Report ofInternational Workshop on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands along
the Coast of the Bay of Bengal

6-7 June 2016
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University,
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Editors: Reiko Nakamura / Yuma Sato
Ramsar Center Japan

Published by Ramsar Center Japan
2-10-3 Minami-Kugahara, Ota-ku
Tokyo 146-0084, Japan.
Tel: +81-3-3758-7926
E-mail: ramsarcj.nakamura@nifty.com
http://rcj.o.oo7.jp/
Publication year: 2017
Copyright: Ramsar Center Japan 2017
Suggested Citation
Reiko Nakamura and Yuma Sato (2017). Report of International Workshop on Conservationand Wise Use of Wetlands along the Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 6-7 June 2016, Thailand.
Ramsar Center Japan.
This publication was supported by Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF).
2

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Acronyms
Bishnu B. Bhandari – The Jewels of the Bay of Bengal …………………………………5
Pyae Phyo Aung – Coastal Wetlands in Myanmar and Significant Intertidal
Mudflat Gulf of Mottama …………………………………………10
Htun Paw Oo – Community-based Conservation Initiative on Coastal Zone
Management in Myanmar …………………………………………….14
Durga P. Dash – An Overview on the Participatory Wetland Conservation
Intervention Made by PALLISHREE along the Coast of
Bay of Bengal in Odisha, India .……………………………………20
Sanowar Hossain – Coastal Wetland Biodiversity Conservation by Involving
the Community: A NGO Initiative …….…………………………25
Sansanee Choowaew – Conservation of the Ramsar Sites along the coast of
the Bay of Bengal ………………………….………………..31
Ryo Fujikura – Climate Change Adaptation and Wetland Wise Use ……………34
Ajit K. Pattnaik – Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Odisha;promoting sustainable management of the coastal
resources & livelihood …………………………………………………36
Seung Oh Suh – Past, Present and Future of the Ramsar Regional
Center – East Asia ………………………………………………………..38
Annexes

I. Participants list
II. Program of activities

3

Acknowledgement
This is the report of International Workshop on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands along theCoast of the Bay of Bengal organized by Ramsar Center Japan (RCJ) on 6-7 June 2016 at Faculty ofEnvironment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
This was a kickoff meeting of the three years’ project “Building an international cooperation network
across the countries sharing the coast of Bay of Bengal – Capacity building of local people for climatechange adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and biodiversity conservation”, which is supported by
Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF).
RCJ would like to extend their heart felt thanks to the authors and participants for their active andresponsible engagement in the project and provision of conceptualized presentations on the facing
issues of the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Our thanks are also due to the Keidanren Nature Conservation
Fund for its generous support to the promotion of the BoB as a study area.
The editors

Acronyms
BOB = Bay of Bengal.
BOBLME = Bay of Bengal Large Marine EcosystemCWBMP = Coastal & Wetland Biodiversity Management Project
DOE = Department of Environment
ECA = Ecological Critical Areas
ICZM = Integrated Coastal Zone Management
IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature
JFGE = Japan Fund for Global Environment
KNCF = Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund
MOEF = Ministry of Environment & Forestry
NGO = Non Governmental Organization
RAMCEA = Ramsar Centre for Eastern Africa
RRC-EA = Ramsar Regioval Center – East Asia
RCJ = Ramsar Center Japan
RRC-CWA = Ramsar Regional Center for Central and Western Asia
USM = Universiti Sains Malaysia

4

The Jewels of the Bay of Bengal
Bishnu B. Bhandari

Abstract: The Bay of Bengal is the largest basin in the world surrounded by seven countries in South Asia. The
Bay is rich in marine fauna and is the house of the world’s highest emigration and home to the sea-based
tribes; the Sentinelese, Jarawa, Onge and Moken. The Sentinelese people are aggressive to visitors. They do notwant any contact with outsiders and attack them with the volley of arrows and spears. The Bay is plagued withfour major environmental problems; water pollution, decline in critical habitat, ship breaking industry andglobal warming. Bringing together the stakeholders of seven countries under a common platform for thesustainable development of the area is a Herculean task, a formidable challenge and serious issue.

Introduction
The Bay of Bengal is the largest basin and one of the 64 large marine ecosystems in the world. Its current
name has been in use since the 10th century. The entire area became under the influence of the Europeanthcolonists since 15 century. And after World War II, especially in the 1960-s, the Bay was almost a “forgotten
Sea”.

1. Diversity of physical features
The Bay is surrounded by 7 countries; (1) Bangladesh, (2) India, (3) Indonesia (4) Malaysia, (5) Myanmar, (6)2Thailand, and (7) Sri Lanka. The total area of the Bay is about 2.3 million km .
Its maximum depth is 4.7 km and the average depth is 2.6 km. Major rivers pouring into the Bay are from
India (1) Kaveri, (2) Krishna, (3) Godawari, (4) Ganga and (5) Brahmaputra, and from Myanmar (6) Ayeyarwady.
The Bay manifests a number of features such as gulf (Gulf of Mottama in Myanmar and Gulf of Manar
between India and Sri Lanka, straits (Strait of Malaca between Malaysia and Indonesia and Strait of Palk
between India and Sri Lanka), Penang island, Andaman Island, Nicobar island), archipelagos (Myeik archipelago
in Myanmar, Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago in India), isthmus (Kra Isthmus, Thailand), sea (Andaman Sea,
India) and 7 major river mouths.
Today, the Bay of Bengal area houses, along its rim, about 13 Ramsar sites from 5 countries. Bangladesh
and Myanmar have one site each, which are (1) Sundarbans Reserve Forest in Bangladesh and Moeyungyi
Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Myanmar. India and Thailand have 5 sites each. The five sites from India are (1)Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, (2) Kolleru Lake, (3) Chilika Lake, (4) Bhitarkanika Mangroves, and(5) East Calcutta Wetlands. The five Ramsar sites of Thailand are (1) Kaper Estuary-Laemson Marine National
Park -Kraburi Estuary, (2) Ko Ra-ko Phra Thong Archipelago, (3) Pang Nga Bay Marine National Park, (4) Krabi
Estuary, and (5) Had Chao Mai Marine National Park-Ta Libong Island Non-hunting Area–Trang River Estuary.
The Ramsar sites from Sri Lanka is Kumana-Kudimbigal Wetland Cluster.

2. Home of the World’s biggest emigration
The tracing of the history of the Bay shows that Asia fell in the control of European colonists at the end ofthth
the 15 century and became the arena for the competition with themselves and Asian powers. In the 17th
century, the Portuguese advance was reversed by the joint forces of the Dutch and the English. In the 18
century, the English, the Dutch and the French East India Company had put a foothold here through theestablishment of the "factory". The British started sending their troops, garrison, legal code and officials andthus dominated the entire Bay area.
th
In the second half of the 19 century, the British Empire envisioned a grand design of developing rubber
plantation in Malaysia, rice in Burma and coffee and tea in Ceylon. This plan was supported by imperial capitaland Asian labor, especially of India. In the implementation of the plan, the British authority mobilized theemigration of almost 30 million (some say 28 million) workers between 1840 and 1940 that crossed the Bay of
Bengal from India to Malaysia, Burma, and Ceylon. Only about 2 million of them travelled back and forth.

5

There was always a circular migration around the Bay. Historically also it is important to note that about
140,000 refuges embarked on the long march from Rangoon to India in the late 1930's. On the way, many diedof exposure, exhaustion, starvation, heart failure and amputation. Indeed, the Bay was the home of theworld's biggest emigration. The Bay was the highway for emigration from India to Malaysia, Myanmar and Sri
Lanka (Amrith, 2013).
This vast political and economic connection fell apart when World War II took place in the early 1940's.
World War II was the turning point for political, economic and cultural connection in Asia. The British Empire
collapsed and new nation states emerged, where the issue of citizenship and belongingness was prominent.
These nation-states began to exploit internal resources and internal labor. The sea was of no concern for them.
Thus the Bay was simply a "forgotten sea" in the 1960's.

3. Rich in faunal diversity
The most important fauna that are reported to have occurred in the Bay of Bengal are listed below.
1. Irrawaddy Dolphin, Orcaella brevirostris, rare & endangered species found in Ayeyarwady River in
Myanmar, the Mahakam River in Indonesia and the Mekong River.
2. Tropical Dolphin, Delphinus capensis and D. dephis: endangered species.
3. Dugong (also called sea cow), Dugong dugong: vulnerable (threatened), as an appendix in CITIES, an
extinct herbivorous marine mammal swims in sea-grass.
4. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea (heart-shaped shell, olive color when added, vulnerable
in IUCN Red List and as an appendix in the CITIES.
5. Shark (endangered species)
6. Hilsa, Tunualosa illisha; an endangered species, national fish of Bangladesh and popular in South Asia.
7. Flying fish Exocoetus sp.: The flying fish take to air to avoid predators. They can attain the speed of up
to 70 km an hour and reach a height of 6 meter above the ocean surface. They would take off fromunder and around the boat, fly over the sea and re-enter the water. It is an amazing sight to watch aschool of these fish in action. The flying fish live in all of the oceans, particularly in tropical and subtropical waters. There are about 64 species of them in the world.
8. White-bellied sea gull, Haliaeetus leucogaster; an endangered species and a bird of prey feeds onaquatic species from fish and sea snakes to turtles and waterbirds.
9. Horse shoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda is an endangered species. This is the mangrove
horseshoe crab found in southeast Asia.

4. Home to sea-based tribes
A quick search of the Internet from the Google shows that the area houses four distinct tribal groups in thearea. These tribes are follows.
1. Sentinelese Tribe
2. Jarawa Tribe
3. Onge Tribe
4. Moken Tribe(1) The Sentinelese Tribe
The Sentinelese are the indigenous people of the Andaman Islands. North Sentinel Island, which lies
westward of the Southern tip of the Great Andaman archipelago, is the most isolated island on the Earth and is
the home to this sixty thousand years old community. Their population is estimated in between 40-500 in a 72
square kilometer island. The Sentinelese have maintained an essentially hunter-gatherer society obtaining
their subsisting through hunting, fishing and collecting wild plants. They survive off jungle pig, honey and fruits.
There is no evidence of either agricultural practices or method of producing fire. The language remains
unclassified and is not mutually intelligible with the Jarawa language of their nearest neighbors.
They have zero contact with and are untouched by modernization. They have rejected the modern world. In
reality, they are hostile towards outsiders. They are violent and kill outsiders. This is the reason why outsiders
can’t visit the area. Two evidences are enough to prove this fact.

6











In the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, they managed to reach a high ground. Three days later, a navy
helicopter was sent to check their status and drop the food on the beach. But it was warned away by
a Sentinelese warrior who emerged from the jungle and brandished a bow and arrow. Generally, aSentinel archers fire a volley of arrows.
The incidence of 2006 is another proof that they are most dangerous people. Two fishermen happen
to be near their north Sentinel Island when they were in sleep. These fishermen were killed andburied in a shallow place. The helicopter went there to retrieve the bodies but it was chased by a rainof arrows and javelins.
They are rarely photographed or recorded on video. According to the Indian law, it is a criminal
offence to try and contact with the Sentinelese. They are classified as the scheduled tribe. The tribe isvulnerable to new breed of intruder called sea cucumber poachers.
(Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese_people).
Generally, they toss rocks at low flying planes or helicopters. They shoot with the rain of flying arrows
and javelins. Such is the hostility they show towards outsiders. They are the most dangerous tribe on
the world. When outsiders approach the island, they swarm the shoreline and rain down arrows.
About their hostile attacks, there are number of incidences, some selected ones are presented below.
Land of Lost Tribe: Two persons were killed when they entered the area while fishing. It isreported that it is dangerous to visit the area as they try to kill the visitors.
--- Mail Online dated Sunday 22 May 2016
A Human Zoo on the World’s Most Dangerous Island: The Sentinelese have no contact withoutsiders. In 2006, the tribe murdered two fishermen, who illegally entered the islands. Ecotourism
may attract new disease and confrontation may lead to retaliation and extinction of the entire tribe.
-- Margin FORBES (28 Sept. 2015)
Sentinel Island:The World’s Hardest Place to Visit: Those who dare to visit the island are met bymen and women wielding a shower of spears and arrows. People that live on the island kill anyone
who tries to come ashore. Some government mission went there a number of times, but the native
people turned their back to the visitors. This was meant to insult the outsiders as we were notwelcome there.

(2) The Jarawa Tribe
The Andaman Island is the home to the last Afro-Asian people in the world. The Jarawas are the oldest
ethnic tribe living in the Andaman Islands. At low tide at the end of each day, they go in small group to catch
fish. They are the darkest of the dark people.
The Jarawas are hunter-gatherer. Of the four tribes in the region, the Great Andamanese have alreadydisappeared. The Onge is almost extinct. Only the Jarawas and the Sentinelese have managed to resist andpreserve their way of life.
The Jarawas, whose population is estimated to be at 420, live in southern and central part of the Andaman
Islands. Their territory is 115 km long and 10-20 km wide. Access to the area by land and by sea is completely
forbidden. Forest ranger regularly patrol the territory, aircraft fly over and police vehicle cruise the shores ofthe beach. Any intruder is punishable.
Source: The Amazing You Tube

(3) The Onge Tribe
The Onge people are one of the Andamanese indigenous peoples of the Andaman Island. They have theirown language called Onge. They are confined to the Little Andaman Dugong Creek in the northeast and SouthBay. These tribes are semi-nomadic and used to be fully dependent on hunting and gathering for food.
The total population of the Onge tribe is about 100 and they are the least fertile and the most sterile people
in the world. About 40% married couple are sterile. They survived the Tsunami of 2004. They believe that their
population was destroyed by the ground shaking and great wall of water.
Presently, alcohol addiction is the major problem among themselves.

