans, with unchecked poaching blamed for the alarmingly low numbers.

The big cats continue to be a “critically endangered” species, experts say.

“We have to stop poaching in the mangrove forests. In the past year alone, three unnatural deaths of the tiger is unfortunate,” M. A. Aziz, a zoology professor at the Jahangirnagar University of Bangladesh.

Tiger poaching is the reason for the significant fall in numbers, causes 97 per cent of the population lost in the past 100 years.

In the 2018 tiger census, there are 114 Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, a slight increase from the 106 reported in the previous year. However, it is a dreadful fall in numbers since 2004, when the tiger population was 440.

Experts say the conservation of the big cat is in progress.

“We are continuously working to raise the tiger population, and our efforts are yielding good results as the latest census says tigers increased by eight,” Modinul Ahsan, a deputy project director with Bangladesh Forest Development.

In recent years, authorities have carried out round-the-clock smart patrols in the forests to create safe breeding environments for the tigers.

The forest department is in the progress of a tiger conservation project to be in place by early 2021 at an estimated cost of $400,000.

As part of the project, it will conduct the camera-trapping census again. Efforts will be to relocate the tigers once the project is in place.

About 1 million people in the neighbouring areas of the Sundarbans depend on the forest for their livelihoods. However, the government declared a large portion of the mangrove as a reserve forest.

The Tiger population is at risk in Sundarbans. A total of 38 tigers died in the last 20 years in Bangladesh Sundarbans. Last five months, two more tigers died of old age reasons in the Sundarbans.

Between 2001 and July 2020, 38 tigers died, 22 in the East Division and 16 in the West Division of the Sundarbans.

However, last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the number of Royal Bengal Tiger in Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans increased to 114 from 106.

The latest Tiger Survey conducted in 2018 claims there were 114 tigers in the Sundarbans.

Climate change exposes Sundarbans tiger habitats.

Royal Bengal tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans could be wiped off by 2070 because of climate change and sea-level rise. 

Researchers forecast a Ceriops-dominated mangrove stretch along the India-Bangladesh border would potentially be the last refuge of the big cats in the Sundarbans.

Bangladesh and Australian researchers have conducted this study. The journal Science of The Total Environment published it.

“Our studies show a rapid falling-off the Royal Bengal tiger population and suitable tiger habitats in the Bangladesh Sundarbans area by 2050,” said the corresponding author of the study, Sharif A. Mukul.

With more than 10,000 square kilometres of areas, the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh and India is the most critical area for Bengal tiger survival.

“We found that climate change has a higher impact on Bengal tiger in Sundarbans rather than the sea level rise alone,” said Mukul, an assistant professor at Independent University, Bangladesh.

The study considered sea level rise as a consequence of climate change. The researchers examined suitable tiger habitats in the mangrove ecosystem where the tigers prefer to live. This space along the India and Bangladesh borders in the Sundarbans and is the site of Bangladesh’s Sundarban West Wildlife Sanctuary.

In Bangladesh Sundarbans, the three wildlife sanctuaries are Sundarban West, South and East. These sanctuaries cover around 23 per cent of the total Sundarbans reserved forest owned by the Bangladesh Forest Department.

The sanctuary of the Sundarbans increased from 139,700 hectares to 317,900 hectares among 601,700 hectares of forest area.

Considering this fact, it is inadequate. We know Sundarbans is the largest wild habitat of Bengal tigers and the only place where tigers are adapted to live in mangrove ecosystems.

Climate change predictions to determine the impact on tigers

In both scenarios, the combination of climate change and sea-level rise will lead to the total loss of Bengal tiger habitats in the area. 

Important factors linked to this decline are rainfall in the summer season, vegetation (mangrove species) and maximum temperature of the warmest month.

The reason could be the control of Ceriops Decandra species of mangroves in this border stretch where salinity is relatively higher than the rest of the Sundarbans. Climate change would drive a tree species shift and also trigger extreme weather events adding to the effects of sea-level rise.

Health decline of Sundari trees in Sundarbans

However, there is no significant decline in the number of mangroves in the Sundarbans for the last 30 years. However, there is evidence of a 25% health decline of the mangrove trees. And, it is due to the effect of increased salinity on the Sundari tree. But the continuing climate change could critically hamper its ability to reborn.

Most significantly, the ‘top-dying disease’ is a cause for declining 15% of trees in the Sundarbans since the 80s.

Unfavourably, the Sundari tree is less tolerant of high salinity levels than other mangrove species and has previously identified as suffering from die-back due to rising salinity.

Tiger conservation

The government of Bangladesh should prioritise tiger conservation by designating more areas for tiger conservation, create corridors for transboundary tiger movements.

The fate will be the same in entire Sundarbans if the governments don’t take the necessary action to conserve and allow more areas dedicated to tiger conservation. Transboundary conservation measures by the Bangladesh and Indian governments are urgent.

Zulker Naeen

Climate Journalist

Zulker Naeen is a South Asia Fellow at Climate Tracker and a freelance climate journalist.

As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change. Climate Tracker is a global media network that closely works on Climate Change.

A Harsh Reality of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, and Internal Migration

By
Zulker Naeen
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0
Salinity
A Harsh Reality Of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, And Internal Migration

Over the past 35 years, salinity intrusion in Bangladesh has increased by about 26 per cent, with the affected area expanding each year. A combination of tidal flooding, inundation by storm surges and saltwater intrusion has led to a rise in salinity in the groundwater and the fresh-water ponds.

