FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH Mohiuddin Ahmad

INTRODUCTION Increasing population, competing use of resources, vulnerabilities, lack of opportunities, important ecological hotspots, etc, call for sustainable management of natural resources

PRINCIPLES integration through harmonization and coordination; adoption of a process approach; co-management and participatory decision; participatory monitoring and evaluation; and interventions based on the best available knowledge Sustainability is often perceived as a governance issue. The main principles include:

GOAL The goal of sustainable development is to create conditions, where the reduction of poverty and development of livelihoods can take place on a continuous basis.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

NATIONAL POLICIES The government has announced, over the years, policies for carrying out mandates in different sectors that contribute to sustainable development. Major policies are:

 Environment Policy and Implementation Plan (1992)  National Forestry Policy (1994)  National Fish Policy (1998)  National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation (1998)  National Rural Development Policy (2001)  The National Policy for the Advancement of Women (1998)  National Water Policy (1999)  National Agricultural Policy (1999)  National Land Use Policy (2001)  Draft Coastal Zone Policy (2004) NATIONAL POLICIES

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES Several development objects are mentioned explicitly or implicitly in various policy documents and are invariably linked with the goal of sustainable development:

 economic growth  meeting basic needs and creating livelihood opportunities  reduction of vulnerabilities and enhancement of coping capacities DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

 equitable distribution of resources and economic benefits  empowerment of communities  women’s development and gender equity  conservation and enhancement of ecologically critical areas DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIES

The natural resource base is shrinking fast. The challenge is to sustain the natural resource base for the future by reducing dependency on natural resources. The challenge will be to create alternatives, wise use of resources, restoration and regeneration of declining resources and to apply a control mechanism. ADAPTATION TO DECLINING NATURAL RESOURCES

Value addition to natural resources will be emphasized. This will give higher return. Continued economic growth is required for poverty reduction. While utilization of natural resources will continue, a shift has to be made to non-farm sectors. Economic growth is often in conflict with sustainable development. The challenge is to ensure rapid economic growth adhering to conservation laws and regulations. ADAPTATION TO DECLINING NATURAL RESOURCES

GROWING POPULATION There is a need for allocating space for a growing population, including the needs for services in the direct environment. Investment in human development has higher rate of return. The challenge is to create an enabling environment for favorable social attitude and gender- friendly job opportunities.

DECENTRALIZATION The need for local government involvement is urgent because of its diverse vulnerabilities. The challenge is to press for higher allocation of resource

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

In the national curriculum for secondary and higher secondary education, environmental science has been introduced as a separate subject. Separate departments/ faculties have been established in almost all public and many private universities on environmental science and natural resources management. EDUCATION CURRICULUM

AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT Institute of Marine Sciences of Chittagong University runs a course on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, which contains lessons on sustainable utilization of coastal resources. The Department of Geography of Chittagong University introduced a Coastal Environment Research Unit for research on sea level changes and other coastal issues.

PUBLIC AWARENESS BY NGOS BRAC, Caritas Bangladesh, Proshika, etc. have training program for grassroots activists. CDP, YPSA, CODEC, CNRS and BCAS run resource centers and work on sustainable development issues with focus on ecological management.

Community Development Library (CDL) runs 27 documentation and resource centers in the country. It also publishes books and makes video documentaries for public awareness. PUBLIC AWARENESS BY NGOS

THANKS