International Symposium on New Horizons in Forestry

18-20 October 2017, Isparta – Turkey

PROCEEDINGS & ABSTRACTS

BOOK
International Symposium on New Horizons in Forestry
18-20 October 2017, Isparta – Turkey

Editors
Dr. Hüseyin FAKİR
Dr. Mustafa AVCI
Dr. İbrahim ÖZDEMİR
Dr. H.Turgut ŞAHİN
Dr. Hasan ALKAN
Dr. Mehmet KORKMAZ
Dr. Oğuzhan SARIKAYA
Dr. Abdullah SÜTÇÜ
Dr. H.Oğuz ÇOBAN
Dr. Yasin KARATEPE
Dr. Nevzat GÜRLEVİK
Dr. A. Alper BABALIK

Cover design & Layout

Süleyman Uysal

Copyright © 2017
All rights reserved. The papers can be cited with appropriate references to the publication.
Authors are responsible for the contents of their papers.

Published by

Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Forestry, Isparta, Turkey

Telephone: (+90) 246 2113833
E-Mail: ormanf@sdu.edu.tr
URL: http://orman.sdu.edu.tr

Sponsored by

ISBN: 978-605-9454-17-9
International Symposium on New Horizons in Forestry
18-20 October 2017, Isparta – Turkey

Symposium Organization
The Symposium is organized by the Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Forestry

Honorary Chairman
Prof.Dr. İlker Hüseyin ÇARIKÇI
Rector of the Süleyman Demirel University

Chairman
Prof.Dr. Hüseyin FAKİR
Dean of the Faculty of Forestry

Organising Committee*
Dr. Mustafa AVCI
Dr. İbrahim ÖZDEMİR
Dr. H.Turgut ŞAHİN
Dr. Hasan ALKAN
Dr. Mehmet KORKMAZ
Dr. Oğuzhan SARIKAYA
Dr. Abdullah SÜTÇÜ
Dr. H.Oğuz ÇOBAN
Dr. Yasin KARATEPE
Dr. Nevzat GÜRLEVİK
Dr. A. Alper BABALIK
Dr. Tuğba YILMAZ AYDIN
MSc. Gürcan GÜLER
MSc. Abdullah BERAM
MSc. Esra BAYAR
MSc. Onur ALKAN
MSc. Ali ŞENOL
MSc. Şükran OĞUZOĞLU
MSc. F. Merve NACAKCI
MSc. Ömer Ümit YALÇIN
MSc. Murat ÖZEN
Exp. Süleyman UYSAL
* Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Forestry

i
Global environmental governance and environmental development: Perspective
Bangladesh

Md. Nazmul Islam*

Institute of Political Science, Department of Political Science and Public Administration (English), Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University (AYBU),
Ankara, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: nazmulraihan42du@gmail.com, 165206409@ybu.edu.tr

Abstract: This paper has submerged from the thinking on global and its implication in the local level. Global Environmental
Governance is the sustainability of environment achieved by collective management and environmental development from the
national to international level. Environmental governance as it currently stands is far from meeting one or more of these
imperatives. The need to deal with the complex character of environmental issues calls for the adoption of coherent multilateral
management by a great variety of stakeholders. “However, the global community has proved incapable of meeting this challenge
and environmental governance is currently victim to a great many afflictions.” This paper shows that impressive institutional
machinery has actually been built, but also that the overall state of the global environment seems not to have improved as a
consequence of this. Numerous multilateral environmental agreements have been concluded, many meetings are held each year to
advance implementation, and significant amounts of human resources are spent to produce national reports on the efforts
undertaken. Yet, as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have
shown us, ecosystem decline and global warming continue, representing real dangers to our planet. Finally this paper shows if the
global environmental governance is possible then what the process will be built environmental development in Bangladesh and
shows various environmental development initiatives, strategy, policy and plan by government of Bangladesh and shows the how
environmental development is sustain in Bangladesh by the implication of environmental governance. This paper also shows
about the various roles and problems of environment in Bangladesh and how can we overcome of those troubles and ensure the
peaceful situation in the state of Bangladesh.
Keywords: Global Environmental Governance (GEG), Environmental development, Issues of GEG, Actors of GEG,
Environmental development in Bangladesh

