1. National Environment Management Action Plan- Chittagong Hill Tracts (NEMAP-CHT) Dr Mahfuzul Haque

2. NEMAP-CHT NEMAP 1995 was based on intensive consultation with people all over the country excluding CHT mainly due to security reasons NEMAP 1995 was based on intensive consultation with people all over the country excluding CHT mainly due to security reasons Under the Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP), the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) supported by UNDP undertook a consultative process to identify environmental issues and concerns of CHT and their remedies Under the Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP), the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) supported by UNDP undertook a consultative process to identify environmental issues and concerns of CHT and their remedies

3. CHT Reality One-tenth of Bangladesh with sparsely populated area scattered all over the hills One-tenth of Bangladesh with sparsely populated area scattered all over the hills Heterogeneous population: Pahari (11 ethnic communities, majority being Chakma, Marma and Tripura), Bangalees (local and Settlers) Heterogeneous population: Pahari (11 ethnic communities, majority being Chakma, Marma and Tripura), Bangalees (local and Settlers) Around 3,75,000 people from the plains settled in the CHT during 1980-82 period, known as “Settlers”- a derogatory term Around 3,75,000 people from the plains settled in the CHT during 1980-82 period, known as “Settlers”- a derogatory term

4. CHT Reality Plains land people were closed in Guchha Gram in 1986 due to security reason and have been receiving ration (80 kg wheat/week) since then Plains land people were closed in Guchha Gram in 1986 due to security reason and have been receiving ration (80 kg wheat/week) since then No schooling, no health support, no hygienic condition in the neighbourhood No schooling, no health support, no hygienic condition in the neighbourhood No agricultural land for the “settlers” No agricultural land for the “settlers” The “Jhumiyas” live scattered on the hilly region facing encroachment by the Forest Department and Banglaees on their ancestral land The “Jhumiyas” live scattered on the hilly region facing encroachment by the Forest Department and Banglaees on their ancestral land Land is an important issue there Land is an important issue there

5. CHT Reality The area witnessed prolonged guerrilla warfare between Shanti Bahini and the Army. Militarization of CHT continued The area witnessed prolonged guerrilla warfare between Shanti Bahini and the Army. Militarization of CHT continued Irrespective of changes of regime in Dhaka, policy of the government towards CHT remained unchanged Irrespective of changes of regime in Dhaka, policy of the government towards CHT remained unchanged The area also saw in-fighting between PCJSS and UPDF even today The area also saw in-fighting between PCJSS and UPDF even today

6. Eleven ethnic communities

7. Hill people for land rights

8. Settlers for their rights

9. Children of the settlers with no future

10. PCJSS and UPDF in-fighting continues

11. The Challenge The challenge was how to develop an Environmental Action Plan in an area so different and so diverse from the rest of Bangladesh in relation to topography, population, religion, language, culture and a political history The challenge was how to develop an Environmental Action Plan in an area so different and so diverse from the rest of Bangladesh in relation to topography, population, religion, language, culture and a political history Land issue and ethnic-divide may come up prominently during the workshops Land issue and ethnic-divide may come up prominently during the workshops How to group the participants? How to group the participants?

12. The Challenge How to Group the participants? Ethnic divide Ethnic divide Religious divide Religious divide Linguistic divide Linguistic divide Gender divide Gender divide Bengalee settlers (early/recent) Bengalee settlers (early/recent) Professional divide Professional divide Topography divide Topography divide Literacy divide Literacy divide Effluence and poverty divide Effluence and poverty divide

13. Methodology In order to avoid conflicting interests, the participants were carefully divided into following 7 professional/gender groups: In order to avoid conflicting interests, the participants were carefully divided into following 7 professional/gender groups: 1. Government Officials; Journalists 2. Teachers 3. Farmers (mostly hill people) 4. Peoples’ Representatives (hill/non-hill) 5. Headmen and Karbaaris (all hill people) 6. Social Workers; NGOs 7. Women

14. Methodology Discussion with local people to finalize number, venue, time and composition of participants in the workshops Discussion with local people to finalize number, venue, time and composition of participants in the workshops Selection of venues: topography; inaccessibility Selection of venues: topography; inaccessibility Both Launching and Concluding workshops were held at Rangamati Both Launching and Concluding workshops were held at Rangamati Launching Workshop: 26 Oct 1999 Launching Workshop: 26 Oct 1999 Concluding Workshop: 2 Sept 2000 Concluding Workshop: 2 Sept 2000 District, grassroots level workshops took place over a period of a year (1999-2000) District, grassroots level workshops took place over a period of a year (1999-2000)