This article is a republished version of the original article as a part of the writer credential.
A Harsh Reality of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, and Internal Migration

A Harsh Reality Of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, And Internal Migration – OpEd

Publishers: Eurasia Review

Date of Publish: April 30, 2018

In recent years, development experts around the world are intensely concerned about water security. According to FAO, a third of the world’s population depends on groundwater. The UN has already warned of the danger of overusing these reserves. Groundwater reserves in part of India’s Ganges basin could be drained dry within decades, it says.

However, we are overlooking the harsh reality of Bangladesh. 

The melting of glaciers and snowpack in the Himalayas has swollen the rivers that flow into Bangladesh from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. Also, India diverts large quantities of water for irrigation during the dry season and release most water during the monsoon season.

The Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta already has identified as one of the hot spots of climate change effects. It laid Bangladesh in a most vulnerable situation, which has already brought droughts that lead to acute water shortages and affect agricultural output.

Equally, Bangladesh has to face a severe flood every four to five years. Rapid erosion of coastal areas has inundated dozens of islands in the Bay. Last two decades, we have already lost 90 per cent of Sandwip Island’s original 23-square-miles. In recent years, riverbank erosion is displacing between 50,000 and 200,000 people annually.

Among other South Asian countries, Bangladesh should receive the utmost attention because of climate risks and water security. It is expected, about 15 million people from Bangladesh only could be on the move by 2050 because of climate migration.

Over the past 35 years, salinity intrusion in Bangladesh has increased by about 26 per cent, with the affected area expanding each year. A combination of tidal flooding, inundation by storm surges and saltwater intrusion has led to a rise in salinity in the groundwater and the fresh-water ponds.

About 70 per cent of people in the region depend on pond water for drinking and domestic use, as the groundwater is extreme saline, according to Golam Rabbani, a fellow at the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.

According to the World Bank, climate change is likely to increase river and groundwater salinity dramatically by 2050 and exacerbate shortages of drinking water and irrigation in the southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. 

It will adversely affect the livelihoods of at least 2.9 million poor people in a region where 2.5 million people are already struggling with a lack of water.

“We can’t drink the saline water, can’t take a bath with it. If the utensils washed with this water, they get damaged, even for cooking, we have to bring water from far,” says Khadija. The impact of the acute drinking water crisis in Bangladesh is borne disproportionately by women who, like Khadija, are the family members traditionally responsible for collecting water.

Already, internal migration has observed strongly; a large population is already being displaced or has decided to migrate due to water salinization, cyclones and riverbank erosion. We found many migration stories from the southern region Satkhira, Kuakata, Shoronkhola, and Potuakhali district of the country.

The increasing salinity of the soil in coastal villages has not just made safe drinking water hard to come by; it has also made rice farming, the region’s traditional occupation, nearly impossible. Landless labourers face livelihood challenges and have large households with many dependents who are most likely to migrate. Rabbani explains. “About 90 per cent of the people who migrate are men, leaving the female members of the household behind.”

According to the World Bank, it has estimated that 400,000 people from different parts of Bangladesh move to Dhaka each year. International Organization for Migration surveyed 160 migrant households in Dhaka, around 66 per cent said that they migrated because of changing climate conditions and environmental hazards.

However, sea-level rise has resulted in the loss of hundreds of acres of mangroves across coastal Bangladesh. Further loss of mangrove habitat, especially in the Sundarbans, means that Bangladesh will lose one of its last natural defences against climate change-induced super-cyclones.

Engineering adaptations to climate change, such as the construction of dykes is not a sustainable solution in Bangladesh because the soils are sandy and constantly shifting. However, it has financed 4,000 miles of coastal embankment projects to adapt to climate change.

So, Bangladesh needs to send the message out loud and clear to the entire world about the absolute need to confront this harsh reality head-on.

Zulker Naeen, the writer, a communication graduate from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), is a freelance journalist at Climate Tracker. naeenzulker@gmail.com

References

Bagri, N. (2017). Bangladesh’s water crisis: A story of gender. Doha: Aljazeera.

Bhalla, N. (2018). World Has Not Woken Up to Water Crisis Caused by Climate Change. New Delhi: Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Glennon, R. (2017). The Unfolding Tragedy of Climate Change in Bangladesh. New York: Scientific American.

Gremmel, R. (2018). The world’s taps are rapidly running dry. Johannesburg: Mail & Guardian.

Articles by Zulker Naeen: A Portfolio of Freelance Journalism

By
Zulker Naeen
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4
Journalism
Articles By Zulker Naeen A Portfolio of Freelance Journalism

Zulker Naeen is a freelance journalist, usually writes on environmental and climate change issues. 

He covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, he works closely with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for children and grassroots women.

He actively involves with the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which makes him an environmental conscious youth. 

Zulker is also one of the South Asia Fellows under Climate Tracker, is a global media network of Climate Change.

He is one of the Train the Trainer Certified Journalists, can offer any effective climate change communication, empower qualified journalists to deliver training on the major climate journalism topics and establish a certification process for journalists. 

He has a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Journalism from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh.

He has contributed to many course development with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

Communicating Climate Change is to promote knowledge on climate change issues and to cover journalism skills. We’re opening this extensive course to prepare the next climate journalist. 

Zulker Naeen is opening up a course to prepare the next journalist to promote Climate Journalism in Bangladesh. 

Published Articles by Zulker Naeen

Here are the published stories by Zulker Naeen. 

He focuses his writings on renewable energy, climate and health, energy access, energy democracy, climate migration, loss and damage, solar irrigation, and vector-borne disease.