(4) The Moken Tribe
The Moken people have made the Sea their home. They forage food from oceans and forests and trade fishand shell for other necessities, travelling by boat across southern Burma and Thailand. They have maintained aself-sufficient nomadic way of life along the Andaman Coast for hundreds of years

7The Mokens are nomadic people with their sea-based culture and speak their own language. They are
known by “Sea-nomad”. They are distributed around the Andaman sea, west coast of Thailand and several
provinces of Myanmar. The Burmese call these people Salung, Salone or Chalome. In Thailand, they are called
Chao Ley (People of the Sea) and Chao Nam (People of Water). They are also called the “Sea Gypsies”.
The Moken has knowledge about their sea and thus live off its flora and fauna by using nets and speck toforage food. The unused one is hung on the pole and is bartered for other necessities at the local market.
Then Burmese Moken are still nomadic people who roam the sea most of their lives in small-crafted wooden
boat called Kabang or mother boat. The boat is about 10-meter long. Their hunter-gather’s lifestyle relies onmen, women and children each playing roles in community subsistence, taking only the resources they require
for survival and making minimal impact on the natural environment.
The Moken of Burma and Thailand are stateless at sea. One research study showed that the “Sea Gypsies”
children of Southeast Asia have an incredible ability to see clearly underwater at depths of up to 75 ft. Like
Dolphins, they appear to be able to spot small items, such as clams, beneath the wave. Hla Dal, a Moken in his
early 20’s explains;“He and his family abandoned their nomadic life two years ago. Before we used to catch a lot of squidand filled a basket of 20 kg in a day. Now we can hardly manage 3 kg in a day … We can’t afford tomaintain our mother boat. It is easier to fish from the village”.
AnthroScape, Human Biodiverstiy ForumThe Moken people face deepening poverty, marginalization and discrimination. Most are stateless, making
them vulnerable to human rights, abuse and depriving them of access to other rights (medical care), education,
employment opportunities that other enjoy.
Due to tight immigration and maritime conservation, laws restrict their freedom of movement threatening
their traditional lifestyles.
Nomadism, lack of registration, lack of citizenship (or statelessness) can’t move outside their district. Nor,can they work legally. They can work only in the informal sector.

Major environmental issues
Environmental issues are the outcome of the constant interaction between the massive exploitation ofnatural resources, growing population, intensive land clearance and greenhouse gas emission. Its direct effectis on the sea, i.e. the rise of sea level, which has been the frontier for immediate action. This is the reason why
the region is again at the heart of international community (Bhandari, 2016) and faces the following issues.

(1) Water pollutionth

The Bay receives about the 4/5 of total pollutants that spill into the area coming from 7 rivers, andimportant cities that ring the littoral area. The area is the sink of organic and inorganic wastes of the area as it
received pollutants from numerous rivers and cities. The notorious cocktail of refuse, trash, garbage, organic
matter, nutrients (including nitrogen, agricultural pesticides), metabolized drugs, medical waste, cytotoxic,
antibiotic, hormone-mimicking materials, bacteria, virus, worms, chemicals (detergents, fertilizer runoff) are ofserious concerns.

(2) Decline of critical habitats
The critical habitat such as mangroves, coral reef and estuaries are declining and deteriorating in the Bay
area due to overfishing, shift of coastal lines, shrinking of deltas, human intervention, destruction of the criticallink between channels and their floodplains and weakening of the filtration system to both coastal areas andmangroves.

(3) Shipbreaking industry1

1

This industry began in Chittagong due to climate-related hazards. In the 1960's, one of the notorious
cyclones blew a 20,000 ton tanker off course and onto the beach in Chittangong. This opened the door for
generating income for the local communities. They used their ingenuity to recycle the ship's components.

8

The Bay receives the discarded hulks of the world's unwanted ships. The industry has both beauty andhorror. Chittagong alone of Bangladesh houses one of the world's unwanted ships. Some 30 thousand people
are employed in this trade. This is the beauty of the industry. The other side is that the shipbreaking industry is
one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. People have to work and wade into toxic and oily sludge
to take the parts of the ships. Every day the workers inhale dangerous chemicals including lead and asbestos.

(4) Global warming
The world's oceans are likely to rise due to global warming. The accumulation of greenhouse gases since theindustrial revolution heats up the Earth. The ice and the snow become the first victim. Thus ice-melt pours into
the ocean, causing the sea level rise globally. Climate extremes have already occurred, making the coastal
region highly vulnerable to draught, flood and the Tsunami.

Major Challenges

2

The BOB as such is a huge area, covering some 2.3 million km that belongs to 7 countries of different size,
system and social structures. A multitude of actors are in connectivity and all of them need to be taken into
consideration. Some are familiar with the concept and implementation of wise use of wetlands, while others
do not know anything about it. Some are interested in conservation whereas others are not at all. In facts
there are many actors, factors and sectors that are directly responsible for the degradation of the Bay area.
The key questions are; how to develop a common vision? What would be the incentives to bring them
together under an umbrella? How to keep them intact? What would be the mechanism of keeping them
together? How social equity can be maintained among so many actors? Bringing them to a consensus for acommonality is in fact a big Herculean task.
Secondly it requires a huge resources, long time and commitment. How to generate resources? Who would
be responsible? What would be the mechanism? In the absence of a responsible organization, it would not be
so feasible as well as possible to move ahead for the cause of the Bay of Bengal in the region.

References
Amrith, Sunil S. (2013). Crossing the Bay of Bengal: The Furies of Nature and Fortunes of Migrants. Cambridge:
Harward University Press.
Anonymous. AndamanTribes- Victims of Development. Available on
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/the-andaman-tribes-victimsdevelopment. Accessed on May 27, 2016.
Bhandari, Bishnu B. (2016). The Bay of Bengal: A Forgotten Sea. In the Bay of Bengal: A Forgotten Sea. The
Proceeding of the Symposium on the Bay of Bengal (Edited by Bishnu B. Bhandar & Reiko Nakamura),
Yangon, Myanmar 4 February 2016.
Wikipedia, a Free Encyclopedia. Sentinelese People. Available on
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese_people, Accessed on May 14, 2016.
Wikipedia, a Free Encyclopedia. Moken People. Available on Wikipedia, a Free Encyclopedia. Moken People.
Available on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese_people, Accessed on May 15, 2016.
Wikipedia, a Free Encyclopedia. Where do the Jarawa live?. Available on Wikipedia, a Free Encyclopedia.
Moken People. Available on www.organicthejarawa.com/#!meet-the-jarawas-ou-vivent-ils/ctu7,
Accessed on May 15, 2016.

9

Coastal Wetlands in Myanmar andsignificant intertidal mudflat Gulf of Mottama
Pyae Phyo Aung
Organization: Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA)
Email: pyaephyo.banca.org@gmail.com

Abstract: Myanmar has 99 wetlands site according the recorded by “Wetlands inventory in Myanmar”
published in 2004. Within over a decade, some very important wetlands in coastal areas were identified by
INGOs and NGOs. The Gulf of Mottama is one of the famous intertidal mudflat ecosystems in the world. The
Gulf is bell-shaped and has dynamic estuary ecosystems. The Gulf is one of the world’s most important
wintering areas for the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, hosting probably more than half of theremaining global population. The local communities use the site for fishing, grazing, duck-rearing and paddy
farming. However, the Gulf of Mottama is a vulnerable and changing environment where communities have
lived by adapting to change over time. Different types of wetlands play critical role in sequestering and storingcarbon, which leads to addressing climate change.
Keywords: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Gulf of Mottama, CEPA, Ramsar, EAAFP

Myanmar is the largest country in main land south-east
Asia comprising the land area of 676,577 square kilometersand geographically located between 9˚ 32’ and 28˚ 31’
latitude and 92˚ 10’ and 101˚ 11’ longitude stretching over
2800 kilometers coast line. It shares common maritime
boundaries with Bangladesh in the north-east of Bay of
Bengal with Thailand and India in the Andaman Sea which isa part of Bay of Bengal.The coastal zone of Myanmar can be
subdivided into three main areas, namely Rakhine, Delta
and Thanintharyi coasts. Many rivers flow into the coastal
zones such as “Mayyu” and “Kalandan” rivers in Rakhine
coastal area, “Irrawaddy”, “Sittaung” and “Thanlwin” rivers
in Delta coastal area and “Ye”, “Dawei”,”Thanintharyi” and“Lenya” rivers in Thanintharyi coastal area.
Myanmar has 99 wetlands site according the recorded by “Wetlands inventory in Myanmar” published in
2004. But almost all wetlands sites were identified inland areas and doesn’t include Thanintharyi coastal area.
Only four wetland sites, Gadongalay Island, Gayetgyi Island, Letkokkon wetland and Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife
Sanctuary are located in Delta coastal area and only three wetland sites which are Byaing Kyun Island,Kyeintalichaung and Satthawa chaung located in Rakhine coastal area.
Within over a decade, some very important wetlands in coastal areas were identified by INGOs and NGOs.
For Rakhine coastal area, important wetlands are Nanthar Island, Kyauk phyu Mangrove area, Man Aung andsouth Island should be conserved as high priority because of the habitat of mangrove diversity, migratory bird
species, sea grass, marine mammal and sea turtles . At the Delta coastal area, Kaing Thaung island, Thameehla
Island(Dimond Island) beach, Nga Youk Kaung beach, Phone Taw Pyae beach and Gulf of Mottama, Bilu island,
Kyeikhamei sea shore which are critical habitat for mangrove diversity, globally important migratory birds, sea

10

grass and sea turtles areas and should be conserved as high priority.In the Thanintharyi coastal area, Myeik
Archipelago, Lampi Marine National Park, Hein Ze bay mudflats and Dawei river estuary which have marine
biodiversity need to be conserved as high priority.
Bay of Bengal (BOB), large but relatively shallow embayment of the northeastern Indian Ocean, occupying
an area of about 839,000 square miles (2,173,000 square km) and world’s largest basin. It lies roughly
between latitudes 5° and 22° N and longitudes 80° and 90° E. It is bordered by Sri Lanka and India to the west,
Bangladesh to the north, and Myanmar (Burma) and the northern part of the Malay Peninsula to the east.
Weather conditions are often brutal in the Bay of Bengal as the area is ravished by heavy monsoon rains, bothsummer and winter. Destructive cyclones are common in the spring and fall months, bringing intense winds
and severe flooding. Because of its low-lying land, southern Bangladesh is especially susceptible to thesestorms.
The Gulf of Mottam(Martaban) is
located in Yangon Region, Bago
Region and Mon State. The Gulf ofMottoma is a large and generally
undisturbed funnel-shaped estuarywith extensive tidal flats. Its tidal
cycle is extremely pronounced in
speed and amplitude, causing a
powerful bore phenomenon which ishighly unusual in the region andwhich makes this one of the mostdynamic estuaries in the world, withconstant sediment redistribution,
channel-shifts, erosion and accretionon a large scale. The highproductivity of the system supports arich biota including abundant
invertebrates, important nursery areas for marine fish and up to 150,000 migratory water birds in the nonbreeding season. These include three globally threatened species and internationally important numbers of 19
bird species, and the stage is set the Gulf as one of the world’s most important wintering areas for the criticallyendangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (CR), hosting probably more than half of the remaining global population.
The Gulf exhibits a tidal cycle which is extremely pronounced in speed and volume, gathering from a width ofaround 100km and concentrating in a funnel-shaped bay to produce a powerful bore phenomenon, which canreach heights of over 1m on spring tides in the upper estuary and is highly unusual in the region. The tide
drops by over 6 m and can reach in places up to 7m, exposing areas of tidal flats whose extent, sediment
composition and undisturbed character are increasingly rare and important in the region. The tides andcurrents constantly redistribute sediments on a large scale, producing shifting channels and a mix of erosion
and accretion, and making this one of the most dynamic estuaries in the world. The biological productivity ofthis system supports a rich biota that exemplifies the importance of large estuaries on an international scale assource areas for fish and invertebrates and as non-breeding refuges for thousands of migratory water birds. A
characteristic feature of the Gulf of Mottama is that it has a tide-dominated coastline. Tides ranges between
4–7 m high. During spring tide, when the tidal range is around 6.6 m, the turbid zone covers an area of morethan 45,000 sq km making it one of the largest perennially turbid zones of the world's oceans. During neap tide
the tidal range of 2.98 m high. The main habitats are estuarine waters, intertidal mudflats, sandbars, muddy
and sandy shorelines and salt marsh. The local communities use the site for fishing, grazing, duck-rearing andpaddy farming. However, the Gulf of Mottama is a vulnerable and changing environment where communities
have lived by adapting to change over time. Different types of wetlands play a critical role in sequestering and11storing carbon, which leads to addressing climate change. Since the Gulf of Mottama is also an important
wetland area in Myanmar, restoring wetlands and maintaining the environmental status is of ultimate
importance in response for addressing climate change, flood mitigation, water supply, food provision andbiodiversity conservation (Wise Use of Wetlands). However, in the Gulf of Mottama, action is needed tomaintain the advantages provided by wetlands for economic development and the livelihoods of locals.