1. Preamble

Human induced environmental pressures might seriously affect national and international security (Ullman, 1983: 145).
For the Sustainability of political ecology and economic policy environmental governance is the crucial issue. To cope the
social, political, economic and cultural phenomena in the environment and ecosystems should be understand and manage as
subsets of environmental development. The state of environment is critical for the existence of living creatures as well as for
non- living things to exist in the long run. Environmental governance is the protection of global environment which has the
sum of organizations, policy instruments, financing mechanisms, rules, procedures and norms that regulated of those
environmental problems. Environmental governance often necessitates founding alternative systems of governing for the
capturing the diverse range of dynamic forces. If the natural resources and the environment has seen as a global public good
and these goods stems from the presence of each of the constituent elements that from an integrated system then it is possible
of that everyone can benefit from the atmosphere, climate and biodiversity, to name a few, whilst the entire planet suffers the
dramatic consequences of global warming, reduced ozone layer and the disappearance of species. So an approach of collective
management is that mean of global environmental governance.

2. World environment movement

The Stockholm Conference on environment is a significant milestone in the world environment movement. The concept of
environment was expanded in the larger areas of social, economic and political sectors through this conference held in 1972.
The Stockholm conference created the opportunity for advancement in the field of environment. Following the decisions of
the conferences, many countries of the world formed environmental institutions and undertook environment management
related initiatives (Najam, 2005: 303-321).
Key constitutional movements in the development of environment

 The 1972 United Convention on the Human Environment (UNCHE), held in Stockholm, Sweden.
 The 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, which coined the Phrase ‘Sustainable Development’.
 The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
 The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), coming into existence in 1988 undertaking research on various issues
related to changes in the global climatic conditions and arousing public opinion and awareness.

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 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the
protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty in September 16, 1987.
 On December 11, 1997, the negotiation on the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change
Framework were completed which was signed to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions responsible for
global warming (Najam, 2005).

3. Definition of global environmental governance

 Environmental governance has been defined the formal and informal institutions, rules, mechanisms and processes of
collective decision-making that enable stakeholders to influence and coordinate their interdependent needs and interests
and their interactions with the environment at the relevant scales (Tacconi, 2011: 234-246).
 All the processes and institutions, both formal and informal, that encompass the standards, values, behavior and organizing
mechanisms used by citizens, organizations and social movements as well as the different interest groups as a basis for
linking up their interests, defending their differences and exercising their rights and obligations in terms of accessing and
using natural resources (Ojeda, 2005: 223).
 At the international level, global environmental governance is the sum of organizations, policy instruments, financing
mechanisms, rules, procedures and norms that regulate the processes of global environmental protection (Najam, Papa &
Taiyab, 2006: 254).

4. Characteristics of global environmental governance

1. Multi-level interactions (i.e., local, national, international/global) among, but not limited to, three main actors, i.e., state,
market, and civil society, which interact with one another, whether in formal and informal ways
2. In formulating and implementing policies in response to environment-related demands and inputs from the society
3. Bound by rules, procedures, processes, and widely-accepted behavior
4. Possessing characteristics of “good governance”
5. The purpose of attaining environmentally-sustainable development (Gemmill & Bamidele-Izu, 2002: 83).

These are some key principles of environmental governance:

 Embeds the environment in all levels of decision-making and action.
 Conceptualizes cities and communities, economic and political life as a subset of the environment.
 Emphasizes the connection of people to the ecosystems in which they live.
 Promotes the transition from linear systems (like garbage disposal with no recycling) to circular systems.

5. The institutional foundation of environmental governance

Complementary theoretical perspective:

The intricate nature of the interaction between environmental governance regimes/social institutions and ecosystems is
duly acknowledged by contemporary environmental scholars. This manifests itself in a variety of forms, notably the concept
of cross-regime effects/consequences and the notion of interplay, which refers to the dynamic linkages between the different
component parts of the socially-contrived and biophysical architecture (Young, 1998).

6. An evolving system of global environmental governance

GEG refers to the sum of organizations, policy instruments, financing mechanisms, rules, procedures and norms that
regulate global environmental protection. Within the context of the evolution of global environmental politics and policy, the
end goal of global environmental governance is to improve the state of the environment and to eventually lead to the broader
goal of sustainable development.
The major institutional decision coming out of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm,
1972) was the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP), which was created to play the lead
role in GEG by coordinating environmental activities within the UN agencies and acting as a catalyst for new initiatives. Since
then, the world has seen hectic activity in global environmental policy (and, more recently, in sustainable development policy)
and a host of treaties, organizations and mechanisms have emerged. The 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the 2002 Johannesburg
Summit on Sustainable Development mark just two of the many policy landmarks of this rapid evolution of the GEG system
(Najam, 2003).