Bangladesh: Solar power industry is yet to stand on its own feet.

Aug 5, 2018, | Sun-Connect News

This article is on the low level of solar power development achieved in 2018 by Bangladesh. It would be impractical to believe that the solar power development in Bangladesh would reach anything near the projected target by 2021.

A Harsh Reality of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, and Internal Migration

Apr 30, 2018, | Eurasia Review

This article is on how Bangladesh in a most vulnerable situation in terms of water security in recent years, salinity intrusion in the coastal region, and internal migration.

Energy democracy: Ensuring electricity to all

Mar 29, 2018, |The Himalayan Times

This article is about ‘Energy Democracy’. It explains how ‘energy democracy’ is the next tipping point to improve the quality of life for the world’s most disadvantaged and poor.

Bangladesh: Natural Solutions to Battle Climate Change

Mar 14, 2018, | Eurasia Review

This article has emphasized the natural climate solution can help address climate change in three ways: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, capturing and storing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and improving the resilience of ecosystems.

Bangladesh: Balanced Energy Mix May Establish Energy Democracy

Feb 15, 2018, | Eurasia Review

This article tries to explain the concept of energy democracy in Bangladesh. It tries to understand this concept, where Bangladesh may consider energy as—both fossil fuels and renewable.

No Alternatives to Halt Betting On Dirty Coal!

Jan 25, 2018, | The Financial Express

This article has illustrated how opting for more coal-fired power plants is threatening the programme of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. However, the expansion of coal is on the costs without factoring in health and environmental impacts.

Unclear Financing Mechanisms Noted During Recent Climate Talks In Germany

Dec 11, 2017, | TalkAfrica

This article is on the latest round of UN climate talks and the clear direction on climate adaptation measurements and climate finance in vulnerable countries. It also describes the uncertainty while there is no estimate of how much money is needed by countries suffering climate change-induced loss and damage now and in the future.

Loss and Damage in Global Climate Agenda: An Illusion for Vulnerable Countries

Dec 11, 2017, | Perspective Bangladesh

This article is on “Loss and Damage”, a focal dialogue of the international climate policy arena. However, the workstream to create the Paris rulebook doesn’t include ‘Loss and Damage’ as an agenda point. It also illustrates how vulnerable countries are in confusion about the progress of climate negotiation.

Climate Change: Insurance For ‘Loss and Damage’ is a Puzzle

11, 2017 | The Financial Express

This article is on “Loss and Damage” Insurance, to provide insurance to 400 million poor and vulnerable people by 2020. It also illustrates why this insurance scheme is not a safety net for the vulnerable countries which are still in confusion about the progress of climate negotiation.

Insurance For ‘Loss and Damage’: Still An Illusion For The Vulnerable Countries

Dec 1, 2017, | South Asia Journal

This article has briefly discussed ‘Loss and Damage’, considered as a third pillar in the worldwide effort to combat climate change, along with mitigation and adaptation.

Food Security In Doubt: Current Phase Of Bangladesh

Nov 4, 2017, | Eurasia Review

This report is on the recent threats to food security because of the damage caused by two successive floods: the flash flood during April and the monsoon flood since late June.

Climate Migration and Health Hazards in Bangladesh

Oct 28, 2017, | Eurasia Review

This report is on internal migration and health hazards in Bangladesh. It also describes how Bangladesh has received the utmost attention because of climate risks and climate.

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Oct 27, 2017, | Glocal Khabar

This report describes how climate change creating new uncertainties for human exposure to vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh Yet To Achieve

Oct 17, 2017 | Sun-Connect

This report is on the groundbreaking success of the solar irrigation system in Bangladesh. It describes how farmers are moving in solar-run irrigation pumps instead of the diesel pump.

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Oct 12, 2017, | Dhaka Tribune

A new way of extracting groundwater using solar energy has opened up a new door in the agriculture sector of Bangladesh. This article described how solar energy in irrigation becomes popular owing to cost-effective financing and innovative business model.

Renewable Energy: Huge Potentials

Oct 6, 2017, | The Himalayan Times

This article is about the current growth of renewable energy in Bangladesh and Nepal. It also explains why renewable sources can be a viable alternative for the existing power supply for both countries.

Towards Renewable Energy: Nepal and Bangladesh

Oct 5, 2017, | Nature Khabar

This article is about the current growth of renewable energy in two South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal. It also explains how renewable sources can be a viable alternative to meet the existing demand for power supply for both countries.

Success On Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh Yet To Achieve

Oct 2, 2017, | Perspective Bangladesh

This article is about the success of the solar irrigation system in Bangladesh. This report also describes how Bangladesh has emphasized RE and its current progress.

Bet on Coal Threatens Heritage

Aug 3, 2017, | Talk Africa

This article is about the coal disillusion in Bangladesh and Kenya, emphasized how both Rampal and Lamu coal-fired plants are also sending the wrong message to the world through an intensified move on more coal-fired power plants.

Sending The Wrong Signals

Jul 12, 2017, | Dhaka Tribune

This article is about the coal disillusion in Asia, emphasized how Bangladesh is also sending the wrong message to the world through an intensified move on more coal-fired power plants.

জুলকার নাঈন একজন পরিবেশ ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন বিষয়ক সাংবাদিক

By
Zulker Naeen
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0
পরিবেশ
জুলকার নাঈন একজন পরিবেশ ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন বিষয়ক সাংবাদিক

জুলকার নাঈন একজন ফ্রিল্যান্স সাংবাদিক। তাঁর পোর্টফোলিও পরিবেশ ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন সম্পর্কিত রিপোর্ট এবং আর্টিকেল সমৃদ্ধ। তিনি মূলত জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনজনিত খাদ্য নিরাপত্তাহীনতা, প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগ এবং অভিবাসন বিষয়ে রিপোর্ট করে থাকেন।

জলবায়ু-ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ দেশের একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে তিনি জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন বিষয়ে অধিক রিপোর্ট প্রকাশে আগ্রহী। তাঁর ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকারের সঙ্গে একত্রে জন্য বাংলাদেশের উপকূলীয় অঞ্চলের সুবিধাবঞ্চিত নারীদের উপর জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের প্রভাব এবং ক্লাইমেট ফাইন্যান্স নিয়ে কাজের অভিজ্ঞতা রয়েছে।

তিনি ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকার দক্ষিণ এশিয়া নেটওয়ার্কে জড়িত। তরুণদের পরিবেশ ও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন বিষয়ক সাংবাদিক সৃষ্টি করাই ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকারের লক্ষ্য।

তিনি ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকারের একজন দক্ষিণ এশিয়া ফেলো। তিনি নির্ধারিত একটি এসাইনম্যান্টের অধীনে বিভিন্ন মিডিয়াতে জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন বিষয়ে ঘনিষ্ঠভাবে কাজ করেন।

এছাড়া, জুলকার ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকারের ট্রেইন দ্যা ট্রেনার সার্টিফাইড একজন সাংবাদিক যিনি যে কোনও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন সাংবাদিকতার কোর্সটি ডিজাইন করতে পারেন।

জুলকার নাঈন অন্যান্য ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকার কর্মীদের সহায়তায় কোর্স তৈরি করেছেন। একজন তরুণ ক্লাইমেট এডভোকেট হিসাবে তাঁর লক্ষ্য জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের জ্ঞান সমাজে ছড়িয়ে দেয়া।

জুলকার কমিউনিকেশন বিষয়ে স্নাতকোত্তর ডিগ্রিধারী। তিনি ইউনিভার্সিটি অফ লিবারেল আর্টস থেকে মিডিয়া স্টাডিজ এবং সাংবাদিকতায় স্নাতক ডিগ্রি অর্জন করেছেন।

তিনি ইতোমধ্যে বাংলাদেশে জলবায়ু বিষয়ক সাংবাদিকতা নিয়ে একটি কোর্স চালু করছেন। এই কোর্সের মূল উদ্দেশ্য:

১. জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন সম্পর্কিত প্রাথমিক জ্ঞান প্রদান।

২. জলবায়ু সাংবাদিকতার বিষয়ে অংশগ্রহণকারীদের গাইড করা।

৩. আগ্রহী অংশগ্রহণকারীদের জন্য প্রশংসাপত্র প্রক্রিয়া চালু করা।

এছাড়া সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য এবং বন্যপ্রাণী বাণিজ্যের উপর জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের প্রভাব নিয়ে বর্তমানে কাজ করছেন।

সুন্দরবনে জীববৈচিত্র্য সংরক্ষণ, বন্যপ্রাণী সংক্রান্ত অপরাধ এবং বাণিজ্যের উপর জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের প্রভাব

সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য রক্ষা, বন্যপ্রাণী সংক্রান্ত অপরাধ এবং বাণিজ্যের উপর জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের প্রভাব বিশ্লেষণপূর্বক একটি সিরিজে প্রতিবেদনের প্রেক্ষাপট প্রকাশিত হল।

বাংলাদেশের দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিমাঞ্চলীয় উপকূলীয় অঞ্চলের প্রায় ৫০ লক্ষ মানুষ জীবিকা নির্বাহের জন্য সুন্দরবনের উপর নির্ভরশীল। এটি রয়েল বেঙ্গল টাইগারসহ বিভিন্ন বন্যপ্রাণীর আবাস। অনন্য প্রধান প্রজাতি হিসাবে রয়েল বেঙ্গল টাইগার সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য রক্ষায় গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করে।

তবে, অবৈধ শিকার এবং বন্যপ্রাণীর বাণিজ্য সুন্দরবনে বাঘের সংখ্যা কমে যাওয়ার প্রধান কারণ। বিভিন্ন রিপোর্টের তথ্য অনুসারে, ৩০ টিরও বেশি জলদস্যু এবং শিকারিচক্র সুন্দরবনে বাঘ হত্যা এবং বনজ ও প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ আহরণে সক্রিয় রয়েছে।

সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য এবং প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ সুরক্ষার দায়িত্বে রয়েছে বন বিভাগ। সুন্দরবন রক্ষায় বন বিভাগের নিজস্ব লজিস্টিক্যাল ব্যবস্থাপনা চাহিদার তুলনায় ন্যূনতম। তা সত্ত্বেও বন বিভাগ সুন্দরবনের টহল নিরীক্ষণ ব্যবস্থাপনাটিকে অগ্রাধিকার দিয়ে থাকে।

জাতীয় উদ্যান আইন সুন্দরবনের প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদ আহরণ নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে। এছাড়া প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগ এবং জলোচ্ছ্বাসের প্রকৃতি জন্য বঙ্গোপসাগর সংলগ্ন সুন্দরবন বরাবরই বন্য প্রাণী এবং জলদস্যু কার্যকলাপের জন্য বিপজ্জনক। অধিকন্তু, হরিণে মাংস, চামড়া, দাঁত এবং অন্যান্য হাড় নিয়ে হরহামেশাই বাণিজ্য হচ্ছে। বন্যপ্রাণীর এমন অবৈধ বাণিজ্যের প্রতিকার প্রয়োজন।

