Water is a major natural resource in Bangladesh. Rivers, wetlands and seasonal inundations are the lifeblood of the country. IUCN Bangladesh tries to address the issues of water quality in different water bodies; assessment, conservation and management of wetlands; wetlands and biodiversity through attainment of increased awareness and understanding of the nature and effects of quality of return flow on ecosystems; a better understanding of the causes and effects of increasing salinity intrusion/ level in the coastal ecosystem; environmental assessment of the present day water management and practices with focus on fisheries and ecosystems; and raising public awareness of the impacts of climate change and the IPCC/ UNFCCC processes.

GOAL

Improved livelihood through sustainable management of wetlands and wise use of water and wetlands resources.

OBJECTIVES

1. To contribute in capacity building of GoB, institutions and others for water and wetland resources management
2. To promote the protection, conservation and sustainable use for livelihood security
3. To demonstrate a viable community based wetlands resource management practices
4. To raise awareness and understanding of equitable use of water resources of the country

KEY AREAS OF INTERVENTION

1. Community based water and wetland resources management
2. Disaster management
3. Poverty reduction
4. Community participation and livelihood development
5. Transboundary water management

1. Community based wetland resource management system developed and practiced
2. Prepared WSSD document for GoB
3. Mobilized community people for conservation of wetland biodiversity
4. Swamp forest restored in some degraded wetland ecosystem
5. Zoning of critical areas in terms of environmental flow
6. Develop GIS map of the critical flow areas
7. Develop a protocol for assessing environmental flow requirement
8. Demonstrate the assessment through a pilot intervention in Cox’s Bazar

1. Restoration, rehabilitation and sustainable management of wetland ecosystem
2. Community based aquatic resources management for livelihood enhancement
3. Transboundary watershed management
4. Policies, legislations and effective institutional mechanism for water resource management
5. Water and climate change issues