Lok Sabha Question No. 386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Conservation of Sunderbans
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 386

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

## Conservation of Sunderbans

## 386. DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  signed  any  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with  the Government of Bangladesh regarding 'Conservation of Sunderbans';
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the aforesaid MoU also includes the conservation of Royal Bengal Tigers;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the progress made so far in this regard for implementation of the said MoU?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a), (b), (c) & (d) Yes Madam.  The Government of India has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, signed on 6 th September, 2011. The conservation of Sunderbans, interalia , includes conservation of Royal  Bengal  Tigers also.    The  said  Memorandum  of Understanding is  at Annexure-I. Besides, a  protocol  on  conservation  of  the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarban was also signed between the aforementioned  Governments  on  the  same  date.    The  said  protocol  is  at Annexure-II.

(e) As  per  the  agreed  actions  of  Memorandum  of  Understanding/protocol,  joint report  on  assessment  of  tigers  with  Bangladesh  has  been  published,  technical assistance is being provided to Bangladesh on radio telemetry study / research on tigers.  The officers from Bangladesh are getting required number of berths in diploma training of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, besides information sharing and joint meetings between the officials of both countries from time to time.

***

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  386  ON  CONSERVATION  OF  SUNDERBANS  DUE  FOR REPLY ON 26.04.2016

## MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH ON CONSERVATION OF THE SUNDARBAN

The  Government  of  the  Republic  of  India  and  the  Government  of  the  People's  Republic  of Bangladesh hereinafter referred to as 'Parties':

Considering that both the Governments are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 and are contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 1971;

Recognizing  that  the  Sundarban  of  India  and  Bangladesh  represent  a  single  ecosystem  divided between the two countries;

Acknowledging that the wildlife sanctuaries of the Sundarban located in both countries is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site and in Bangladesh as Ramsar site as well;

Have Reached the Following Understanding:

## Article I

Both  Parties  recognize  the  need  to  monitor  and  conserve  the  Sundarban,  which  is  home  to  rich biodiversity consisting of large variety of rare species of flora and fauna, and acts as a vital protective barrier protecting the mainland from flooding, tidal waves and cyclones.

## Article II

Both Parties, with a view to exploiting the potential of the Sundarban for development and alleviation of poverty, agree to undertake, but not limited, to the following endeavors:

- a. consider and adopt appropriate joint management and joint monitoring of resources;
- b. explore  the  possibility  of  implementing  conservation  and  protection  efforts,  encourage mangrove regeneration, habitat restoration and rehabilitation programs, which would eventually increase the potential for carbon sequestration;
- c. develop a long term strategy for creating ecotourism opportunities for both countries, which will create synergy and generate greater revenue.

## Article III

The Parties are in agreement that the Sundarban ecosystem is greatly influenced by human use and the human  beings  living  around  the  Sunderban.  The  Parties  will  map  and  delineate  these  human settlements  on  respective  sides  so  that  a  better  understanding  emerges  of  the  relationship  between human  settlements  and  the  ecosystems.  The  Parties  will  further  develop  a  management  plan  that utilizes  this  information  to  address  issues  of  livelihood,  deprivation  by  flooding  and  other  climate related disasters, man-animal conflict, pollution, resource depletion, etc. The Parties will through the management plan, also identify opportunities for livelihood generation that do not adversely affect the Sundarban ecosystem.

## Article IV

Both Parties agree that an exercise needs to be conducted to identify and catalogue the diversity of flora  and  fauna  that  are  found  in  the  Sundarban  along  with  their  spatial  distribution  across  the countries of Parties. Through this exercise, Parties will determine what areas and species are under pressure  including  those  facing  threat  of  endangerment  and  extinction.  The  Parties  will  develop  a comprehensive plan to tackle these threats along with a detailed action plan to adapt against perceived threats.

## Article V

Both Parties will carry out research to develop a common and shared understanding of the impacts of climate change along with adaptation strategies that can be implemented.

## Article VI

The Parties, in order to contribute to strengthening the management of the Sundarban across the two countries, are committed to the advancement of collaboration in the following and other areas:

- (a) Share relevant information between the concerned officials, forest and otherwise, of both the countries;
- (b) Explore the possibilities of joint research and management projects;
- (c) Share  technical  knowledge  with  the  common  goal  of  conservation  and  management  of biodiversity of Sundarban;
- (d) Organize joint tiger estimation at regular intervals;
- (e) Execution of patrolling exercises by the Forest and other relevant Officials of both the Parties along the respective borders to prevent poaching or smuggling of derivatives from wild life;
- (f) Promote  capacity  building  exercise  and  exchange  visits  of  Forest  Officials  of  field  level  in order  to  better  understand  and  share  ideas  and  problems  of  management,  biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and promotion of sustainable socio-economic development, and ecotourism;
- (g) Exchange  personnel  for  training  and  promotion  of  education  in  forestry,  including  at  the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun financed by the Government of India.