এছাড়াও জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের কারণে সুন্দরবন বেশ চ্যালেঞ্জের সম্মুখীন। সমুদ্রপৃষ্ঠের উচ্চতা বৃদ্ধি, ক্রমবর্ধমান লবণাক্ততা ম্যানগ্রোভ বনের স্বাস্থ্য, কৃষিকাজ এবং ফসলের গুণগত মানকে মারাত্মকভাবে হুমকির মধ্যে ফেলেছে।

জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন ইতোমধ্যে সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য এবং স্থানীয় মানুষের জীবনযাত্রাকে বদলেছে। পরিবর্তনশীল জলবায়ুর ফলস্বরূপ বন এবং সুন্দরবন উপকূলীয় অঞ্চলের কৃষি ব্যবস্থা ক্রমবর্ধমান রোগ এবং কীটপতঙ্গের প্রাদুর্ভাবে ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ। আয়ের সন্ধানে স্থানীয়রা অনেকেই বন্যপ্রাণী শিকার, ক্রয়-বিক্রয়ে নিজেকে জড়িয়েছেন।

একটি রিসার্চ টিম সুন্দরবনের এই সকল প্রতিকূলতা, জীববৈচিত্র্যের উপর জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের প্রভাব নিবিড়ভাবে পর্যবেক্ষণ করবে। এছাড়া পরিবর্তনশীল জলবায়ুর প্রভাবে স্থানীয় মানুষের আয়ে কি পরিবর্তন হয়েছে তার উপর প্রতিবেদন হবে। এই রিসার্চ বর্তমানে কিভাবে সুন্দরবনের জীববৈচিত্র্য এবং বন্যপ্রাণী সংক্রান্ত অপরাধ এবং বাণিজ্যকে কিভাবে প্রভাবিত করছে তা জানার চেষ্টা করবে।

এই প্রকল্পটি ক্লাইমেট ট্র্যাকারের দক্ষিণ এশিয়া ফেলো জুলকার নাঈন এবং আনন্দ টিভির বিশেষ সংবাদ প্রতিবেদক মাহফুজুর রহমানের একটি যৌথ প্রকল্প।

Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Wildlife Trade in Sundarbans

By
Zulker Naeen
-
2
Sundarbans
Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity Access and Wildlife Trade

Here is the context of a series report under several case studies on Sundarbans, which will analyse the impact of climate change on biodiversity access and wildlife trade.

Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world, provides livelihoods for three to five million people from the southwest coastal belt of Bangladesh. It is also the home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, a great source of pride for Bangladesh. As a top predator and flagship species, the tiger plays a significant role to protect Sundarbans biodiversity. 

However, illegal poaching and wildlife trade are the top factors affecting tiger populations. A gang of over 30 jungle pirates are active in tiger killing and illegal fee collection from local forest resource of Sundarbans.

To protect biodiversity, the forest department is the steward of wildlife and natural resources of the Sundarbans. However, the team has limited survival resources, minimal logistical support, and security to conduct their work. Despite these challenges, one of the priority interventions is to advance patrol monitoring systems in the Sundarbans. 

The national park laws regulate the access to natural resources of Sundarbans. So, it is hard to monitor due to its landscape and tidal nature, dangerous animals and pirate activities along the Bay of Bengal. 

Moreover, wildlife trading of hides and skins, teeth and other bones, bushmeat is taking place. It is necessary to stop the illegal trading of wildlife products.

Besides, the Sundarbans faces several challenges due to climate change. With rising sea levels, islands are disappearing, and the increasing salinity in the water and soil has severely threatened the health of mangrove forests and the quality of soil and crops. 

Climate change has already produced numerous shifts in biodiversity and changes the livings of the local people.

Forests and agricultural systems are vulnerable to increased disease and pest outbreaks as a result of changing climate.

In these backdrops, this team aim to work with different cases on the Sundarbans.  

This team will closely monitor the impact of climate change on the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.  

They will try to find why local people are influencing the wildlife trade. 

This project is a joint project by Zulker Naeen, a south Asia Fellow at Climate Tracker and Mahfuzur Rahman, a special correspondent at Anada TV.   

 

Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Wildlife Trade in Sundarbans

About Zulker Naeen 

Zulker Naeen covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Zulker focuses his work on climate change. He works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance.

Zulker involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

Naeen is also one of the Bangladeshi to win the South Asia Fellowship under Climate Tracker, is a global media network that closely works on Climate Change. 

Zulker is also a Train the Trainer certified journalist who can design any climate change journalism course. 

Zulker Naeen has developed courses with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

About Mahfuzur Rahman

Mahfuzur Rahman is a special correspondent at Anada TV and Millennium TV USA. His portfolio has more than fourteen years of experience in local journalism amid five years of Sundarban issues.  

He covers stories of Sundarbans and natural disasters of coastal areas of Bangladesh. As a correspondent of Bagerhat, Mahfuz focuses his work on Sundarbans and grassroots. He works with the different national media to report climate and environmental issues.

He teamed up with Zulker Naeen on a project focused on Sundarbans and climate change.