For Spoon-billed Sandpiper its population is
declining by 26% per year, with a global
population estimate of approximately 200
pairs. If the current rate of decline continues
then the species will be extinct within adecade. The major cause of juvenile mortality
is believed to be trapping and hunting,primarily on the wintering grounds, andnotably in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Anotherproblem is illegal fishing in the Gulf ofMottama, which is very important issue forlivelihood of the local community. Hunting ofshorebirds on the wintering grounds was
immediately recognized as the major threat to
SBS. The individual hunters identified andBANCA began a public awareness campaign.
With BANCA’s encouragement, all identified hunters signed agreements to cease hunting and those huntersmost dependent upon netting birds were given support to develop alternative livelihoods.
The main threats to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper take place on the non-breeding grounds. In Myanmar, thefollowing are four main threats; (1) hunting (the most severe and urgent threat), (2) weakness of formal
protection of coastal sites, (3) loss of habitat through unsustainable coastal development and mangrove forest
restoration, and (4) inadvertent catching while fishing.

In 2008, with the support of Arcona Consulting(UK) and BirdLife International, BANCA was able toparticipate as a pioneer in initiating the globallythreatened species, Spoon-billed Sandpiper
population survey in the Gulf of Mottama.
Accordingly, baseline survey results the Gulf ofMotttama plays a vital role for the conservation of
Spoon-billed Sandpiper. In 2011 BANCA carriedout the socioeconomic surveys and provided
support for local communities to develop
alternative livelihood for ex-poachers in several
areas of the Gulf of Mottama. That is a very
successful programme and the ex-poachers areactively involved in community conservation
programme for the long-term sustainability of the
Gulf of Mottama.
BANCA initiated an effort to designate the Gulf
of Mottama as a Ramsar site in collaboration with
the Forest Department in 2012. BANCA carriedout several programs such as education
awareness, CBNRM, CEPA, patrolling training,12

provision of safe water facilities, cooperation with other development agencies in the Gulf of Mottama. Twointernational designations (Ramsar Site under the Convention on Wetlands and Flyway Network Site under the
East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) can raise the conservation profile of the Gulf of Mottama

Reference
1.
2.
3.
4.

DAVIES, J., SEBESTIAN.A.C.&CHAN,S. A wetland Inventory for Myanmar 2004
Katherine E.Holmes, U Tint Tun, U Kyaw Thinn Latt, Mukesh Subedee, Supriya V.Khadke, Andrew
E,Hosteler. Marine Conservation in Myanmar
Myint Pe, Sustainable Management of Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem, National Report of
MyanmarPyae Phyo Aung and Aung Kyaw Nyunt. Saving Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper from
Global Extinction Program, BANCA reports

13Community-based Conservation Initiative on Coastal Zone Management in
MyanmarHtun Paw Oo, Myanmar

Abstract: With a coastline of over 2,400 km, Myanmar possesses complex and diverse ecological and socioeconomic systems. Coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves consist of Rakhine Coast, Ayeyarwady Delta andTanintharyi Coast. Mangrove ecosystems contribute a wide range of goods and services to the coastal
population, however over the past three decades more than half of mangroves have been undergoing overexploitation, illegal felling, agricultural expansion and conversion to fishponds and shrimp ponds. Coral reefs
remain largely unexplored and the species diversity but coral reefs have been declined. Myanmar with thesupport of relevant development partners Mangroves for the Future Programme has been initiated in 2014 toinitiate rehabilitation of Myanmar Coastal area.
Key words: coastal zone management, poverty and lack of viable livelihood, community-based conservation

1. Background Information
Coastal zone of Myanmar is in the Bay of Bengal with Bangladesh, India and Thailand. The three coastal
zones of Myanmar consist of Rakhine Coast, Ayeyarwady Delta and Tanintharyi Coast. The Rakhine Coast, 740
km, deltaic coastal zone, 460 km and is outlets of the three major rivers including Ayeyarwady, Sittaung andThanlwin. Tanintharyi Coastal area has the longest coastline stretching over 1,200 km from the Gulf ofMottama to Pakchan River which is bordered with Thailand. It is fringed in southern part by the Myeik
Archipelago and is also home to more than 1,700 inshore and offshore islands.
Myanmar has a tropical to subtropical monsoon climate. The mean annual rainfall is around 2,350 mm.
Annual rainfall can be as high as 4,000-6,000 mm along the coastal reaches and in the mountains of Rakhine
and Tanintharyi, and ranges between 2,000-3,000 mm in Ayeyarwady Delta. There has been no separate policyor legislation pertaining to management of the coastal resources.

142. Key Coastal Habitats
With a coastline of over 2,400 km, Myanmar possesses complex and diverse ecological and socio-economic
systems. Coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves flourish mainly in the Myeik Archipelago. Estuaries andmud flats are common in the Ayeyarwady delta. Mangroves cover an estimated area of 467,330 ha making
Myanmar the fourth largest mangrove coverage in Asia, after Malaysia, Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea.
The majority is located on Ayeyarwady flood plains, with the remainder in Tanintharyi and a lesser portion in
the Rakhine Coast. Species distributions and compositions of mangroves differ amongst the three coastal
regions.
(a) Mangroves
Mangrove ecosystems contribute a wide range of goods and services to the coastal population, particularly
as charcoal and firewood for cooking, timber for construction, nurseries and artisanal fisheries. The role ofmangroves in protecting coastal lands, settlements and infrastructure against the effects of cyclones and tidal
surges is also well-recognized. However, over the past three decades more than half of mangroves have been
undergoing over-exploitation, illegal felling, agricultural expansion and conversion to fishponds and shrimp
ponds.

(b) Coral reefs
Coral reefs in Myanmar remain largely unexplored and the species diversity and health of this ecosystem ispoorly known. Rakhine and Tanintharyi coastal areas, in particular offshore island of Myeik Archipelago, arethe most favorable grounds for both hard and soft corals. Research studies including master and doctoral
degrees theses identify a wide range of coral species, from 51 in 1972 to 512 species in 2014. However,
Myanmar coral reefs have been declined due to contiguous with prolonged exposure to blast fishing, andillegally small-meshed fishing nets) and unregulated marine product resource extraction.

(c) Fisheries
Fishery resources in Myanmar waters are approximately 470 species of marine fishes including 67
commercially important pelagic species, and13 crustacean species. Three species are listed as Endangered in
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species including Hilsa shad (Tenualosailisha), Indian threadfin(Polynemusindicus), and four-finger threadfin (Eleutheronematetradactylum). Each of these species is greatly
harvested for food along the coasts of Myanmar, and the regional stock of hilsa is overfished throughout its
range.
Production of marine fish through aquaculture is relatively small compared with production of shrimp fromaquaculture or production of wild caught marine fish. Aquaculture is practiced largely in freshwater andbrackish water along the coastal area but on a limited scale in sea water. Considering the continuing
deterioration of fish habitat and inland fish stocks together with high foreign demand for food fish of highvalue species such as shrimps, sea bass (Latescalcarifer) and groupers (epinephilusserranidae), the government
has encouraged the industry to increase total fishery production through culture-based fishery. As a result,
there is a need to develop environmental-friendly aquaculture, sustainable aquaculture as well as conservation
measures for mangrove resources.

(d) Marine and Coastal Tourism
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in Myanmar, especially since 1996. The number of tourists
visit Myanmar has demonstrated a growing trend. It is expected that the country will experience a rapid
coastal tourism development as a result of overall economic development. There has been a substantial
growth in tourist visitation to the southern islands of Myeik Archipelago through the Kawthoung border point.

15

3. Challenges
Information for the livelihoods and living standards of the coastal population is very limited. The majority of
the coastal communities depend upon fisheries and agriculture, with minority live on tourism and industrial
development. Other economic activities include logging, hunting, snails collecting, aquaculture and fisheryindustry. A number of coastal communities suffer from poverty and a lack of viable livelihood options.
Population growth accompanied by increased resource utilization as well as the ever-increasing demand forresources from neighboring countries have put biodiversity in Myanmar under severe pressure. The country
remains one of the ten countries in the world with the largest annual net loss of forest area and among thefive countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria and United Republic of Tanzania) (FAO, 2015). Mangroves
were degraded and decreased due to over exploitation of forest products and conversion to agricultural land.
When paddy yield declined, land was converted for shrimp farming. When shrimp farming was affected byincreased acidification and water pollution, people encroached into another mangrove area for repeating theprocess of mangrove exploitation. In Tanintharyi Region, palm oil concessions have been granted in large
forest areas and rubber plantations have almost doubled in coastal areas from 1990 to 2010.

(a) Overexploitation of Mangroves for Fuel-wood and Charcoal Production
Mangroves, in Ayeyarwady Region in particular, have been degraded because of overexploitation of
fuelwood for Yangon and cities and towns in adjacent areas. In Rakhine State and Tanintharyi Region,
mangroves are in better condition although there are increasing needs of fuel-wood from Yangon city to meetan annual demand of 700,000 tons. In addition to household consumption, fuel-wood and charcoal aresupplied to cottage industries, restaurants and tea shops.

(b) Overfishing
The introduction of trawling in the 1970s and use of advanced fishing gears are likely to increase pressure on
fish resources in Myanmar waters. Overfishing has been persistent due to several reasons involving an
increasing demand of fish for local consumption, high dependency of artisanal fisherfolk upon coastal waters
for their livelihood, and a large number of fishing boats from neighboring countries.

(c ) Climate Change and Natural Disaster
The 2008 Cyclone Nargis caused over 140,000 casualties and catastrophic destruction of vast mangrove
areas in Ayeyarwady Region, impacting food security of coastal communities. In the coastal and marine
regimes, frequent and intense storm as well as strong wind and wave can have direct effect in fisheries both
inshore and offshore. Coastal zones especially areas interspersed with tidal waterways like the Ayeyarwady
Delta may face permanent inundation due to sea level rise. The highly productive deltaic and low-lying coastal
rice/local crop cultivation areas will also be exposed to increased salinity and coastal erosion. As climatechange impacts could severely undermine economic growth in Myanmar, the formulation and implementationof policies on climate change adaptation is vital for sustainable development.

(d) Constraints to Coastal Management
There has been no separate policy or legislation pertaining to management of the coastal resources.
Agricultural production in coastal zones is carried out by farmers through agriculture supervision committee
and Department of Agriculture, while fisheries management through Department of Fisheries and mangrove
forest management through Forest Department. Key challenges in this context involve no appropriate
integrated planning; no collaboration and coordination mechanism in policy making level.
The causes of biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of coastal and marine resources in Myanmar are
correlated with a number of aspects involving: limited knowledge and understanding; capacity constraints;

16

lack of environmental safeguards; undervaluation of resources; lack of comprehensive land-use policies andplans; gaps in legislations and weak enforcement; poverty and subsistence needs; lack of grassroots support
for conservation; and global climate change.

4. Proposed Projects in Myanmar Coastal Area
The Government of Myanmar with the support of relevant development partners Mangroves for the Future
Programme has been initiated in 2014 to initiate rehabilitation of Myanmar Coastal ar. The National
Coordination Body has been formed consist of governmental departments, IUCN, academia, professionals andNGOs. There are a number of small scale projects will be implemented in Myanmar coastal area as follows.

I. Project Title: Sustainability of Pyinbugyi Village Tract’s Ecosystem through Community Based Mangroves
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

f.
g.
h.
i.

Conservation and Coastal Bank Protection
Project Site: Pyinbubyi Village Tract, Palaw Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar
Implementation agency: Myanmar Forest Association (MFA), Forest Compound, Bayintnaung Road,West Gyoegone, Insein Township, Yangon, 0925023143947, Email: mmforestassociation@gmail.com
Implementing Partners: Green Island Group (GIG), Pyinbugyi Village,
Authorized representatives from Implementing Agency: U Tin Aye, Secretary, Myanmar Forest
Association
Project Objective: “To increase resilience of Ecosystem-Dependent Pyinbugyi Village Tract coastal
Communities through establishing Community Based Mangroves Conservation and Coastal Bank
Protection Models”
Project start date: 1 July 2016
Project duration: 12 months
Project budget: Mangroves For the Future (MFF) will provide USD 25,000
Brief Project description: Myanmar Forest Association will implement a project funded by Mangroves for
the Future (MFF) for Pyinbugyi Village Tract of Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar Forest
Association. MFA has conceived this project to carry out community based mangroves conservation andcoastal bank protection activities in the 3 villages of Pyinbugyi Village Tract and some of the following
main outputs will be delivered through this project and they are: 1. targeted communities has increased
knowledge on the importance of ecosystem in building human resilience; 2. initial stage on
environmental governance is set up in the targeted villages; 3. a pool of villagers are trained on
mangrove nursery practices; 4. One mangroves nursery is established, 4. mangroves conservation areas
are demarcated and established; 5. Two acres of mangrove plantation for coastal bank erosion
protection are undertaken etc.

