The fragile ecosystem of mountains, storehouses of global biodiversity, needs to be managed using science, policy and indigenous knowledge together to ensure sustainable livelihood of both the mountainous communities and people living in the plains, said experts.

They discussed the impacts on ecological system of mountains caused by different factors both natural and man-made as well as ways to managing it at a seminar on "Mountain Farming" at Cirdap auditorium in the capital yesterday marking International Mountain Day-2014. The theme of the day is "Mountain Farming" aimed at raising awareness about mountain agriculture which is predominantly family farming as a model for sustainable development for centuries.

State minister for the CHT ministry Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing said the people's representatives should spread the knowledge obtained through such seminars at the grassroots.

He, however, pointed out the realities of the CHT, how scarcity and misuse of land by the forest department, leaseholders of large-scale rubber plantations and also indigenous people are putting the mountains and its nature at risk.

"Rapid changes are happening in the mountains raising alarm bells at food, water and energy security," said Basanta Raj Shrestha, director strategic cooperation, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a Kathmandu-based regional inter-governmental research centre.

He said that climate change, demographic changes both increase of population and migration to urban areas and human interventions such as roads, dams are affecting the mountain system.

Assistant FAO representative Nur Ahamed Khondaker, presented a keynote paper prepared by David W Doolan, deputy FAO representative on moun-tain/hill agriculture which recommended a number of interlinked activities, including adoption of improved jhum cultivation, diverse farming system, inclusion of homestead vegetable gardens to ensure food security in the hills.

The Chittagong hill tracts affairs ministry with support of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Untied Nations Development Programme, ICIMOD and Bangladesh Adventure Club organised the seminar. The Daily Star and ATN Bangla were media partner of the programme.