Recent Posts

Certificate: Climate Change in UNICEF’s Planning and Programming

By
Zulker Naeen
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0
UNICEF
Climate Change in UNICEF’s Planning and Programming

In 2016 UNICEF developed an introductory course on Children and Climate Change in collaboration with the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UNCC: Learn). At that time few professionals working in child development felt that they adequately understood the impacts that climate change has on the expected results of country programming.

This 3-hour course was widely distributed both within UNICEF and externally with more than 15,000 enrolments and 5,000 certificates of completion issued.

With the recognition of the growing importance of climate change as one of the fundamental development issues of our time, UNICEF wishes to build on this introductory course with a new and more applied course focusing on good practices in integrating climate change into country programming.

Certificate: Climate Change in UNICEF’s Planning and Programming

Why Integrating Climate Change in UNICEF’s Planning and Programming?

Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. In this course, you will discover the stark realities of climate change impacts across the world, as well as inspiring insights into opportunities for ensuring that we mitigate the risks and adapt our systems as best possible to reduce damage and destruction to lives and livelihoods. This course will remind us that tackling climate change is not only something to do for our children, but with them, and sometimes with them leading the way.

With a specific focus on UNICEF’s work and programming, this course will provide examples of the specific impacts of climate change on children. The course aims to inspire increased climate change action among professionals engaged in-country programming and will allow you to explore the many tools and resources that you and your organization have to support your efforts—and the involvement of youth in your specific work areas. You will learn about some of the outstanding work happening in the education sector in Viet Nam, one of many countries hard hit by climate change. Finally, you’ll learn about the innovative work being done to fund climate change action and how to ensure you and your organization can successfully access and advocate for the resources you need.

Thank you for being part of the movement to save lives and build stronger, more resilient tomorrows!

Target Audience

This course aims to train Development professionals engaged in UNICEF programming including UNICEF staff, UNICEF National Committees, government officials and UNICEF partner organisations.

Course Learning Objectives  

  • Describe why climate change matters for UNICEF and the interlinkages with UNICEF’s core programmatic areas.
  • Explain the key planning tools used at the country level to integrate climate change into country planning and programming efforts (e.g. SitAn, CLAC, GRIP).
  • Analyse examples of how planning tools have been used to integrate climate change into Country Office programming including in the area of WASH.
  • Describe the role of sectoral tools and frameworks in integrating climate change into programming, for example in the areas of WASH and Education.
  • Explain the key principles for designing climate programmes/projects and accessing climate finance.

Course at a glance

Module 1: Why Climate Change Matters for UNICEF and the World


Lesson 1: Climate Change is a Children’s Issue
Lesson 2: It Starts With You

Module 2: Stimulating Engagement


Lesson 1: Technical Tools and Resources
Lesson 2: Progress in Viet Nam: Integrating Climate Change into Education Programming

Module 3: Understanding Means of Implementation


Lesson 1: Financing Climate Change Action

Module 4: Wrap-up and Review


Assessment
Evaluation

Articles by Zulker Naeen

Here are the stories of the renewable energy of Bangladesh. Zulker focuses his writings on the success of solar energy and the use of energy efficiently in Bangladesh. He works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance. 

He involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Publishers: Dhaka Tribune

Publish Date: October 11th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

It is a story on the new way of extracting groundwater using solar energy in Bangladesh. The use of solar energy in irrigation is now owing to cost-effective financing and an innovative business model.

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Publishers: Sun Connect

Publish Date: October 17th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report is on the groundbreaking success of the solar irrigation system in Bangladesh. It describes how farmers are moving in solar-run irrigation pumps instead of the diesel pump.

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Publishers: Glokal Khabar

Publish Date: October 27th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report describes how climate change creating new uncertainties for human exposure to vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

Energy Democracy: Ensuring electricity to all

Energy democracy: Ensuring electricity to all

Publishers: The Himalayan Times

Publish Date: March 29, 2018

Brief of the article: This article is about ‘Energy Democracy’. As energy access recognised as a key struggle for justice in the world, the concept of ‘energy democracy’ hence can be the next tipping point to improve the quality of life for the world’s most disadvantaged and poor.

Published Articles by Zulker Naeen

By
Zulker Naeen
-
6
Articles
A Portfolio of Environment and Climate Change Journalism

Here are the published stories of the renewable energy of Bangladesh. Zulker focuses his writings on the success of solar energy and the use of energy efficiently in Bangladesh. His reports focused on the concept of ‘Energy Democracy’.

Zulker works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance. 

His portfolio involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

Energy democracy: Ensuring electricity to all

Energy democracy: Ensuring electricity to all

Publishers: The Himalayan Times

Publish Date: March 29, 2018

Brief of the article: This article is about ‘Energy Democracy’. As energy access is a key struggle for justice in the world, the concept of ‘energy democracy’ hence can be the next tipping point to improve the quality of life for the world’s most disadvantaged and poor.

A Harsh Reality of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, and Internal Migration

A Harsh Reality of Bangladesh: Water Security, Salinity Intrusion, and Internal Migration

Publishers: Eurasia Review

Publish Date: April 30, 2018

Brief of the article: This article is on how Bangladesh in a most vulnerable situation in terms of water security in recent years, salinity intrusion in the coastal region, and internal migration which has been increased already.

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Publishers: Dhaka Tribune

Publish Date: October 11th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

It is a story on the new way of extracting groundwater using solar energy in Bangladesh. The use of solar energy in irrigation is now owing to cost-effective financing and an innovative business model.

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Publishers: Sun Connect

Publish Date: October 17th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report is on the groundbreaking success of the solar irrigation system in Bangladesh. It describes how farmers are moving in solar-run irrigation pumps instead of the diesel pump.