A Working Group will be set up to define activities, responsibilities, time, and resources involved, according to the activities established as per this Memorandum.

## Article VII

The Parties further agree that:

Should changes of national policies in either country result in difficulties in the further development and implementation  of this Memorandum,  both  countries  will  do  their utmost to ensure a reconciliation vis-à-vis the difficulties raised.

This Memorandum is non exclusive, allowing both Parties to enter into similar agreements with other countries.

This Memorandum does not constitute any legal obligations for either Party in any international forum and it does not conflict with any other treaty to which either country may be a party to.

## Article VIII

The  Memorandum  may  be  modified  by  mutual  written  consent  of  the  Parties.  The  period  of  this Memorandum will be 5 (five) years and shall be extended automatically at the end of each period unless terminated by mutual consent by either Party by serving written notice 90 (ninety) days prior to the date of termination.

Termination of this Memorandum shall have no effect on other similar agreements or projects entered into by the Parties.

Termination shall not affect the programmes under implementation.

This Memorandum will come into effect on signature and will continue in operation, until terminated by either Party as stated in this Memorandum.

Signed in two originals in Dhaka on the Sixth day of September 2011 in English Language.

For and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India

For and on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

***

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  386  ON  CONSERVATION  OF  SUNDERBANS  DUE  FOR REPLY ON 26.04.2016

PROTOCOL

ON

## CONSERVATION OF THE ROYAL BENGAL TIGER OF THE SUNDERBAN BETWEEN

## THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

(THE "INDIA')

AND

## GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH (THE "BANGLADESH')

## WHEREAS:

Sunderban, which is an excellent tiger habitat and the largest sanctuary for the Royal Bengal Tiger in the world, stands across the common boundary of India and Bangladesh; and

India and Bangladesh have a shared and common concern of the Royal Bengal Tiger and accordingly wish to take certain bilateral initiatives for ensuring the survival and conservation of the tiger in the unique ecosystem of Sunderban; and

It is necessary to intensify the efforts for the safety of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Now, therefore, India and Bangladesh hereby agree as following:

## Article I

1. Both countries -
2. (a) will undertake bilateral scientific and research projects to promote their understanding and knowledge of the Sunderban's Royal Bengal Tiger and
3. (b) will exchange personnel for training and promotion of education;
4. (c) will  undertake  patrolling  of  the  Sunderban  waterways  on  their  respective  sides  to prevent poaching or smuggling of derivatives from wildlife;
5. (d) agree that either party will not undertake any activity, which will have adverse effect on the biodiversity and the unique ecosystem of Sunderban. However, no restriction on border domination activities be imposed;
6. (e) will  include  the  safety  of  Royal  Bengal  Tiger  as  an  agenda  in  all  border  meetings involving the habitat of the tiger.

## Article II

2. For the purpose of training and promotion of education referred to in clause (b) of Article I of this Protocol, the Government of India, at the request of the Government of Bangladesh, will reserve

at least four seats for personnel from Bangladesh in the nine months Diploma Course in the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

## Article III

A special committee will be constituted in each country to examine human casualties that take place in the  Sunderban  by  tiger  attacks  with  a  view  to  sharing  experiences  from  either  side,  and  to  act  in consultation with the other side, if necessary.

## Article IV

Forest Officers or Park Directors from both the countries will hold periodic meetings on either side of the Sunderban alternately, with a view to sharing management strategies and creating innovative and common management approaches.

## Article V

High level Ministerial level meetings will be held to follow up all the recommended actions between the two countries.

## Article VI

The Protocol can be amended by mutual consent.

## Article VII

The Protocol shall remain valid for 5 (five) years and shall be automatically renewed at the expiry of each period, unless terminated by mutual consent for which the Party desiring to terminate shall serve on  the  other  Party  a  notice  90  (ninety)  days  prior  to  the  date  from  which  termination  becomes effective. The termination of this Protocol shall not affect completion of any project which has made substantial progress.

Signed at Dhaka on the Sixth day of September, 2011 in two originals in English language, each of which is equally authentic.

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH