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UNCED to Talk Steps to Combat Environmental Degradations

Bangladesh Getting Ready to Join Confce in Brazil

by Inam Ahmed
In the year 1992. heads of state from all the countries of the world are expected to meet tn the capital of Brazil. The agenda will be one of the most alarming issues of present time — environmental ^ThTworld leaders will par tlclpate in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) to discuss world measures on environment.
Each country has been requested to present a paper on what it to doing on environment for itself, and how it identifies the main environmental issues. Bangladesh will also participate In the conference. and say what it to think-
The drafting of the paper to already under way. It was supposed to have been completed by the 1st of July, but the recent cyclone delayed Tt. Bangladesh has taken time Uli the current month to finalise the paper. United Nations' Development Programme (UNDP) to playing a consultative role in preparing the report for Bangladesh. Winston Temple, the sc ting resident representative of UNDP for Bangladesh said recently tn an interview to this correspondent that this conference to very important for each country a* measures to combat environmental degradaUons will be formulated during the conference. Also a set up for financial commitment to combat these problems will be made there. "For that, the nations will have to understand thal environment to not a national
boundary Issue". pointed out Temple, "the conference will try lo make all feel that this is an interlinked world."
This to nof the only Issue for which UNDP has extended Its helping hand to Bangladesh. The organisation to giving technical assistance tn a number of fields which will help us combat the environmental Issues we are facing.
UNDP views that Bangladesh is one ot the countries with great environmental problems. The environmental
issues of the country are hardly any different from the global Issues. Every year. 18 million hectres of foreol equal lo the size of UK to being lost. With this. 100 kinds of Hora and fauna species are being wiped out from the earth. One billion people do not have a supply of pure drinking , water. These world trends are similar lo the situation of Bangladesh Lack of fresh drinking waler, the depletion of forests and popula Uon pressure to dtsbalancing the ecology of the country.
Although Bangladesh docs not have problems like industrial pollution as ycL thto will become ^nother problem sooner or later with increasing industrialization to face these issues, we need ■ legal frame-work and programmes for which assistance and funding to required. UNDP to assisting Bangladesh In these respects.
Presently. UNDP has a six million dollar project on forestry. The fifth country programme In Bangladesh which began on July 1 has an additional 157 million dollar budget. 38 per cent of thto amount is allocated for national resources and environmental management.
The National Environment Management Action Plan ‘ (NEMAP) is also being formulated with UNDP technical as stotancc and funding. The pro jecls under NEMAP Include environmental legislation, chemical pollution, surveys of ecological areas, national trends 1n resources use, defining environmental standards and assisting the private sector In implementing environmental measures. This integrated plan 1s likely to be completed by 1992.
"Different donor countries and agencies are very likely to support these pragmatic steps to protect the environment of Bangladesh". William Temple commented.
Another major contribution to the environment programmes will be the Coastal Area Resources Management (CARM) to be finished this year. This programme gets meticulous attention after the cyclone. It will seek ways to
avoid the salinity of the coastal areas caused by both shrimp 1 farming and natural causes.
Reduction of salinity to specially important for the protection of Sundarban. The programme will also identify the income generating activities compatible with the environment The area has to be developed in the context of sustainable development." Temple expressed the views of UNDP.
A* floods have now become a yearly Incident for Bangladesh, this phenomenon is being seriously discussed in different forums. Bangladeshi scientists and environmentalists are now working on the Flood Action Plan funded by different donor agencies. The plan to composed of 26 pro-Cts needing 150 million dol-for formulation and additional 460 million dollar for implementation.
Disaster preparedness pro ject will get priority in the FAP. This project Includes early warning systems for flood. Shifting of people and relief operations will also be emphasised In the project. But shifting of people needs adequate number of shelter*. UNDP will fund their shelters. Another important project, the environmental study funded by USAID will be completed by 1992
All these programmes and projects will go to save the lives of probably not only millions of lives but to save the future of a nation. Because if mother earth starts taking revenge for its exploitation, Bangladesh will be the most innocent victim.