Protecting Teesta basin-greeneries emphasised to fight climate change, carbon emission

The people from the char lands of Lalmonirhat district considerably are most vulnerable to climate-induced risks including floods, riverbank erosion, drought and cold spell.

They have to face lack of employment and financial deficits due to the climate change that impacts on their livelihood and greatly influences their seasonal migration. Heavy and erratic monsoon rainfall also results in loss of standing crops and fruit production.

Because of the climate vulnerabilities, Lalmonirhat district was selected for organising a discussion over the formulation of National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

On 19 September, the environment, forest and climate change ministry, economic relations division (ERD), Green Climate Fund and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organised a discussion at the Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner’s office, said a news release.

UNDP programme specialist Arif M Faisal, while briefing the NAP process, said, “NAP will identify capacity and knowledge gaps of all the stakeholders…establish an institutional arrangement and strategies for resources allocation.” He emphasised allocating resources locally and build the capacity of the local govt to promote locally led adaptation.

A journalist S M Shafiqil Islam Khan recommended that the Teesta Masterplan must be implemented to reduce the risk of climate change.

“There is no other alternative to maintain the normal flow of water, prohibit river encroachment and thus protect the livelihood of the 2-crore people in the river catchment,” he said.

Citing some death toll by lightning that stroke in Hatibandha and Kaliganj Upazila recently, another journalist Mazed Masud emphasised innovate technology-based solutions to protect lives.

One discussant Abu Sujan said use of environment-friendly green and non-fire bricks and concrete blocks could reduce carbon emission.

Lalmonirhat police super Abida Sultana requested people to refrain from self-destructing activities like cutting of trees, instead of doing the opposite – large scale afforestation and reforestation.

Echoing the notion of afforestation, Zilla Parishad chairman Md Matiar Rahman said, “Sadly we do not have enough khash lands for afforestation. So, we need to emphasise on social forestry programme in various institution, riverbank and roadside.”

Chief guest of the event, Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, an additional secretary of the environment, forest and climate change ministry, also the NAP Formulation project director, said, “Bangladesh is committed to combatting climate change effects especially in protecting the vulnerable communities from the adverse impacts of climate change”.

Chairing the event, Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner Md Abu Zafor, promised that the district administration would all possible support for afforestation and to improve the resilient capacity of the climate vulnerable communities.

More than 50 representatives from different sector departments, local government representatives, civil society representatives, sectoral experts, journalists and academia attended the event, the release said.