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Publishers: Glokal Khabar

Publish Date: October 27th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report describes how climate change creating new uncertainties for human exposure to vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

A Portfolio of Environment and Climate Change Journalism

Here is the portfolio of Zulker Naeen, a freelance journalist, on environmental and climate change issues. 

Zulker Naeen covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Zulker focuses his work on climate change. He works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance.

His portfolio involves the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

Zulker is also one of the Bangladeshi to win the South Asia Fellowship under Climate Tracker, is a global media network that closely works on Climate Change. 

Zulker has completed the Train the Trainer: Effective Climate Change Communication, an initiative to convert this workshop resource into replicable modules, to empower qualified journalists to deliver training on the major climate journalism topics, and to establish a certification process for journalists. 

He has a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Journalism from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh.

He has developed courses with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

Communicating Climate Change is to promote knowledge on climate change issues and to cover journalism skills. We’re opening this extensive course to prepare the next climate journalist. 

To promote Climate Journalism in Bangladesh, Zulker Naeen is opening up a course to prepare the next journalist. With this great objective, a team will run a three-month campaign to introduce this course among students with an extensive collaboration of the interested partners.

Moreover, this campaign aims to teach students between graduate and post-graduate. 

A social media campaign will run to promote this course. University faculty, expert, practitioners, and journalist will engage with this initiative. 

Key objectives of this course:

1. To give basic knowledge on climate change issues

2. To guide the participants on climate journalism topics

3. To launch a certification process for participants who wish to publish an article as a trainee journalist.

Latest Posts:

A Portfolio of Environment and Climate Change Journalism

By
Zulker Naeen
-
6
Articles
A Portfolio of Environment and Climate Change Journalism

Here is the portfolio of Zulker Naeen, a freelance journalist, his focus is on environmental and climate change issues. 

Zulker Naeen covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Zulker focuses his work on climate change. He works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance.

He involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

He is also one of the Bangladeshi to win the South Asia Fellowship under Climate Tracker, is a global media network that closely works on Climate Change. 

Zulker has completed the Train the Trainer: Effective Climate Change Communication, an initiative to convert this workshop resource into replicable modules, to empower qualified journalists to deliver training on the major climate journalism topics, and to establish a certification process for journalists. 

Zulker has a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Journalism from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh.

Zulker Naeen has developed courses with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

Communicating Climate Change is to promote knowledge on climate change issues and to cover journalism skills. We’re opening this extensive course to prepare the next climate journalist. 

To promote Climate Journalism in Bangladesh, Zulker Naeen is opening up a course to prepare the next journalist.

With this great objective, a team will run a three-month campaign to introduce this course among students with an extensive collaboration of the interested partners.

Moreover, this campaign aims to teach students between graduate and post-graduate. 

A social media campaign will run to promote this course. University faculty, expert, practitioners, and journalist will engage with this initiative. 

Key objectives of this course:

1. To give basic knowledge on climate change issues

2. To guide the participants on climate journalism topics

3. To launch a certification process for participants who wish to publish an article as a trainee journalist.

Articles by Zulker Naeen

Here are the stories of the renewable energy of Bangladesh. Zulker focuses his writings on the success of solar energy and the use of energy efficiently in Bangladesh. He works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance. 

He involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Is solar irrigation a groundbreaking success for Bangladesh?

Publishers: Dhaka Tribune

Publish Date: October 11th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

It is a story on the new way of extracting groundwater using solar energy in Bangladesh. The use of solar energy in irrigation is now owing to cost-effective financing and an innovative business model.

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Success on Solar Irrigation System in Bangladesh yet to achieve

Publishers: Sun Connect

Publish Date: October 17th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report is on the groundbreaking success of the solar irrigation system in Bangladesh. It describes how farmers are moving in solar-run irrigation pumps instead of the diesel pump.

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Climate Change and Spread of Dengue and Malaria in Asia

Publishers: Glokal Khabar

Publish Date: October 27th, 2017

Brief of the article: 

This report describes how climate change creating new uncertainties for human exposure to vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

Zulker Naeen has already published more than fifteen newsworthy articles on climate change issues. These articles are especially on gender rights, health issues, and development issues.

Latest Posts

Facts: A remarkable decline of the Buffalo herding in Bangladesh

By
Zulker Naeen
-
0
Buffalo
Young buffalo herd was taken recently but salinity in Kutubdia by Mohammad Minhaj Uddin

We came up with key findings of a report Buffalo herding suffers in coastal Bangladesh as soil and water grow saltier, recently published in The Earth Journalism Network. 

Buffaloes are in an extensive decline in the coastal regions. The key reason is this decline includes diseases, cyclones, infertility, malnutrition, and shortages of grazing land. Most Buffalo herders have converted their grazing lands into salt fields. 

The Problem

People are moving away from herding buffaloes. According to the Bangladesh Agriculture Survey, from 2003 to 2019, the number of buffaloes declined by at least 51%. In the last 15 years, milk-producing buffaloes have fallen by around 60%. Now the contribution of buffalo milk to national milk production fell from 4% to 2%.

The Facts

To analyze the facts, it found that, increasing salinity, development activities and extreme weather conditions corroded the grazing land, making it hard for native buffaloes to survive. Buffalo herders have turned to producing salt, causing a decline in grazing land for buffaloes.