II. Project Title: Community Development through Renewable Energy and Livelihoods Support in Tanintharyi
a.
b.

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Project Site: Khanti Island, Pyinbubyi Village Tract, Palaw Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region,
Myanmar
Implementation agency: Myanmar Forest Association (MFA), Forest Compound, Bayintnaung Road,West Gyoegone, Insein Township, Yangon, 0925023143947,
Email: mmforestassociation@gmail.com
Implementing Partners: Green Island Group (GIG), Pyinbugyi Village,
Authorized representatives from Implementing Agency: Tin Aye, Secretary, Myanmar Forest Association
Project Objective: To enhance community development through renewable energy and livelihood
support in Tanintharyi
Project start date: 1 July 2016
Project duration: 12 months

17

h.
i.

Project budget: Blue Moon Fund and Global Environmental Initiative will provide USD 50,000
Brief Project description:Khanti Island are located in Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region in the south
coast of Myanmar. There are two villages with 195 households and 1094populations in these two islands.
These villages do not access the electricity supply because of geographical limitation and situated inisolated islands. In addition these villages are facing the degradation of mangrove forests due to over
exploitation of fuel wood and charcoal. The socio-economic, livelihoods and environmental conditions of
the community are lagged behind from other villages in that township. In order to overcome thislimitation factors, alternative energy equipment, fuel-efficient stoves, awareness on mangrove
conservation and community development activities such as alternative income opportunities, e.g., craft
fattening and livestock.

III. Project Title: Sustainability of Ecosystem through Community Based Mangrove Conservation and
a.
b.

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Livelihood support in Rakhine Coastal Area, Myanmar
Project Site: U To Village, Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady Region
Implementation agency: Myanmar Forest Association (MFA), Forest Compound, Bayintnaung Road,West Gyoegone, Insein Township, Yangon, 0925023143947,
Email: mmforestassociation@gmail.com, uhtunpawoo51@gmail.com
Implementing Partners: Youth Group in U To Village, Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady Region
Authorized representatives from Implementing Agency: Htun Paw Oo, Chairperson, Myanmar Forest
Association
Project Objective: To enhance sustainability of ecosystem through community-based mangrove
conservation and livelihood support
Project start date: January 2017 to December 2018
Project duration: 24 months
Project budget: TOYOTA Environment Project will provide JPY 3,500,000
Brief Project description: Rakhine coast is situated in the Bay of Bengal with 740 km length, endowedwith mangrove forests, sea grasses and unspoiled beaches and surrounded with tropical evergreen
forests. Southern tip of Rakhine coast line is administratively under Ayeyarwady Region. The mangrove
have been seriously affected by the large-scale cutting of mangrove trees for timber, fuel wood, charcoal
and to clear land for agriculture and coastal development. At present biodiversity of the said areas is
declining due to overexploitation of mangrove resources both for forest products and fisheries, andunsustainable fishing practices. Nevertheless, there are some dedicated communities who really want
their mangroves back in their area and it is an encouraging signal that promoting community basedmangrove conservation would lead towards restoration of mangrove ecosystem in Myanmar.

5. Recommendations
For long term coastal zone management in it needs to establish a national level committee for coastal
resource management prepare guideline and undertake following actions.

A guideline needs to develop national coastal resources policy, legal and institutional frameworks.
Promote the implementation of ecologically sustainable development activities in coastal areas.
Recognize and solve problems and conflicts of coastal resources competition among multiple users.

Promote coordination with all relevant national and international institutions for the conservation,
management and research of coastal resources such as mangrove, coral reefs and sea grasses and soon. Review and accept scientific advice and integrate this knowledge into the preparation of natural
resource management plans.

18Degraded mangroves in Pyingyi Island, Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region

Reference
San, P. P., 2015, Report on Resilience Assessment for MFF Program Pyinbugyi, MFF Programme
Zöckler, C., et al, 2013, Sustainable Coastal Zone Management in Myanmar, Flora and Fauna International19

An overview on the Participatory Wetland Conservation intervention
made by PALLISHREE
along the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha, India
D.P.Dash
Secretary, PALLISHREEPALLISHREE has been working as an implementing NGO in the field of environmental awareness/ educationin the community with its key focus on wetland conservation and eco system management in the coastal
districts of Odisha, India. There are 26 Ramsar sites in India and out of which two Ramsar Sites are in the Stateof Odisha, namely Chilika lagoon and another is Bhitarkanika. The geographical situation of these two Ramsar
sites is along the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The eco system of Bhitarkanika Ramsar site is basically mangroves forest
with natural crocodile habitat and the largest nesting ground of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle in world at
Gahiramatha along BoB. Chilika Ramsar site is having lagoon ecosystem with largest Irrawaddy Dolphin
population in world. Due to anthropogenic pressures both the Ramsar sites are under threat from different
aspects. In the present Climate Change scenario, the entire coast is vulnerable on rapid erosion as such anumber of villages have been swallowed by BoB during last 15 years. The long coast of 480 Kms long over
Odisha, Gopalpur, Rushikulya estuary, Chilika, Puri, Petha & Satabhaya in Bhitarkanika are the most vulnerable
and as such PALLISHREE has already intervened its activities in Gopalpur, Rushikulya estuary, Chilika, Petha &Satabhaya in Bhitarkanika with the financial support of JFGE, KNCF, TOYOTA, NALAPO, Wetland International
and the most important technical support from RCJ, Japan.

Chilika is a brackish water coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world situated
0

’

0

0

between 19 28 and 19 54’ north latitude and 85 05’ 85o38’ East longitudes, spreadover Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India along Bay of Bengal covering
2

an area of over 1,100 km . This Ramsar site is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian
sub-continent. The lagoon is home to a number of threatened species of plants, animals and an ecosystemwith large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages on the shore andislands although there are about 273 villages surrounding to the lagoon. About 30% of the fishing village
population are active fishermen, although many others depend indirectly on the fisheries. Shrimp culture has
been largely practiced by illegal encroachment inside the lagoon by the villages. It is causing in decreasing of
the fishing ground and fish production. In addition to upper catchment, the people generally depend upon
agriculture for their livelihood. Every year the lagoon is silting up slowly as 405403 million cum of sedimentdraining into the lagoon every year, because of deforestation, mining and other development activities in thecatchments. Hence the lagoon is under threat from increased fishing activities, detrimental practices and manyother anthropogenic pressures.
Bhitarkanika Ramsar site is the second largest mangrove eco-system after Sunderbans with unique highspecies diversity of International importance. This Ramsar site is a geographical area of 672Sq. Kilometers
0

0

0

0

having 381 villages. It is situated between 20 . 30’ to 20 . 50’ north latitude and 86 . 30’ to 87 . 06’ East
longitude, in the Raj Nagar Block of Kendrapara District, State Odisha along Bay of Bengal coast. It is the
habitat of largest estuarine crocodile population in India. Gahira Matha marine sanctuary is under this Ramsar

20

site which is the largest mass nesting rookery for Olive Ridley sea turtle in world having unique ecosystem ofInternational importance. It is also one of the ideal habitats for other endangered reptiles like largest Indian
water monitor, King cobra, python, etc. other endangered species like leopard cat, fishing cat, jungle cat,hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, porcupine, dolphins, terrapins etc. are sighted here. Kingfishers,
hornbills, bar-headed geese, brahmini ducks, pintails, white-bellied sea eagles and many other endangered
resident and migratory birds have created bio-spear in this wetland. Bhitarkanika Ramsar site covers 672 Sq.
Km., out of which the mangrove forests cover only 150Sq. kms. and the core area of 145 Sq. km. is declared as
National park. The entire area other than the core area is thickly populated with 1.96 lakh population in 381
villages. The mangrove forest is diminishing due to lack of fresh water supply in the mangrove areas andanthropogenic pressures like illegal encroachment for shrimp culture, agricultural activity. Another issue ofconcern is the continuous decrease in the population of migratory birds.

Rushikulya Estuary
The Rushikulya Estuary, located along the Bay of Bengal in Ganjam, Orissa, is the second largest mass
nesting beach of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles in the world. Amazingly, this rookery only came to the attention ofmarine scientists in 1994. Over one hundred fifty thousand of the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles(Lepidochelys olivacea) arrive each February to nest on this beach. Unfortunately, Olive Ridley juveniles are
threatened by fishing-related activities as well as predators such as dogs, jackals, crows, eagles etc. In fact, thesurvival rate is thought to be as few as one in a thousand. A report shows that, more than 100,000 adult Olive
Ridley Sea Turtles have perished during last 8 years due to unsustainable fishing practices. Unfortunately, theproject area is coming under storm, cyclone prone zone and also vulnerable to Tsunami.

Climate Change
According to the Third Assessment report of IPCC (McCarthy et al., 2001) in the World, South Asia region ismost vulnerable to climate change. The land mass is shrinking as such number of villages are swollen due tothe rise of sea water level, change in sea behavior and erosion both in sea and river. Some of the current issues
in this unique wetland are declining of fish species, saline water intrusion into coastal aquifers which results to
reduction of good quality of drinking water. The vulnerability is acute by the combined effects of climatechange, sea level rise, subsidence, and changes of upstream river discharge, high flood, cyclones, tornado, tidal
surges and coastal embankments. Frequency and occurrence of disaster-surges is projected to increase as aconsequence of climate change mostly in the coastal cluster villages. It is ultimately affecting the agriculture as
the livelihood, natural and socio-economic infrastructures, health and energy and consequently on people
lives in terms of reduced employment, lowering of income and scarce consumption including food in-security.
High morbidity causing lessening the workdays of the wage earners and fishers. The most vulnerable sites incase of climate change are most affected in Satabhaya, Pentha, Puri, Dhalabali near Chilika mouth, Podampeta
near Rushikulya river mouth & Gopalpur region.

InterventionsI) Environmental awareness/ education programme
Environmental awareness & education programme is very important to build and enhance the capacity of the
stakeholders. The stakeholders play important role in conservation and wise use of the wetlands and Ramsar

21Sites. PALLISHREE has taken up 66 nos. of villages in Bhitarakanika Ramsar site, 55 nos. villages in Chilika
Ramsar Site, 11 nos. of villages in Rushikulya estuary for awareness and education programme. Under thisprogramme 67 nos. of centers has been established in the local schools involving the students and teachers.
The Centers have been playing important role among the community as the focal point through organizing ofdifferent activities like wall painting and street play to make understand regarding the degradation ofenvironment among the stakeholders. Teachers workshop, different training programmes, survey using PRA
tools and micro-planning, formation of women SHG and capacity building training are some of the principal
activities which make involve of the stakeholders from the inception of the programme. Nature camp,
exposure visits, demonstrations and ToT in different areas of interventions have brought practical knowledge
in implementation of conservation measures in the project area by the community. Observation of World
Environment Day, World Wetlands Day, Wolrd Wetland Week are some of the events which are very
important in bringing ownership in the programme. Release of news letter, poster and booklets in the local
language has also play important role among the stakeholders on public opinion and sharing of their views onconservation of their wetlands. The students monitor the water quality of the wetlands and collect the
samples of different species of fish and weed of the wetlands, indigenous seeds, different type of soil, feathersof different birds, medicinal plants etc. and kept in the centers for the common understanding of thecommunity. The students also bring awareness over the detrimental practices of the community. Essay &painting competition among the students and organizing rally in the community by the local schools raise thelevel of awareness among the students. As such PALLISHREE has able to make success of building unit among
local volunteers 640 nos. in Bhitarkanika, 930 in Chilika and 410 in Rushikulya estuary region who are now able
to capacitate in taking conservation measures and sound environment issues. This programme is mostimportant in building resilient in the community to address all the environmental issues including conservation
measures.

II) Plantation programme
In the present climate change scenario, tree has great role to mitigate the adverse effects at the community
level. Hence PALLISHREE has taken up plantation programme in school campus, temple campus, community
land for both mangroves and other general plants. The plant species have been selected by the community
before making nursery such as mangoves species like Rhizophora apiculate, Avicennia alba, Avicennia
officinalis, Ceriops decandra, Excoecaria agallocha, Bruguiera parviflora, grass species like Myriostachya
wigstiana . The general plants such as Acacia aurielu formis, Acacia mamgium, Cariea papaya, Psibium guava,
Emblica officiralis, Pangamia pimmata, Moringa ptrygosperma, Anacadium Occidentale, Cusuarina
equisitifolia, Tectona grandis, Pongamia pinnata, Delonixregia etc.
Apart from the awareness and education programme in community, plantation programme has been
implemented successfully with community participation. In Bhitarkanika, 75, 000 nos. of mangroves plants
have been planted covering 28 ha. in community land. In Chilika PALLISHREE is facilitating a community led
mangroves plantation programme with State Govt. (ICZMP) in a land of 93 ha. In Rushikulya region 20,000
plants have been raised and the plantation programme is about 8 ha. of mangrove plantation. This plantation
is taken up in the muddy and tidal influence area. But in case of general plants, the school campus, temple
campus and also community open land has been selected by the community for take up plantation
programme. In Bhitarkanika, 62 schools campus,14 temple campus and 5 community land has been selected
for plantation by the stakeholders and planted 90,000 plants covering 40 ha. of land. In Chilika 38 school
campus, 17 youth club campus has been selected for plantation covering 52 ha. of land having 1,20,000 plantsof different species. Now jackal and hire are found in some of the old plantations. The community is very
happy to observe it.

22

In Rushikulya estuary area 10 school campus and 3 community land has been planted with 42,000 plants ofdifferent species covering 19 ha. of land.

