A national environment policy is being designed to halt environmental degradation in the country.

Officials Wednesday said a National Conservation Strategy (NCS). to be the basis of the environment policy and no awaiting approval of the government. will be announced

, soon.

The project to prepare the Conservation Strategy, aimed

at sustainable development, was funded by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Norwegian development agency NORAD.

IUCN Resident Adviser in Dhaka Haroun Er Rashid told UNB the NCS is featured by 31 areas of environmental concern. including tn Mahananda. Muhuri and Atral-Hurasagar drainage basins, haor areas in Sylhet and Chalan Bed area.

In capital Dhaka, the main concern is Industrial and traffic pollution which cause serious health hazards. Another major area of concern Is growing urbanisation destroying agricultural and some of the best horticultural lands tn the country, he said.

Madhupur tract. Lalmai range. Sandwip. Sitakunda region. Chittagong city and port areas also featured in the study.

"It is the rich people who are mainly responsible for deforestation and industrial pollution'. Rashid said. "Poverty has nothing to do with environmental degradation

He stressed the need for modification of the Fourth Five Year Plan (FFYP) in view of the National Conservation Strategy under which 18 sectorial issues had been analysed. The NCS recommended several measures for implementation

to achieve its objective.

The 18 sectors are : land, water, energy and mineral resources. human resources, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, fishery, livestock, genetic diversity. human settlements health and sanitation. Industry, rural development, transportation. natural hazards, environmental education and awareness. and International dimen-

The NSC recommendations for sustainable development Include battery operated vehicles. evaluation of NGO activities. mandatory environmental impact assessment for new industrial units, regional distribution of energy resources and monitoring effects of pesticide

It has also listed 66 endangered and threatened wildlife in the country. Among the endangered species are tiger, salt water crocodile, gharial. olive ridely turtle, loggerhead and green turtles, rock python, king cobra, white-necked stork and land tortoise.

The threatened wildlife includes leopard, batagur turtle, yellow and ring lizard, green and bull frog, banded sea snake, and Jungle cat.

A tentative list of 25 vascular plants now threatened in the country have also been included In the NCS.