Why the decline

Around 75-80% of buffaloes in Bangladesh are raised in coastal and haor areas, both of which are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Increasing salinity has caused an acute shortage of drinking water for buffaloes and, consequently, a gradual decline in their numbers. In addition, it is one of the main reasons for the rise in diseases in buffaloes.

Anthrax, black quarter, hemorrhagic septicemia, and foot and mouth disease are also among the reasons meat and milk production have declined, and people are moving away from herding buffaloes.

A commercial shift

Buffalo has a significant connection to 4.6 crore coastal people’s lives and livelihoods. Coastal people mainly depend on buffalo rearing to meet their demand for protein and employment. Consequently, the sharp decline in the buffalo population has caused people to shift from buffalo rearing to other professions such as salt cultivation, day labour and fishing. Around 90% of herders are cultivating salt on their land now. Salt cultivation in Kutubdia has increased six-fold from 1990-2020.

Efforts to stop further decline are insufficient.

The Department of Livestock Services has tried to address the decline in the buffalo population through various schemes. The efforts rely on artificial insemination without prioritizing the breed of native buffalo and the threat of increased soil salinity.  

What kind of adaptation project should be for buffalo?  

Now it is time to take a buffalo adaptation project under the changing climate conditions, especially in coastal and haor regions. Only crossbreeds won’t stop the decline in the buffalo population. Unless taking conservation and improvement programmes, indigenous buffaloes will not survive. The offshore islands do not provide the required environment for the crossbreeds. 

The alarming decrease in the buffalo population needs to be studied urgently to determine the connection between the declining buffalo population and climate change. Such conservation and improvement programmes should undertake to save our native buffaloes from going extinct. 

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About Zulker Naeen

Zulker Naeen is a freelance journalist, covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Zulker focuses his work on climate change. Zulker works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance. 

He involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth.

He is also one of the Bangladeshi to win the South Asia Fellowship under Climate Tracker, is a global media network closely works on Climate Change. 

Zulker has completed the Train the Trainer: Effective Climate Change Communication, an initiative to convert this workshop resource into replicable modules, to empower qualified journalists to deliver training on the major climate journalism topics, and to establish a certification process for journalists. 

Zulker has a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Journalism from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh.

He has developed courses with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

A journalist’s guide to biodiversity access and benefit-sharing

By
Zulker Naeen
-
0
Biodiversity
A journalist’s guide to biodiversity access and benefit-sharing.

There’s a multi-billion-dollar yearly trade in medicines, foodstuffs and industrial products derived from plants, animals, fungi and bacteria. But many such products have been commercialized without any of the profits returning to the countries and communities whose biodiversity and traditional knowledge made the innovation possible. And in some cases, biological resources have been accessed illegally.

Speakers:

Krystyna Swiderska | Principal Researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development

Alejandro Lago | Manager of the UNDP GEF Global ABS Project

Discussion: Speakers briefly discussed the following topics.

  1. What is Biopiracy?
  2. Commercialization of biological materials without any of the profits returning to the countries and communities.
  3. Illegal access to biological resources.
  4. Nagoya Protocol — to ensure legal access and guarantee that any benefits arising from the use of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably.
  5. The impact of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) and national ABS laws/policies.

Topics

Biodiversity | Journalism Skills | Policies and Conventions

Tags

Biodiversity | Equity | Policies and Conventions| Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous knowledge

Beating the Biopirates

There is a multi-billion-dollar yearly trade in medicines, foodstuffs and industrial products derived from plants, animals, fungi and bacteria. However, many such products have commercialised without any profits returning to the countries and communities whose biodiversity and traditional knowledge made the innovation possible. And in some cases, biological resources have been accessed illegally.

That is why, in 2010, parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) reached a new agreement — called the Nagoya Protocol — to ensure legal accesses and guarantee that any benefits arising from the use of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably. 

But what exactly is Access and benefit-sharing?

What are countries doing to meet their CBD commitments and ensure that companies meet their legal obligations? Are benefits flowing where they should?

Webinar Summary:

This discussion described the impact of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) and national ABS policies. 

Specifically, this legal framework is being used by the private sector, researchers, indigenous peoples, and local communities from 27 countries to develop innovative products to implement the SDGs.

What is Biopiracy?

Biopiracy means the unethical or unlawful appropriation or commercial exploitation of biological materials (such as medicinal plant extracts) that are native to a particular country or territory without providing fair financial compensation to the people or government of that country or territory.

Any case?

Jack Lo Lau, a Peruvian journalist, explained how Chinese Businessmen took maca powder from Peru without permission.

In the early 2000s, what has happened with maca is not China’s fault; it is Peru’s fault for letting their products leave the country and not protecting themselves.

About Zulker Naeen

Zulker Naeen is a freelance journalist, covers stories of climate change-induced food insecurity, natural calamities, and migration. As a citizen of one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Zulker focuses his work on climate change. Zulker works with the Climate Tracker to report climate resiliency for vulnerable women and access to climate finance. 

He involves in the Climate Tracker South Asia network, which improves the environmental consciousness of youth. 

He is also one of the Bangladeshi to win the South Asia Fellowship under Climate Tracker, is a global media network closely works on Climate Change. 

Zulker has completed the Train the Trainer: Effective Climate Change Communication, an initiative to convert this workshop resource into replicable modules, to empower qualified journalists to deliver training on the major climate journalism topics, and to establish a certification process for journalists. 

Zulker has a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Journalism from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh.

He has developed courses with the support of other Climate Tracker staff. As a young climate advocate, his fellowship aims to share knowledge of climate change.

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