III) Solid waste management
In Bhitakanika 10 schools, in Chilika 25 schools and Rushikulya estuary 10 nos. of schools have been
established with waste bins both degradable and non-degradable. The students have been well trained on
proper management of the wastes generated in their school campus. The students are also learnt thesanitation and management of their household wastes in their own home. So ultimately this programme could
also make the village clean successfully.

IV) Stress tolerant rice and other crop cultivation
In the present climate change scenario farmers are also most sufferers with drought, flood and high salinity.
In this context, different stress tolerant cultivation methods and inputs have been prepared by the scientist
community. PALLISHREE facilitated the successful adaptation of the stress tolerant varieties of paddy in 6
coastal districts. The farmers have been trained and at the same time the variety of seeds are also provided
with adequate demonstrations.

V) Olive Ridley Sea Turtle conservation
In Rushikulya estuary, there are 5 villages where the coast is coming under mass nesting of Olive Ridley Sea
Turtle. Since the area is vast, it is too difficult to manage such a large population both during nesting and also
safe release of hatchlings to BoB. In this regard, community participation for support in management has beenorganized successfully. The community has been made aware to stop fishing during meting season in BoB. Safe
nesting and safe guard of eggs from jackles, dogs, kites and crows was managed by the local community by
deploying volunteers with proper training. Most important to release the hatchlings in night time. Due to lightsfrom opposite directions of BoB, the hatchlings do not go to BoB and face problem and at last meet the last or
prey by predators. In this case more volunteers are necessary to support in releasing of millions of hatchlings
to BoB. The community is supporting in this connection as the awareness level raised in the project. Sea beachcleaning is most important aspect which the local volunteers do regularly. The garbage collect by thevolunteers are kept in the waste bins installed by PALLISHREE over the beach and manage successfully.
Necessary training has been provided to boatmen, fishermen, women SHG members and volunteers toenhance their capacity for better management with community participation. Apart from this, PALLISHREE hasformed Eco-guide group and trained them to conduct eco-tourism in the project villages. The educated youths
have been selected by the community as eco-guide. The women SHGs have been trained to prepare sea-cellhandicrafts product which is another skill development training for creation of livelihood opportunity. The
handicrafts are sold in different exhibition, local fairs and also to tourists.

VI) Disaster Risk Reduction
Odisha coast is highly vulnerable to disasters every year. The stakeholders are facing with different disasters
such as cyclones, flood and also drought regularly. So PALLISHREE has taken lead role in forming a NGO
network namely NETCOAST with 10 nos. of grass root level NGO members in 6 districts of coastal Odisha. In
this programme the objective is to reduce the risk of disaster through capacity building of the community to be
managed by them. The four frameworks for adaptation to disaster is – prevention, mitigation, community
readiness and individual survivability. The necessary trainings like mock drill, early warning, preparedness,
first-aid, search and rescue, snake bite management, evacuation, preparation of dry food and management
have been provided. Shelter, light, food, water, sanitation, medicine and important documents for23

preservation have been given priority during disasters. Under this programme the following activities havebeen implemented by the community for prevention and mitigation with people’s participation successfully.
As such there is no casualty has been occurred during the severe cyclones in the project area.
In Satabhaya the sea water was entering into the village in many times during high tide. So PALLISHREE has
planned very cost effective indigenous technology with the community people to prepare natural bond acrossthe sea and village. It could successfully build the sand bond of 8 feet high with a length of one Km. The sea
water could be prevented to enter into the village by this programme.
-

Mangrove plantation and Nalia grass (Myriostachya wigstiana) plantation has been taken up under
this programme on river side of 5 Km. as a pilot programme in Bhitarkanika Ramsar site to prevent
soil erosion and also natural conservation with livelihood enhancement.

-

The women are the most vulnerable during disasters for collecting drinking water and sanitation. So
the platforms of 150 nos. existing tube wells have been raised to the high flood level in order to avail
the drinking water facility during flood. For better sanitation management during the time of flood,
850 nos. of high raised plinth toilets have been installed in coastal flood affected villages.

-

To manage the ecosystem in water logged area, proper drainage facility has been created. The creeksof 8 kms. have been renovated as a pilot programme to release the flood water fast from the projectvillages.

-

The role of pond is significant in the community in the environment as well as livelihood aspects. So
36 nos. ponds have been rejuvenated.

-

Under livelihood promotion programme, hygienic dry fish production, vegetable cultivation, poultry,
pisciculture, mushroom cultivation, leaf-plate making, tailoring, cold chain maintaining in fish
marketing has been provided.

-

Bringing participation in implementation of Govt. programmes, the community has been capacitatedby providing training as well as facilitating the action in the field. The Govt. programmes likesanitation, insurance, MGNREGS, horticulture, agriculture, fishery, forest, child welfare etc. has been
included in the project villages through convergence.

24

Coastal Wetland Biodiversity Conservation
by Involving the Community: A NGO initiative
Dr. Sanowar Hossain & Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty
Bangladesh POUSH
11/8 Iqbal Road, Block-A, Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Phone: 88 02 8117948, Email: sanowarpoush@gmail.com

Abstract: The Southernmost part of Bangladesh is bordered by about 710 km long coast line of the Bay of
Bengal, which has the continental shelf of up to 50 m depth with an area of about 37,000 km2. Coastal
ecosystem of Bangladesh is very rich in biodiversity. Bangladesh POUSH has been working in the east coast of
the country since 1992. The purpose of Bangladesh POUSH is to facilitate and promote sustainable livelihoods
through Participatory Conservation & Management of Ecosystem & Natural Resources and Socio-economic
Empowerment. Bangladesh POUSH follows participatory approaches in implementation of the biodiversity
conservation project activities; organizing the community, facilitate the community identifying the action planand community based monitoring are the main course of action making community conserving own habitat.

Introduction
Bangladesh comprises a land area of 144.054 km2, which is bounded by India on the west, north andnortheast by Myanmar on the East and Southeast and the Bay of Bengal on the South. The Southern most partof Bangladesh is bordered by about 710 km long coast line of the Bay of Bengal, which has the continental
shelf of up to 50 m depth with an area of about 37,000 km2. It is the Exclusive Economic Zone of Bangladesh
lies .The coastal fauna of Bangladesh are a total 453 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8
amphibian species. A total of 301 species of mollusks and over 50 species of commercially importantcrustaceans and 76 species fish from estuarine have been recorded so far in the coastal zone. Among theendangered species are five mammals, 25 birds, 14 reptiles and two amphibians (frogs). The marine waters of
Bangladesh are also having 442 species of fish36 species of marine shrimps. About 336 species of mollusks,
covering 151 genera have been identified. In addition, 3 lobsters and 7 species of turtles and tortoises, 168
species of seaweeds, 3 sponges, 16 crabs, 3 lobsters, 10 frogs, 3 crocodiles, 24 snakes, 3 otters, 1 porcupine, 9dolphins and 3 species of whale found in Bangladesh territorial water. Among the marine and migratory
species of animals, 4 fishes, 5 reptiles, 6 birds, and 3 mammals are threatened.
In Bangladesh people and the nature has long co-existence history. A great number of populations live in the
coastal areas, which are primarily dependent on the natural resources available in the wetland for theirlivelihoods. NGO in Bangladesh has a long history of co-management of the natural resources in Bangladesh.
NGO has organized the community to work for the protection and conservation of the natural resources.
Where to note the NGO contribution in the wetland ecosystem conservation of the Bay of Bengal Coast theintervention by Bangladesh POUSH is noted. Bangladesh POUSH has been working for the wellbeing of coastal
biodiversity since 1992.

Bangladesh POUSH
Bangladesh POUSH is a non-profit, non-political, non-governmental, environmental voluntary development
organization, established in 1990, registered with NGO Affairs Bureau, Govt. of Bangladesh and also registeredunder Societies Registration Act. 1860. The purpose of Bangladesh POUSH is to facilitate and promotesustainable livelihoods through Participatory Conservation & Management of Ecosystem & Natural Resources25and Socio-economic Empowerment. Objectives of the organization are to promote community based wise useof Natural Resources, to organize and capacitate poor communities to facilitate income generation for
securing their livelihoods, to assist to build-up community based organization, to rehabilitate the degradedecosystem, to increase environmental awareness & capacity towards sustainable development.

Approach
POUSH`s approach of community based project implementation:
The approach of Bangladesh POUSH is to implement the project focusing on forming various community
groups by directly involving them to achieve the goal, and also works in closed collaboration with different
government and private organizations.

Initiative of POUSH in conservation of coastal Biodiversity
Initiative of Bangladesh POUSH in Conservation of Coastal Biodiversity in the following coastal areas of
Bangladesh; Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, Ramu, Teknaf, Ukhia, Mohesh khali,, Sonafdia, St. Martin Island To achieve
the aim & objectives.
POUSH undertakes interventions in the following major areas: sustainable livelihood through participatory
natural resource management, bio-diversity conservation, participatory afforestation & nursery development,
environmental education, human resource development, partnership & gender development, conservation ofcultural heritage, research & publication.
Being an environmental NGO, BP has been implementing different project on protection of forest & wildlife,
management & conservation of coastal wetlands, afforestation and nursery development, environmental
education by involving community people. It was jointly funded by WFP/GoB, Ramsar Center Japan (RCJ), JFGE,
KNCF, TOYOTA Environmental grant programme, Climate Change Trust fund and RICOH Company Ltd. Tokyo,
Japan. Over the period of 25 years a total 35 project and over 5000 (Five thousand) poor families were
mobilized and organized for conservation of coastal biodiversity.
Bangladesh POUSH has been implementing the different projects and program in the coast since 1992.
Following are the significant on-going projects of Bangladesh POUSH working for the coast:1.

Community based conservation of globally significant biodiversity of Dhalghata Island, Moheshkhali,
Cox’s Bazar: The project work aims to improve the ecosystem through the participation of thecommunity. Community learnt sustainable use of natural resources in the island of Moheskhali. With
TOYOTA Environmental Grant Program, Tokyo, Japan since January 2013 in collaboration with RCJ,
Japan. A Total of 100 families direct benefited from this project through different capacity building
training and knowledge transfer and indirectly more than 2000 people were motivated and aware
about sustainable use of local natural resource for their livelihood support.

2.

Biodiversity Conservation through Ecosystem based Adaptation Involving the Local community at
Gorakghata, Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: This Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE),
Japan in association with RCJ, Japan, project aims capacity building of the community on adaptation
to climate change. 200 families have been directly benefited through different capacity building
training and awareness building activities.

3.

Homestead Planting in Coastal Villages Mitigate the Climate Change Impact: Climate change trust
fund supported project has been implemented since 2013. The project is being implemented in the
coast households of Moheshkhali. A total of 200,000 sampling planted at 20,000 households withdifferent tree species in an around homestead.

26

Previous projects that were successfully completed in the coast
1.

Implementation of Biodiversity Conservation Management Plan of St. Martin’s Island ECA: Bangladesh
POUSH had conducted a survey in St. Martin’s Island to identify the alternative livelihood option of
the community people. Based on the survey finding POUSH has identified the alternative livelihood
option for the community. POUSH has developed training materials for alternative income generationof the target community people and conducted several trainning for target community people to skill
them to under the alternative income generation activities and ultimately as alternative livelihood forthe betterment of the local target households. All households are now of the Village Conservation
Group (VCG) member. A total of 300 households got training five village conservation group (VCG)
formed. Each VCG consists of 20 members.

2.

Conservation and protection of marine turtle, coral and other marine resources: Organize community
meetings on importance of Mangrove Screw pine & sand dune vegetation ecosystem and otherthreatened biodiversity. Under this project more than 10000 Mangrove screw pine planted and are
100 hectors sand dune vegetation protected. A turtle breeding ground protected.

3.

Community Mobilzation for Biodiversity Conservation in three Ecological Critical Areas (ECA)of Cox’s
Bazar district under Coastal & Wetland Biodiversity Management Project (CWBMP) of Department ofEnvironment (DOE)/ Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF)/ UNDP: Bangladesh POUSH
implemented community Mobilization for Biodiversity Conservation in three ECAS of Cox’s Bazar
district a Component of Coastal & Wetland Biodiversity Management Project of Department ofEnvironment, Government of Bangladesh with financial support from GEF/UNDP. 5000 household aremobilized and formed 35 Village Conservation Group (VCG) towards conservation of the local
biodiversity.

4.

Non formal Primary Education: Eleven non- formal primary education centers were operating with thefinancial assist from RICOH Co. Ltd. Japan for the children of the poorest family in the remote coastal
area in Cox’s Bazar coastal district. In each centre is for 30 children. Student belongs to 6 to 12 years
old. In addition with the normal elementary education visual educational materials like poster on
different environmental message was used for better understanding of the environment. 330 children
got 3 years’ elementary education.

5.

Sustainable Conservation of Mangrove Forest & Marine Turtles through Community Participation in
Sonadia Island, Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh: Bangladesh POUSH has successfully implemented project.
The purpose of the project was to conserve the rich ecosystem and biodiversity hotspot by mangroveafforestation, protection of globally significant marine turtle through community participation andcapacity building of the target community people through different training. Under this project morethan 50 households of land brought under mangrove plantation and more than 6 thousand Turtles
hatchling produce in the turtle hatchery and released to sea.

6.

