Program Successes: Environment

WETLANDS (Through the Management of Aquatic Community Husbandry - MACH Project)

• 57 wetland sanctuaries created covering about 439 acres with increases in fish biodiversity, tree diversity, and waterbird populations.
• 16 registered wetland Resource Management Organizations (RMO) established as independent organizations, with in addition a number of local riparian tree, roadside tree and daha (depression) or Kum (scour hole) sub-committees.
• 13 “Federations of Resource User Groups” established many of which are now independent.
• Five Local Government Committees formed and endowed for their long term operation. Those five committees have been renamed by the Government as Upazila Fisheries Committee (UFC) with an inclusion of new members including women.

• Fish yield increase from the baseline average of 144 kg/ha in (1999-2000) to 364 kg/hectare (2004-2005).
• 717 hectare of beel  have been converted from seasonal to perennial
• 33 km of wetland channel rehabilitated for linking perennial water bodies.
• 36 water bodies leased out to RMOs by the Ministry of Land.
• 117 communities adopted key regulations to sustain their wetlands.
• 215 ha of upper, largely riparian catchments, area improved.  
• 519,000 people participated in environmental awareness programs
• 5,203 household participated in alternative income generating activities.
• 47% increase in average household income of those getting support for alternative livelihoods
• Assisted the Department of Fisheries to develop and approve the Inland Capture Fisheries Strategy (ICFS), which embraces MACH’s community-led recipe for reviving wetlands for all potential inland waters.
• Established an Endowment fund for all the LGC/UFCs for continuing the sustainable management of wetland resources uninterruptedly after the end of the project.

Forest Protected Area Co-management

• Completion and acceptance of an exit strategy from the Project in the "Nishorgo Vision 2010", which provides a roadmap for the sustained management and conservation of Protected Areas by the Forest Department
• Formal recognition by the Government (under Government Order) of Collaborative Management Councils and Committees at all five pilot Protected Areas
• Rapid expansion and acceptance by low income households of conservation-appropriate income improving activities including tree nursery enterprise, improved stove adoption, poultry rearing, and fuel wood plantation
• Effective joint community-Forest Department patrols of high value protected areas result in near elimination of illegal logging in Lawachara National Park and Satchuri National Park
• Approval by the Ministry of Environment & Forests of five participatory Management Plans for the pilot Protected Areas
• Multiple examples of public-private partnership, including the one-million strong Bangladesh Scouts, the Radisson Water Garden Hotel, the Institute of Architects of Bangladesh, three private construction firms, Banglalink (a major phone operator) and Duncan Tea
• Production of 100 different types of high quality color booklets, books, brochures, youth awareness materials, post cards, flyers serving to advertise the pilot protected areas
• Publication of two books: “A Visitor’s Guide to Protected Areas in Bangladesh”, and “A Guide to Wildlife of Protected Areas of Bangladesh”.
• Installation of 45 interpretive and information signboards, trail signs, and visitors facility signboards in 5 pilot sites
• 1,231 community members at five pilot sites are taking part in “joint patrols” of protected areas with the Forest Department – 90% of community patrol members have received alternative income opportunities
• Small conservation-based enterprises have developed at all sites, including Tour Guides, Eco-Cottages, Nature Rickshaw rides, elephant rides, small food operations, and Nishorgo tourist item sales;
• Ethnic cloth products and sales from 135 women at three northern sites expanding;
• Clear and scientifically valid evidence now shows that the conservation activities at the northern Protected Areas is resulting in a re-establishment of key bird indicator species, including the Jungle Fowl and the Puff-Throated Babbler, both offering evidence that the lower story of the forest is regenerating
• Rapid growth in visitor numbers to pilot protected areas – at Lawachara National Park (near Srimongal in North-Eastern Bangladesh) visitors rose from 400 in Feb 2005 to 11,489 in Feb 2008.