15. Methodology Launching Workshop (Rangamati): 01 Launching Workshop (Rangamati): 01 Grassroots Workshops: Grassroots Workshops: 1. Bandarban: 04 2. Khagrachhari: 04 3. Rangamati: 06 District level workshops: 03 District level workshops: 03 Concluding Workshop (Rangamati): 01 Concluding Workshop (Rangamati): 01 Total Workshops: 19 Total Workshops: 19

16. Methodology Participatory planning process-bottom up consultation at the grassroots level undertaken Participatory planning process-bottom up consultation at the grassroots level undertaken All the representative areas and communities living in the CHT were covered All the representative areas and communities living in the CHT were covered Conflicting communities-hill and non-hill people, various indigenous groups, unequal level of development were considered in the selection of participants Conflicting communities-hill and non-hill people, various indigenous groups, unequal level of development were considered in the selection of participants

17. Methodology Following brief inauguration, following five thematic groups were formed: Following brief inauguration, following five thematic groups were formed: 1. Natural Resource Management: Agriculture, Land Use and Livestock 2. Natural Resource Management: Water and fisheries 3. Natural Resource Management: Forestry 4. Education and Awareness 5. Health, Hygiene and Sanitation

18. Methodology After inauguration, group discussion took place in the thematic groups After inauguration, group discussion took place in the thematic groups Seven professional groups were distributed among the five thematic groups Seven professional groups were distributed among the five thematic groups 30% women participation was ensured 30% women participation was ensured Findings of the groups were presented in the afternoon plenary Findings of the groups were presented in the afternoon plenary Two participants used to share their views on the workshop at the end Two participants used to share their views on the workshop at the end

19. Environmental Issues identified 1. Deforestation 2. Lack of safe drinking water 3. Lack of hygiene and sanitation 4. Uncontrolled Jhum cultivation 5. Malaria and diarrhea 6. Lack of environmental awareness 7. Destruction of wildlife 8. Depletion of fisheries

20. Other Environmental Issues Decrease fringe-land cultivation due to high level of Kaptai hydro-electric project, lack of proper land use management, landslide, lack of irrigation facilities, hill cutting, natural disaster, uncontrolled use of agro-chemicals, use of polythene, river erosion, unplanned settlement, food scarcity, attack of wild elephants, top-soil erosion, tobacco cultivation, unplanned waste disposal, pest attack, use of fire woods in brick kilns, canal siltation etc. Decrease fringe-land cultivation due to high level of Kaptai hydro-electric project, lack of proper land use management, landslide, lack of irrigation facilities, hill cutting, natural disaster, uncontrolled use of agro-chemicals, use of polythene, river erosion, unplanned settlement, food scarcity, attack of wild elephants, top-soil erosion, tobacco cultivation, unplanned waste disposal, pest attack, use of fire woods in brick kilns, canal siltation etc.

21. Other issues Lack of education, lack of communication, lack of health care, poverty, lack of electricity, lack of marketing facilities of local products, malnutrition, alcoholism and drug abuse, unemployment, no land ownership, absenteeism among govt officials/school teachers, crowding of cluster villages etc. Lack of education, lack of communication, lack of health care, poverty, lack of electricity, lack of marketing facilities of local products, malnutrition, alcoholism and drug abuse, unemployment, no land ownership, absenteeism among govt officials/school teachers, crowding of cluster villages etc.

22. Probable projects Alternative Sources of fuel: renewable energy Alternative Sources of fuel: renewable energy Awareness building, health education relating to malaria, dengue, diarrhea Awareness building, health education relating to malaria, dengue, diarrhea Green Hill: Natural Biodiversity Park Green Hill: Natural Biodiversity Park Community-based Spice Gardening Community-based Spice Gardening Community-based Surface Water Management Community-based Surface Water Management Participatory Management of Protected Areas Participatory Management of Protected Areas Fish Culture in Hill Creeks Fish Culture in Hill Creeks Sustainable Hill Agriculture Sustainable Hill Agriculture

23. Probable Question How would you develop in a participatory way, an Environmental Action Plan in the CHT- an area so diverse from the rest of Bangladesh? How would you develop in a participatory way, an Environmental Action Plan in the CHT- an area so diverse from the rest of Bangladesh?

24. THANK YOU