Community Based Coastal Wetland Management Building Capacity and organizing Communities at
Badarkhali, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar: Bangladesh POUSH has successfully implemented in collaboration
with RCJ. This initiative was for demonstrating enhancement of capacity through knowledge sharing
and application in managing wetland resources & livelihoods. Under this project a mangrove nurserywith capacity of 5000 sapling established and planted 300 trees in the area and 2000 households werecapable through knowledge shearing and training.

7.

Mobilizing Communities in Protection, Conservation and management of Coastal Fisheries Resources:
Bangladesh POUSH, in coalition with Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) has successfully implemented a component of the
project, Empowerment of Coastal Fishing Communities (BGD/97/017) in Cox’s Bazar, Moheshkhali,
Ramu and Ukhiya Upazilas. The project implemented by Department of Fisheries with support fromthe Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project engages a number of service providers fromthe NGOs to assist the project in achieving its objectives within the given framework of project
concept, strategy and institutional arrangement. The development objective of the project is to27

promote livelihood security of the poor coastal fishing communities and protection, conservation andmanagement of coastal fisheries resources. Through this project more than 1000 fisherman werecapable through training and knowledge shearing.
8.

Social Afforestation and Nursery Development: POUSH has completed three-year project on
Afforestation and Nursery Development with the assistance of RICOH CO.LTD., Tokyo, Japan. About
80000 seedlings of different tree species were raised and planted on 60 acres of denuded land in 3
Upazila of Ramu & Chakoria.100 community people benefited during the period of 2000 to 2004.

9.

Coastal Green Belt Project at Chakaria Upazila of Cox’s Bazar District (Period of implementation: 20002003): Under this project a total of 240 local community people were trained on protection andmanagement of planted trees of coastal belt. Now 240 local people are engaged in protecting andmanaging about 15 km. of plantation raised (2000-2001) with Assistance of Asian Development Bankand Department of Forest, GOB.

10. Biological Protection of Embankments in Coastal Area of Cox’s Bazar (Two Polders) (Period of
implementation: 1992-1993): Bangladesh POUSH was one of the three NGOs which participated in
the implementation of Biological Protection of Coastal Embankment by involving local people
sponsored by Bangladesh Water Development Board. POUSH implemented this Biological Protectionof Coastal Embankment pilot project at Polder No. 66/1 under Cox’s Bazar Upazilas and at Polder
No.69 under Moheshkhali Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district during the year of 1992-1993.

Why engaging the community(A) Partnership with the local entireties: Bangladesh POUSH has long association and good working
relationship with local communities and local government institutions and departments. POUSH
implement the project activities in close partnership and association with local biodiversity
conservation group, different stakeholders including local government institutions like Union
Parishad, Upazila, District, forest department, department of environment, department of fisheries,
department of cooperative, and other community based organizations and different local
occupational or livelihood groups.
(B) Concentration in an geolocation: Bangladesh POUSH has been working in the south east coast
specifically the Moheshkhali Coast since long. A concentrated work with in an area for long has
given the community the trust of co-working among the community.

Output-out come analysis
Engaging community in management of their own natural resources requires the capacity and theunderstanding of the crisis as well as the capacity of intervention: Following is the output-out come analysis ofa current project. The project work aims to improve the ecosystem through the participation of the community.
Community learnt sustainable use of natural resources in the island of Moheskhali.

Output:








30 community group formation with the objective of community based conservation;
3 Mangrove nurseries establish with capacity 2000 each sapling.
Mangrove plantation in 200 hectors;
Published of 5000 copies of a leaflet
Conducted 20 capacity building trainings.
Organized 30 community consultations
Two marine turtle hatchery operated in Moheshkhali and Dhalghata.

Outcome:

400 individuals are capable to initiate conservation measures themselves;

28






Habitat of 150 hectors are protected;
2000 saplings are in the new plantation area of Dhalghata;
Sand dune of 50 hector is now notified by community as protected area
6000 turtle hatchlings produce & release from the hatchery in the sea.

Bangladesh POUSH has implemented a total of twenty participatory bio-diversity management projects at
different times.
Has mobilized community people in conserving the coastal bio-diversity, BP has published 4 booklets oncommunity based conservation methods & practices, and several posters, leaflets, monographs etc.
BP has organized 300 different Training, 100 Workshops, at grass root level to build capacity & environmental
awareness for different stakeholders in its programme areas, as well as 50 regional & 10 national workshops
on different environmental issues & published proceedings.

Climate Change, an additional consideration of planning coastal biodiversity conservation
Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country to climate change. With in the country the coast is the mostvulnerable because of its location and livelihood pattern. The coast is in topography very plain and is of sea
level and the livelihood is musty agrarian and costal fisheries based.
1. Cyclone intensity and frequency have been increased: The intensity of the cyclone has increased; it isreported that cyclone frequency in the coastal Bangladesh has increased three times.
The strength and number of major cyclones may be increasing because of higher sea surface
temperatures associated with global warming. Cyclone Sidr (November 2007) and Cyclone Aila (May2009) provide recent examples of devastating storm-surge in Bangladesh. In 2007, Cyclone Sidr, a 10year return period cyclone with an average wind speed of 223 km per hour resulted in 4,234
casualties and 55,282 injuries. Livelihoods of 8.9 million people were affected and damages and losses
from Cyclone Sidr totalled US$1.67 billion. 11 In 2009, Cyclone Aila, a 1.2 year return period cyclone
with an average wind speed of 95 lm per hour caused 190 deaths, 7,103 injuries and affected 3.9
million people. The estimated damage of assets from Aila is US$270 million.
2.

Salinity intuition: Salinity is penetrating far inland through Meghna estuarine river system. An
environmental terrible circumstance caused by salinity intrusion is a major problem in southwest
coast. Huge lands are not cultivable now. The shallow coastal aquifers have high salinity.

4.

Changes in seasonal calendar: The characteristics of the typical months and season have already beenchanged. Three seasons exist instead of 6; summer and rainy season becoming longer and the winteris significantly short.

5.

Rainfall erratic: Though no significant changes in total rainfall reported but short duration heavy rain
has increased. There is also no-rain situation.

6.

Migration happening: Climate change is resulting huge migration; it was reported that after the Aila
around 36,000 people has migrated to other urban areas including capital Dhaka from a a coastal subdistinct Shyamnager Upazila.The scenario is same in every locality of coast.

Key lesson learnt
Though ‘Participation of community in natural resource management’ and ‘natural resource managementby the community‘mean a similar process in intervention but there is a significant difference between the two.
Bangladesh POUSH believes to make community managing own natural resource very specifically the coastal
resources planning and designing needs to be done by the community. The geo-context particularly the stateof disaster risk is a vital for the project success and sustainability. Regarding community lead coastal
biodiversity conservation major learning of Bangladesh POUSH are as follows:29

Project design needs to be a community participatory process allowing in-built flexibility and enablecommunity based resource management institutions to respond to local situations. Government anddonors need to give an enabling framework.

More consideration should be given to post project sustainability at the design stage of project.



Building capacity of communities, by means of organizing them in groups (any form) and imparting
trainings by applying participatory rapid appraisal (PRA) tools towards enhancing understanding andability to anticipate impacts of climate change and risks of disasters so that they may safeguard theirassets, diversify their economic activities towards climate-/disaster-safe activities and they may
access goods and services to withstand shock and/or to bounce back following shocks.

30

Conservation of the Ramsar Sites along the coast of the Bay of Bengal
Sansanee Choowaew
Wetlands Management Research and Training Center
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University
Salaya, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailande-mail : sansanee.cho@mahidol.ac.th

ABSTRACT: Along the coast of 8 basin countries of the Bay of Bengal, there is a very high diversity of wetland
ecosystems of various unique types, different sizes, and multiple functional importance. Ecosystem services,functions, and benefits of wetlands along the Bay of Bengal are significantly important at local, national,
regional and international levels. This paper focuses on wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites).
Conservation-related issues, especially good examples, successful practices, and lessons learned, are reviewed,
drawn and highlighted. Information to be added or updated on the Ramsar Information Sheets, is suggested.
Inputs on issues and aspects which should be considered for further wetland inventory, not limited to only
Ramsar Sites, and conservation networking along the coast of the Bay of Bengal are provided.
Keywords: Bay of Bengal, Ramsar Sites, wetlands, conservation networking

Introduction
International networks for wetlands conservation collaboration among countries bordering the Bay of Bengal
are important and needed for sustaining the existence, healthy status, and wise use of wetland ecosystems.
The objectives of this paper are: (a) to present key findings and highlights from the review of the conservation
and wise use of Ramsar Sites along the coast of the Bay of Bengal; and (b) to provide inputs for a ‘simple
wetland inventory’ to be implemented by the Project ‘Building an International Wetland Cooperation Network
across the Countries Sharing the Coast of the Bay of Bengal’, initiated and led by the Ramsar Center Japan.

Methods
Desk study and review of available information was carried out, focusing on 12 wetlands of international
importance (Ramsar Sites) situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in 4 countries. Reviewed Ramsar Sites
include : 1 site of Bangladesh (Sundarbans Reserved Forest); 4 sites of India (East Calcutta Wetlands; Chilika
Lake; Bhitarkanika Mangroves; and Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary); 2 sites of Sri Lanka (Kumana
Wetland Cluster; and Bundala); and 5 sites of Thailand (Kaper Estuary – Laem Son Marine National Park –Kraburi Estuary; Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park; Ko Ra – Ko Prathong Archipelago; Krabi Estuary; andHad Chao Mai Marine National Park – Ta Li Bong Island Non-Hunting Area – Trang River Estuary).
Conservation-related issues, especially successful practices and good examples, are compiled andhighlighted.
Major source of information is Ramsar Information Sheets (RISs) available from http://ramsar.org. Other
sources of information include scientific journals, research reports, websites especially of related government
agencies of each country and of international organizations.

Key findings and highlights
Wetlands along the coast of the Bay of Bengal have very high ecosystem diversity. Each and every Ramsar
Site possesses many different diverse types of ecosystems and habitats which are unique to and/or
representative of the Region. For examples, Sundarbans Reserved Forest is one of the world’s largest

31

contiguous mangrove forest. Chilika Lake is the largest brackish lagoon of India. The East Calcutta Wetlands isthe world’s largest multifunctional natural and manmade infrastructure integrated wastewater and solid waste
treatment facilities with local traditional fishery and agricultural practices. Kaper Estuary – Laem Son Marine
National Park – Kraburi Estuary has one of the oldest (> 300 years) best mangroves and isthmus ecosystem
unique to the Region. It should be noted that Cox’s Bazar, which is not yet a Ramsar Site, is known as theworld’s longest beach.
Wetlands along the coast of the Bay of Bengal have very high species and genetic diversity. They areimportant habitats supporting life cycle and critical stages of life of flora and fauna, including a large number ofthe world’s rare and endangered species, as well as many important species endemic to all basin countries of
the Bay. Important species include Sundri Tree Heritiera fomes (EN) dominant species of the Sundarbans; Palu
Tree Manilkara hexandra on sand dunes of Bundala, a unique forest type of Sri Lanka; Bengal Tiger Panthera
tigris (EN) of the Sundarbans; River Terrapin Batagur baska (CR) of Sundarbans Reserved Forest; Saltwater
Crocodile Crocodylis porosus (EN) of Bhitarkanika Mangroves (India’s highest density of this species) and of
Sundarbans Reserved Forest; Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea (EN) of Bhitarkanika Wildlife
Sanctuary (the world’s largest known nesting beach) and Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary; Grey
Pelican Pelecanus philippensis (EN), Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus (EN), Indian Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra (EN and endemic) of Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary. Other important species
recorded in wetlands of the Bay of Bengal include Dugong Dugong dugon, Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus
roseus, Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor, and Hilsa Tenualosa ilisha the national fish of Bangladesh.
Wetlands along the coast of the Bay of Bengal have very highly diverse ecosystem services (provisioning,
regulating, supporting, and cultural services). Economic values are explicitly derived from a wide range of
wetland resource uses at all wetland sites. Ecosystem functions are clearly demonstrated in times of disasters
and extremes such as protection from cyclones, tsunamis and tidal surges. Ecological values are obtained fromconservation of biodiversity and the crucial roles in water purification, groundwater recharge, and flood
control. Social and cultural values are exceptionally high, including those associated with livelihoods, food andhealth security, nature education, history, archaeology, religious rituals, festivals, novels, epics, folklores, folkarts, sons, dances.
In terms of conservation management and wise use of wetlands, many and various good examples,
practices, and lessons in a wide range of aspects are available and can be drawn from wetlands along the coastof the Bay of Bengal for knowledge transfer and experience sharing. Sundarbans Reserved Forest has various
scientific studies and research related to flagship species conservation. The East Calcutta Wetlands is the best
demonstrating how wetlands can be cheap, efficient, and eco-friendly infrastructure for urban wastewater andsolid waste treatment, while integrated with traditional practices of fisheries and agriculture, also providing 3
basic needs to the locals : food, sanitation-health, and livelihood securities. This Ramsar Site also provides avery good example of efforts and ability of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority in managementof multiple wise use of wetlands. Chilika Lake provides an excellent example of wetland management
structure and efforts, having Chilika Development Authority established by the Government of Orissa State,chaired by the Chief Minister, and administered by the Chief Executive Officer, allocating investment inscientific research, assessment and monitoring, carrying out science-based management decisions and actions,promoting participatory integrated watershed management, and most importantly – one of the best example
of wetland restoration. Bhitarkanika Mangroves has good examples of protected area management,
mangrove conservation, and species conservation programs/projects e.g. saltwater crocodile, sea turtle. Point
Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary may provide an example of how to manage the invasive alien species.
Kumana Wetland Cluster can provide a good example of how to preserve cultural values of wetlands,
especially the ancient irrigation civilization and traditional settlements. Bundala can share good experience inbiodiversity conservation. Kaper Estuary – Laem Son Marine National Park – Kraburi Estuary has a very good
Ranong Mangrove Forest Research Center and can provide capacity building program. Phang Nga Bay Marine
National Park and Ko Ra – Ko Phra Thong Archipelago can share experience in how to minimize impacts ofmass-tourism and how to manage eco-tourism. Krabi Estuary can share experience in collaborative activities
related to nature education in wetlands among schools, teachers, and students. Had Chao Mai Marine
National Park – Talibong Island Non-Hunting Area – Trang River Estuary has a good example of involvement
and roles of local stakeholders working together with the site manager in wetland conservation activities.

