FORMULATION OF NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME (NAP) FOR COMBATING DESERTIFICATION

Project Period: September – December 2004
Funded by: Department of Environment

INTRODUCTION

Bangladesh is a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The convention was subsequently ratified and it came into force in 1997. Among the very many environmental issues facing Bangladesh, land degradation due to aridity and loss of crops due to droughts has caused more economic loss and human suffering than any other, to date. Estimates of extent of land degradation in Bangladesh show that over 6.0 million ha falls below the minimum thresholds for sustainable cultivation. In the drier regions, low soil fertility leading to desertification is recognized to be the root cause of land degradation. One of the obligations under the UNCCD is the formulation of National Action Programme for combating the phenomena of desertification. On behalf of the Department of Environment (DoE), IUCN Bangladesh has been entrusted with the responsibility of drafting the NAP for Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE

To formulate the National Action Programme for combating desertification in Bangladesh.

APPROACH

Towards the preparation of a NAP for Bangladesh, the DoE has already conducted a multi-stakeholder consultation. The recommendations of this meeting will form the basis of the NAP to be drafted by the IUCN Bangladesh. the UNCCD guidelines would be taken into consideration during the formulation of the core activities for the preparation of NAP.

ACTIVITIES

1. Review of available documents that may be relevant for developing the NAP.
2. Preparation of the draft National Action Programme (NAP) for combating desertification by following the above ToR.
3. Organization of a consultation meeting with the Advisory Committee
4. Finalization of the report

OUTPUT

National Action Programme (NAP) for Combating Desertification in Bangladesh

For more information please contact:

Country Representative
IUCN – The World Conservation Union
Bangladesh Country Office House # 11, Road # 138
Gulshan – 1, Dhaka – 1212
Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2- 9890395, 9890423
Fax: 880 –2 - 9892854
E- mail: nishat@iucnbd.org
Web: www.iucnbd.org