Bangladesh calls for community-led protection of grazing lands, stronger rural livelihoods and integrated planning to balance livestock production with conservation.
Bangladesh’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for greater involvement of local communities in protecting rangelands and managing land sustainably, while stressing the need to safeguard common and community lands and strengthen the economic capacity of rural communities.
Mintoo made the call on Wednesday at a ministerial dialogue on “Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities” in Ulaanbaatar, held as part of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Bangladesh does not have extensive rangelands in the conventional sense, Mintoo said, but its livestock sector plays an important role in the rural economy and livelihoods.
Post-harvest croplands, fallow lands, char areas, wetlands and roadsides are used for livestock grazing. The livestock sector contributes around 2 percent to Bangladesh’s gross domestic product and supports the livelihoods of millions of people.
Mintoo said grazing areas are gradually shrinking because of population pressure and different forms of land use, with rangelands declining significantly, particularly in coastal areas.
He said community and common grazing lands should be identified and mapped, cooperation between local administrations and communities strengthened, and accessible and effective mechanisms established to resolve land-use disputes.
Highlighting the environmental importance of Bangladesh’s wetlands and floodplain areas, Mintoo said they play an important role in maintaining soil fertility, regulating water, conserving biodiversity and storing carbon.
Livestock production and environmental conservation should therefore not be viewed as conflicting priorities but considered together in national land management planning, he said.
Referring to Tanguar Haor, a major wetland area in Bangladesh, the minister said community-based management had produced positive results in conserving biodiversity and natural resources. Sustained financing and long-term commitment, however, are necessary to ensure the lasting success of such initiatives, he said.
Mintoo said Bangladesh would further integrate sustainable rangeland and common-land management with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the National Adaptation Plan and the National Roadmap for Combating Land Degradation, Drought and Desertification.
He also called for adequate financing, accountability and practical measures for rangeland restoration and sustainable land management. Bangladesh is ready to share its experiences with other countries and learn from effective experiences elsewhere, he said.
Ministers, deputy ministers and heads of delegations from different countries participated in the ministerial dialogue.