32

Some inputs for ‘a simple inventory’ of wetlands along the coast of the Bay of Bengal
The mandate of all countries bordering the Bay of Bengal is not only limited to conservation and wise use
management of Ramsar Sites. Other wetlands deserve well-managed conservation. A simple wetland
inventory is a useful tool for initiating and enhancing the networking at the local or site level.
For networking, name(s) and contacts of key persons or groups at local or site level, should be identified,
especially of site manager(s), site expert(s), community leader(s), local network(s), CBOs, NGOs, IOs, groups of
local schools, teachers, and students.
To make the most use out of good examples from different wetland sites, there is a high potential forestablishing a ‘Network of Site Managers’, a ‘Network of Wetland Schools’, and probably other networks, inwhich valuable lessons, knowledge and experience can be shared and transferred.
Information of noteworthy flora and fauna needs to be updated and regularly monitored. This includes, notonly number of species and list of important species, but also the trend and details of disappearance andintroduction of new species. More importantly, ‘Flagship Species of wetlands of the Bay of Bengal’ should be
identified for conservation targets (both species and their habitats).
Quantified economic values of ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, supporting, cultural) andbenefits to wetland inhabitants should be recorded. Mechanism for monitoring of ecological characteristics
and ecosystem services should be identified and promoted.
Topics, areas, aspects of action research needed for each site should be identified in order to support
successful management.
Capacity building programs should be well designed based on the need assessment and delivered to sitemanagers and other groups of stakeholders.
Local wisdom, traditional knowledge and practices related to wise use of wetlands, as well as roles of local
stakeholders and their limitations to participate in wise use and conservation management should be clearly
understood.

References
Brugere, C. 2014. Mainstreaming gender in transboundary natural resources projects – theexperience of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project.
Environmental Development 11 (2014) : 84 – 97. Elsevier.
Kundu, N., Pal, M. and Saha, S. 2008. East Kolkata Wetlands : A Resource Recovery System
Through Productive Activities. In Sengupta, M. and Dalwani, R. (eds.). 2008.
th
Proceedings of Taal2007 : The 12 World Lake Conference : 868 – 881.
Naik, P.K., Pati, G.C., Choudhury, A. and Naik, K.C. 2008. Conservation of Chilika Lake, Orissa,thIndia. In Sengupta, M. and Dalwani, R. (eds.). 2008. Proceedings of Taal2007 : The 12
World Lake Conference : 1988 – 1992.
Pattnaik, A.K. (n.d.). Lessons from the Chilika Lake, India. Institutional Coordination and Policy
Development in Lake Basin Management. 8 pp.
Raychaudhuri, S., Mishra, M., Salodkar, S., Sudarshan, M. and Thakur, A.R. 2008. Traditional
Aquaculture Practice at East Calcutta Wetlands. American Journal of Environmental
Sciences 4 (2) : 173 – 177, 2008. 2008 Science Publications.
Siddiqui, R. 2003. Eco-tourism and Sundarban Reserved Forest in Bangladesh. A paper
submitted to the XII World Forestry Congress, 2003, Quebec, Canada.
Websites: http://www.ramsar.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal
http://www.boblme.org/
http://www.boblmeindia.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundarbans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Kolkata_Wetlands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhitarkanika_National_Parkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Bhitarkanika_Mangroves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Calimere
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundala_National_Parkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumana_National_Park33

Climate Change Adaptation and Wetland Wise Use
Ryo Fujikura
Faculty of Humanity and Environment, Hosei University
Fujimi 2-17-1, Chiyodaku , Tokyo, 102-8160

Keywrods: UNFCC, Mitigation, Adaptation, NDC, INDC

Paris Agreement and NDCth

On 12 December, 2015, the 21st Conference of Party (CoP21) of United Nations Framework Conventions
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted Paris Agreement. It shall enter into force on the 30th day after the dateon which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of the total
global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval orstaccession with the Depositary. As of 1 June, 2016, 17 Parties have ratified and the total amount of GHGs
emissions of the parties accounted for 0.04% of the global emissions. It might seem far until it becomes
effective, but most countries including the USA are seriously considering its ratification. Many hope that it will
be effective before 2020.
The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) every five
years, and report its implementations, which will be subject to review.

INDC
Before the CoP21, the Parties submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the
UN. The NDC will be expected to be prepared by the Parties according to the INDC. The format and thecontents of the INDCs are different among the Parties. While the INCDs mainly focuses on mitigation,
adaptation is still important subject particularly among those of developing countries.
In May 2016, the UN released a synthesis report on the aggregate effect of the INDCs (United Nations 2016).
It reported that many Parties identify ecosystem as a priority area for adaptation as follows:
303. Another priority area identified by many Parties was ecosystems, including in the context of
biodiversity conservation. Many defined enhancing the resilience of or rehabilitating ecosystems as oneof their objectives and they highlighted their national and/or regional biodiversity strategies and/or
action plans. In terms of biodiversity, Parties identified some specific objectives and actions, including
establishing biodiversity corridors, protecting moorlands and other ecosystems, increasing theconservation of species and recovering forest, coastal and marine ecosystems (in particular mangrovesand corals) and tracking, monitoring and assessing impacts on biodiversity. Specific measures
mentioned by Parties include preparing a biodiversity index and atlas or biodiversity centres, protecting
wildlife species, establishing watering points for wildlife and stopping coastal mining.
It also refers that wetlands restoration offers mitigation and adaptation synergy.

Wetland management in INDCs
All submitted INDCs are able to be downloaded from UNFCCC’s websites. While Japanese INDC neither referto adaptation nor wetland, other Asian INDCs identify wetland or mangrove as important factors for mitigation
and adaptation:

Bangladesh
34

Bangladesh identifies continuation of coastal mangrove plantation as a possible conditional action-based
contributions for mitigation. It also recognizes “Community based conservation of wetlands and coastal areas”
as one of the Key Areas to address adverse impacts of climate change, and estimated its necessary investment
cost for 2015-2030 as one billion USD.

India
India identifies herself as one of the countries which are most vulnerable to the impact of accelerated sea
level rise due to global warming. It initiated “Mangroves for the Future (MFF)” project coordinated byInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to protect coastal livelihood.

Myanmar
Myanmar aims in increasing “the resilience of mangroves and coastal communities which are at risk offlooding” by “developing a coastal zone management plan to effectively conserve terrestrial and under water
resources including mangrove forests”, “cooperating with international organizations providing technology,
and funding to reduce the risk of climate related disaster risk for local communities”.

ThailandThailand’s prioritized adaptation efforts include: “Increasing national forest cover to 40% through local
community participation, including in particular headwater and mangrove forests to enhance adaptive
capacities of related ecosystem,” and “Develop participatory, integrated marine conservation and coastal
rehabilitation plan to protect marine ecosystem and enhance climate proofing infrastructure to strengthen
coastal protection against erosion.”

Conclusion
Notional governments of countries along the Bengal Bay has already recognized the function of coastal
wetlands, particularly mangroves, and identified the proper management of the coastal wetland as importantfactor for both adaptation and mitigation. Sharing the experience and knowledge of wetland wide use, inparticular of coastal wetland, in the region will significantly contribute adaptation efforts both internationallyand domestically.

References
United Nations (2016) Aggregate effect of the intended nationally determined contributions: an update,
FCCC/CP/2016/2
UNFCC’s website, INDCs as communicated by Parties,
http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/indc/Submission%20Pages/submissions.aspx

35

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Odisha; promoting sustainable
management of the coastal resources & livelihood.
Dr. A.K.Pattnaik,IFS
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest& PD, ICZM Project

Abstract: Coastal waters around the globe suffer from stress due to wide range of human activities. The
situation calls for a holistic approach, combining expertise from nature science and social science, to reach abalanced and sustainable development of the coastal zone. Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is aframe work for sustainable management of coastal zone perpetually. ICZM can be defined as a continuous anddynamic process by which decisions are taken for the sustainable use, development, and protection of coastal
and marine areas and resources. ICZM acknowledges the interrelationships that exist among coastal and ocean
uses and the environments they potentially affect, and is designed to overcome the fragmentation inherent in
the sectoral management approach. ICZM is multi-purpose oriented, it analyzes and addresses implications ofdevelopment, conflicting uses, and interrelationships between physical processes and human activities, and it
promotes linkages and harmonization among sectoral coastal and ocean activities. The Bay of Bengal, thelargest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. The province Odisha is situatedalong the Bay of Bengal. On a pilot basis ICZM project is implemented for the first time in India in three Statesi.e. Odisha, West Bengal & Gujarat. The ICZM frame work is a paradigm shift from the traditional approach of
sectoral management of the coastal resources to a comprehensive, integrated approach for better governanceand management. The ICZM (O) project has been conceived with an objective to facilitate the development
and implementation of an integrated management strategy for the coastal zone, by adopting a broad
perspective and a multi-sectoral approach, to ensure wise use of coastal resources, perpetual maintenance ofhigh level of biodiversity , conservation of critical habitats and to maintain their ecological integrity including
sustainable coastal fishery, protection from extreme weather events, nature based tourism, and infrastructuredevelopment. The major thrust of the project being coordination of various coastal economic sectors towards
long term optimal socio-economic outcomes, ICZM compliant coastal infrastructures including resolution of
sectoral conflicts and mediating beneficial trade-offs.
The coast and marine environment plays a critical role in the social, economic and environmental fabric ofany country. The coastal zone, from time immemorial has been a major hub for a variety of activities including
industry, agriculture, fisheries, recreation and Port. The coastal and marine ecosystems being highly productive
attract human settlement and economic activities. Coastal zone ecosystem is important for biological andeconomic productivity, storm protection, erosion control and most importantly it provides a host of ecosystemservices which are crucial for human wellbeing. Despite their ecological richness and the contribution tonational economy, the coastal and marine areas have not received adequate protection, and are under stress.
Rapid urban-industrialization, maritime transport, marine fishing, tourism, coastal and sea bed mining,offshore oil and natural gas production and aquaculture have led to a significant increase in demand forinfrastructure, resulting in the over-exploitation of natural resources. Such rapid depletion and degradation,
unless arrested, will impact the livelihood, health and wellbeing of the coastal population; affecting in turnprospects for a country’s sustained economic growth. Since most development activities are sectoral andhighly competitive, there is often conflict for space and resources. However, since settlement we have seen
our coast and marine environment change substantially, we have built over the coastal sand dunes, we havedeposited untreated and treated effluent into the marine environment. We have seen tones of sediments
washed into the seas from our creeks and rivers as a result of erosion caused by increased storm water flows
resulting in sea grass loss and impacting on our reefs and fisheries.
Sustainable management of coastal and marine resources is essential for long term economic growth and toensure the equilibrium between economic development and the protection of the environment. In thiscontext Ministry of Forest & Environment, Government of India, the World Bank have come forward with ICZM
approach to coordinate activities of various sectors and resource users for the sustainable management andwise use of coastal resources maintaining the integrity of coastal ecosystem.

