Speakers at a roundtable yesterday on the eve ofWorldWetland Day called for wetlands and forests landscape conservation by complying 1971 landmark Ramsar Convention objectives through strong enforcement, restoration, afforestation and watershed management for economic uplift and sustainable development.

They also call for immediate arrest of encroachment of wetlands and stop degradation of forests and ecologically critical areas and Ramsar sites like the Sunderbans, Tanguar Haor, Nijjum Deep, Char Kukri-Mukri and Zamadar Char. The speakers asked for mounting campaign for conservation of forests and waterbodies.

They were addressing a roundtable titled “ Forests for water and wetlands” - the theme

of this year's world wetlands day organised by Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) at National Press Club chaired by FEJB Chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury.

Sayed Marghub Murshed, former environment secretary, BRAC University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ainun Nishat, Dr Rezaul Karim UNESCAP former environment division chief, Dr Mohammad Nasiruddin, environment ministry joint secretary and Hasan Hafiz, FEJB general secretary, took part in the discussion also marking the International Year for Forests 2011.

Dr Nishat explained how deeply interlinked the forests and wetlands with human lives and livelihoods and asked for conservation of all ecologically critical areas, wetlands and forests for the greater national interests and securities.