UNB, Dhaka :
Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju has stressed the need for strengthening regional cooperation to save tigers in the Sundarbans.
“We need more collaboration with India and Nepal in protecting tigers. If we do so, outsiders (neighbouring countries) will know the problems we are facing in tiger conservation and we will also know their problems,” he told a national dialogue in the capital on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Forest Department and WildTeam jointly organised the ‘National Dialogue for the Protection of the Tigers in the Sundarbans’ at Sonargaon Hotel. Saving tigers is a difficult task as population pressure on the mangrove forest is growing day by day, putting the wildlife at risk, the minister said.
“Population is increasing there and that is why tigers should be protected,” he added.
Chief Conservator of Forests M Yunus Ali said many departments have intelligence force working with them, but the Forest Department has no intelligence in protecting forest and biodiversity from destruction.
He said, Bangladesh Coastguard, which is sometimes deployed to patrol wildlife in the Sundarbans, lacks adequate logistics and arms to check wildlife poaching in the forest.
Criticising the role of police, the chief forest conservator said there are 17 police stations near the Sundarbans, but police show little intention to enter into the forest to monitor illegal activities in the forest.
He urged the local politicians to come forward with their strong commitment to protect the Sundarbans as well as its biodiversity.
WildTeam chief executive Prof Anwarul Islam said there is no option now to compensate the forest guards deployed in the forest amid various risks. “It is time to introduce risk allowance for the forest guards” he said, adding that a massive scientific monitoring is required in the world’s largest mangrove forest to save its biodiversity, including tigers.
Dr Atiq Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies (BCAS), Farhad Ghaussy, the director of the Office of Economic Growth, USAID Bangladesh, and Kathy Wachala, deputy chief of party, USAID’s Bagh Activity, among others, also spoke at the dialogue.
Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju has stressed the need for strengthening regional cooperation to save tigers in the Sundarbans.
“We need more collaboration with India and Nepal in protecting tigers. If we do so, outsiders (neighbouring countries) will know the problems we are facing in tiger conservation and we will also know their problems,” he told a national dialogue in the capital on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Forest Department and WildTeam jointly organised the ‘National Dialogue for the Protection of the Tigers in the Sundarbans’ at Sonargaon Hotel. Saving tigers is a difficult task as population pressure on the mangrove forest is growing day by day, putting the wildlife at risk, the minister said.
“Population is increasing there and that is why tigers should be protected,” he added.
Chief Conservator of Forests M Yunus Ali said many departments have intelligence force working with them, but the Forest Department has no intelligence in protecting forest and biodiversity from destruction.
He said, Bangladesh Coastguard, which is sometimes deployed to patrol wildlife in the Sundarbans, lacks adequate logistics and arms to check wildlife poaching in the forest.
Criticising the role of police, the chief forest conservator said there are 17 police stations near the Sundarbans, but police show little intention to enter into the forest to monitor illegal activities in the forest.
He urged the local politicians to come forward with their strong commitment to protect the Sundarbans as well as its biodiversity.
WildTeam chief executive Prof Anwarul Islam said there is no option now to compensate the forest guards deployed in the forest amid various risks. “It is time to introduce risk allowance for the forest guards” he said, adding that a massive scientific monitoring is required in the world’s largest mangrove forest to save its biodiversity, including tigers.
Dr Atiq Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies (BCAS), Farhad Ghaussy, the director of the Office of Economic Growth, USAID Bangladesh, and Kathy Wachala, deputy chief of party, USAID’s Bagh Activity, among others, also spoke at the dialogue.