36

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a process for the management of the coast using an
integrated approach to achieve sustainability, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographicaland political boundaries. The project on long-term aim tod balance environmental, economic, social, culturaland recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics and facilitate integration of theterrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and space through a comprehensive
ICZM Plan. The ICZM plan when completed will be extremely useful for management of natural resources aswell as development of the infrastructure in coastal zone.
The ICZM project for Odisha is formulated based on multidisciplinary and interactive framework to promotesustainable management of coastal zones through a wide consultative process to make it as inclusive as
possible. Considering the dynamic nature of coastal ecosystem an adaptive approach for formulation of the
project is followed. A series of grass root level consultation workshops were organized to get the inputs fromthe stakeholders as participation of all stakeholders in achieving the goals of the project. The project would
benefit the coastal population of the state. About 0.4 million people from 235 coastal villages of Kendrapara,
Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam would be directly benefitted from the project activities. Direct
employment opportunity for the coastal fisher folks would be created through eco-tourism activities. Capacity
building and empowerment of 600 Self Help Groups from 80 villages would be carried out through the project.
Pilot activities under the project are implemented by 10 Department & Agencies. The pilot activities are
implemented with best possible technology, adequate capacity building of the stake holders good instructional
support and governance for sustainability. Many PEAs have replicated and scaled up the pilots.
One of the major output of the project would be the ICZM Plan. The major impediment for adoption of ICZM
is the knowledge gaps and the lack of adequate data. ICZM planning is an integrated governance process inwhich all stakeholders associated and affected with natural and coastal resources work together to fully
ensemble the societal objectives for both present and future generations. Initially, a workshop was organised
on 6th-9th December,2010 at SPMU, Odisha involving the key stakeholders to disseminate the concept of
ICZM and deliberate on the process involved in ICZM Planning. The major outcome of the workshop was
methodology for delineation of sediment cell and the TOR for Regional Coastal Process Study. A national
workshop on ICZM Planning was organised from 16th 17th March,2012 in collaboration with NCSCM involving
all coastal states and 3 SPMUs focusing on the need for defining objective and frame work for ICZM Planningand Shoreline Management Planning. Based on the output of the Workshop, the NCSCM is developing the
ICZM Planning framework and the guidelines. As per the TOR and suggestion of different national &international Experts, a credible Primary data on coastal process for entire coast of Odisha for the period of 12months based on Sediment Cells were generated for the first time in India. An eminent panel of nation-wide
experts was constituted for the interim review and improvement of the Regional Coastal Process Study (RCPS).
These Primary data will be subjected to studies of numerical modelling and the Secondary data will be used forthe development of conceptual modelling which would be the inputs for Shoreline Management Plan & ICZM
Plan. As a follow up the March,2012 Workshop, the training workshop on ICZM & Shoreline management
planning was facilitated in April, 2013 by the experts. The experts have deliberated the rich experience inModelling Studies, the shoreline and ICZM planning and the case studies from different parts of the globe
including Asia. The useful inputs and valuable information emerged from the workshop by the experts &stakeholders were very much helpful for the preparation of Road maps of ICZM and SMP plan for Odisha coast.
ICZM Planning is an evolving process. The entire Planning process would involve multi stakeholder consultation,
conflict resolution, capacity building of the stakeholders to make it inclusive. The TOR for preparation of ICZM
Plan and Shoreline Management guidelines of Odisha is finalised and a high level monitoring committee has
been constituted to review the progress of ICZM Planning under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of theState.
For ICZM to succeed, a broad context of government and interest group involvement is essential. Fishing,mining, shipping, defense, public health, and recreation are complex activities requiring cooperative
management and inter-sectoral coordination. To accomplish the coordination requires the full involvement of
all the various stakeholders through a comprehensive and integrated programme. Keeping the present level of
key issues such as conservation of turtle and mangrove, addressing the issue of coastal erosion, loss of tourism
beaches, siltation of mouth of Chilika Lake, salt water ingress in paddy fields, alternate livelihood, fisheries
development, optimum use of coastal space for developmental activities. During the course of implementationof the project ICZM frame work is put to test to maintain equilibrium between, conservation, livelihood &development .

37

Past, present and future of the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia
SUH, SEUNG OH
Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia

Abstract: The Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (hereafter the RRC-EA) was established in July 2009 with thethofficial endorsement of the 40 Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. It works with 17 countries in2
East and Southeast Asia for further implementation of the Ramsar Convention through activities of capacity
building, information sharing, grant program and networking for various wetland stakeholders in the region.
st
From July 2009 to December 2015, the period can be considered as the RRC-EA’s 1 phase. The center was
belonging to another organization as a small team with limited resources. However, during the time, the RRCnd
EA built up its foundation for future activities. Now the RRC-EA is on the 2 phase. It moved to Suncheon City
with its own identity (independence) by signing a new hosting agreement with MOE Korea and Suncheon city.
The center decided to put its priority on the networking of the wetland visitor centers considering theirimportance in delivering messages of the Ramsar Convention. The RRC-EA signed an MOU with Wetlands Link
International (hereafter WLI), which is a global network of wetland visitor centers to create synergy in vitalizing
the network in our region. The RRC-EA is confident to create positive impacts through the network. It will be a
stepping stone to lead the RRC-EA to the bright future.

Introduction
The Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (hereafter the RRC-EA) was established in July 2009 with the officialthendorsement of the 40 Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. There are four Ramsar Regional
Centers globally, which are CREHO, RRC-CWA, RRC-EA and RAMCEA. These Ramsar Regional Centers mainly
work with Ramsar Contracting Parties in different geographical region. (CREHO – America, RRC-CWA – Central
and Western Asia, RRC-EA – East and Southeast Asia and RAMCEA – Eastern Africa) The RRC-EA mainly works
3with 17 Ramsar Contracting Parties and also cooperatively works with International organizations,Intergovernmental organizations, regional NGOs and national NGOs in the region. The objective of the RRC-EA
is providing 1) education and capacity building opportunities, 2) networking and information sharing
opportunities, and 3) financial support through its grant program.
For the education and capacity building, the RRC-EA has organized annual regional/national level training
workshops for wetland managers since 2009. Regional level training workshops normally invite 2 wetland
managers from each member country, deliver important messages of Ramsar Convention, provide scientificand technical lectures on wetland management and restoration and provide time to share their informationand experiences and to discuss solutions for their common and specific problems. National level training
workshops were invented to overcome language barrier in our region. Different from other regions, thecountries in East and Southeast Asia do not have a common language to communicate and the number ofwetland managers who can attend the Regional level workshop was limited. To overcome the language barrier,
the RRC-EA began to organize the National level training workshops in each country by using the local
language of the country. More than 400 wetland managers attended the training workshops and every
workshop marked 80 to 90% satisfaction from the evaluation after workshops. These two training workshops
are now considered as annual training workshops for our region by the countries.

2

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam
3Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam38

For the networking, the RRC-EA organized the Changwon Declaration Network meeting from 2009 to 2015
to promote the implementation of the Ramsar Resolution X.10 and workshops for CEPA NFPs and STRP NFPs
with Ramsar Secretariat to vitalize the network of Ramsar CEPA and STRP Network.

For the financial support to wetland conservation and CEPA activities in the region, the RRC-EA supported 25
projects from 2009 to 2015 through its grant program called “The RRC-EA Wetland Fund”. It normally selects 4
projects per year and supports 10,000 USD per project. Although the amount is not enough to make big
differences, it is meaningful for applicants to begin their project and to approach bigger funding opportunities.

1st Phase - Past

st

From July 2009 to December 2015, the period can be considered as the RRC-EA’s 1 phase. The center was
inexperienced, and belonging to another organization as a small team with limited resources. However, during
the time, the RRC-EA could successfully build up its foundation for future activities with enormous support ofpartners. I deeply appreciate all the support of partners, especially RCJ and Dr. Bishnu B. Bhandari.
The biggest concern for the RRC-EA during the time was the conflict with the host organization. The
organization was established for local level activities for wetland conservation and authorized to make all thedecisions related to the RRC-EA. All the CEOs did not understand the role and activities of the Center in theregion and reduced human resources and budget originally allocated to the RRC-EA. The only way to overcome
the problem was to be independent from the host organization. The RRC-EA continuously appealed the39

problem through all possible opportunities. Finaly the MOE Korea made great decision on the status of theRRC-EA in early 2015 and signed new hosting agreement with new host city of Suncheon and MOE Korea in
December 2015.
As mentioned, it could be done only with the support of all partners.

2nd Phase - Presentnd

The RRC-EA is on the 2 phase. It moved to Suncheon City with its own identity (independence) in January
2016. MOE Korea and Suncheon City respect the independence of the RRC-EA and support the RRC-EA
administratively and financially enough to work efficiently.
With its new beginning, the RRC-EA set up a new plan for network of the wetland visitor centers. During all
the activities in the past, the RRC-EA found out the important role of wetland visitor centers in delivering
messages of wetland conservation and also the difficulties they faced.
Recently more and more countries establishing new wetland visitor centers and the number of themincreased sharply. But the newly established centers faced lack of experience and information. Not enoughopportunities to build their capacities and to share information and experience were given.
Therefore the RRC-EA decided to put its higher priorities on the networking of the wetland visitor centers.
The RRC-EA signed an MOU with Wetlands Link International (hereafter WLI), which is a global network of
wetland visitor centers to create synergy in vitalizing the network in our region. The RRC-EA will act as asecretariat of the WLI-Asia and provide benefits to all wetland visitor centers in our region.
As its first task on the network, the RRC-EA is now developing an inventory of wetland visitor centers in our
region and it will be a great resource for wetland visitor centers to know each other and to begin theircommunication for cooperation. And it will also be a stepping stone to the next task of the RRC-EA on the
networking.

3rd phase - Future
As its next task on the network, the RRC-EA considers cooperative fund-raising with network members.
Targeted number of wetland visitor centers for the WLI-Asia is more than 100 and the targeted number ofvisitors that we expect is more than 20 million per year. Private companies spend huge amount of money forpromotional activities to improve their brand images and to publicize their products. Visible visitor centers andhuge number of visitors in all around the region will be a great attraction to the companies.
All WLI-Asia members will put the sponsor company’s logo in the center for a certain period, and thesponsor will contribute a certain amount of fund to the WLI-Asia. It can be utilized as Asia Wetland Fund tosupport various wetland conservation activities in our region.
The RRC-EA is ready to do its best to realize the dreamlike plan and hope to have all partners’ continuous
support.

40

Annex I: List of participants
Name

Position

Organization

Ajit K.Pattnaik

The Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests

Government of Odisha, India

Bishnu Bhandari

President

Nepal Wetland Society, Nepal

Durga P.Dash

Secretary

Pallishree, India

Htun Paw Oo

Environmental Consultant

Myanmar Forest Association, Myanmar

Mashhor Mansor

Professor

Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

MishraA. Chinmaya

Staff

Pallishree, India

Pyae Phyo Aung

Program manager

BANCA, Myanmar

Sanowar Hossain

President

Bangladesh POUSH, Bangladesh

Sansanee Choowaew

Professor

Mahidol University, Thailand

Seung Oh Suh

Executive director

Ramsar Regional Center for East Asia, Korea

Atsushi Tanabe

Graduate Student

Kumamoto University, Japan

Emiko Nagakura

Communication Officer

Wetlands International Japan, japan

Hiroji Isozaki

Professor

Sophia University, Japan

Takayuki Musha

Vice President

RCJ, Japan

Tamotsu Kameyama

Vice President

RCJ, Japan

Toru Iwama

Vice President

RCJ, Japan

Yoshihiro Natori

President

Wetlands International Japan, Japan

Yukihiro Shimatani

Professor

Kyushu University, Japan Wetland Society,Japan

Reiko Nakamura

Secretary-General

RCJ, Japan

Ryo Fujikura

Professor

Hosei University, Japan

Manabu Echigo

Researcher

Intem Consulting41

Annex II: Programme of the workshop

International Workshop on Conservation andWise Use of Wetlands along the Coast of the Bay of Bengal
6-7 June 2016
Venue: Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies,
Mahidol University (Salaya Campus), Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Organizers: Ramsar Center Japan (RCJ)
In collaboration with
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University
Supported by Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)
6 June 2016
Session 1: Current Situation of the Coastal Wetlands over the Bay of Bengal and Conservation
Efforts for Sustainable Development
Chairman: Hiroji Isozaki
9:30-10:00
The Jewels of the Bay of Bengal Dr. Bishnu Bhandari, Nepal Wetland Society
10:00-10:30
Coastal Wetlands in Myanmar and significant intertidal mudflat Gulf of Mottama
Mr. Pyae Phyo Aung, Program Manager, BANCA
10:30-11:00
Community-based Conservation Initiative on Coastal Zone Management in Myanmar
Mr. Htun Paw Oo, Myanmar Forest Association
11:00-11:20 Tea Break
11:20-11:50
Overview on the Participatory Wetland Conservation intervention made by PALLISHREE
along the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha, India
Mr. D.P.Dash, Pallishree
11:50-12:20
Coastal Wetland Biodiversity Conservation by Involving the Community: A NGO initiative
Mr. Sanowar Hossain, Bangladesh POUSH
12:20:12:50
Conservation of the Ramsar Sites along the coast of the Bay of Bengal
Dr.Sansanee Choowaew, Mahidol University
12:50-14:00 Lunch
Session 2: Wise Use of the Wetlands in the Bay of Bengal and Global Environment
Chairman: Toru Iwama
14:00-14:30
Ramsar Convention A tool for the sustainable Development/Use Prof. Hiroshi Isozaki
14:30-15:00
Climate Change Adaptation and Wetland Wise Use
42

Prof. Ryo Fujikura, Hosei University
15:00-15:30
Traditional Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan
Prof. Yukihiro Shimatani, Kyushu University
15:30-16:00
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Odisha; promoting sustainable managementof the coastal resources & livelihood
Dr. Ajit K. Pattnaik, Government of Odisha, India
16:00-16:30
Roles and Works of Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia
Mr.Seung Oh Suh, RRC-EA
16:30-16:50 Tea BreakSession 3: Discussion Session
16:50-18:00 Discussion
Chairman: Ryo Fujikura Co-Chair: Bishnu Bhandari
How we can go further to promote the wise use of the wetlands in the Bay of Bengal
7 June 2016
Session 4: Discussion Session ((Wrap Up)
8:00-9:30
Discussion about the Future work plan
Chairman: Ryo Fujikura

Co-Chair: Bishnu Bhandari

SATELLITE MEETING
Preliminary Meeting for Asian Wetland Symposium 2017
9:30-11:00, 7 June 2016
Venue: Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University
Organizers: Wetlands International Japan (WIJ), Ramsar Center Japan (RCJ)43