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7. Concerning issues for global environmental governance

Figure 1: Important issues for global environmental governance

The following discussion will be described on the concerning issues for global environmental change.

7.1 Climate change management

The anthropogenic theory predicts that global warming will continue apace with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that “most of the observed increase in global average temperatures
since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations (IPCC, 2007: 16).
In the present time global green house gas emission sources (Earth Trends, CAIT, 2008) from the various tools such as

Figure 2: Sources of Global Green House Gas Emissions (GHG).

7.2 Ecological debt and environmental justice

The right to a healthy and safe environment is a fundamental human right that cannot be refused on the basis of race, class,
ethnic group or position within the global economic system. The north remains highly dependent on southern countries for
maintaining the living standards of its people. Without being able to use the land to pasture their pigs and cows, northern
countries would not be able to continue feeding their populations as they have done until now. The same problem applies to
fruit and vegetables. However, the question does not hinge solely on an unequal distribution of cultivable land throughout the
world, but also on the consequences that monoculture usually has in terms of ecological damage.
The same applies to energy supplies: gas, oil and even the uranium for nuclear energy that are obtained in the southern
hemisphere. Mutual dependence is not a bad thing in itself. But what actually happens is that southern countries do not set
prices or control the environmental and social conditions that govern the exploitation of their own resources. Worse still, the
northern hemisphere continues to dominate the global economy and trade rates. The colonial era is not yet over; a somber
page in the history of humanity has not yet been turned (Rijnhout, 2005).

7.3 Water management

According to Alliance 21’s Organisation, “Water is an unalienable right for every human being. All levels of water supply
management are necessary and independent. The integrated approach to the catchment areas must take into account the needs

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of irrigation and those of towns, jointly and not separately as is often seen to be the case. Equipment must be sought to bring
about water saving and to increase its efficiency in irrigation systems and industrial processes (Alliance21, 2001).
The governance of a water supply must be guided by the principles of sustainable development. Science and technology must
be used to meet the requirements of the communities both in the fields of drinking water supplies and sanitation facilities. All
governance of a water supply must promote education in connection with water, and make the general public more widely
aware of water saving and resource conservation.

7.4 Biodiversity management

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was signed in Rio in 2012 to tackle the loss of biodiversity caused by
human activities. The CBD’s objectives are: “to conserve biological diversity, to use biological diversity in a sustainable
fashion, to share the benefits of biological diversity fairly and equitably.” The Convention is the first equitable global
agreement that addresses all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species and ecosystems. It recognizes, for the
first time, that the conservation of biological diversity is “a common concern for all humanity” and an integral part of the
development process. To achieve its objectives, the Convention follows in the footsteps of the Rio Declaration on the
Environment and Development and constantly encourages association between countries. Such association is based on
measures for scientific and technological cooperation, access to genetic resources and the transfer of clean environmental
technologies (CBD, 2012).

7.5 Preserved the ozone layer

The disappearance of the ozone layer will result in increased cases of skin cancer, ocular cataracts and damaged immune
systems in humans and other species. It will also affect crops sensitive to ultra-violet radiation. If the ozone layer is to be
protected, we need to eliminate the use of chemical constituents like chlorofluorocarbons as industrial refrigerants and
aerosols and farming fungicides like methyl bromide that destroys the ozone layer 50 times faster than CFCs (UNFCCC,
1992).

7.6 Nuclear risk

The nuclear risk began with the rapid development of nuclear reactors used to generate electricity. Another nuclear-related
problem is the possibility of environmental pollution by humans using atomic bombs. Regardless of the type of environmental
contamination, nuclear pollution causes further damage to human society and the environment, which is rendered unfit for an
indeterminate period due to the malformations and congenital diseases that contamination produces in people, animals, plants,
water, the land, and so on. A proposed solution for reducing the nuclear risk is to replace the use of nuclear energy with
renewable energies such as solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, tidal power, etc (Redgwell, 2005: 178-203).

8. Actors of the global environmental governance: Who deals with the environment?

A measure of the diversity of actors within the United Nations system whose activities somehow impact the environment
is the membership of the UN Environmental Management Group (EMG) which was established by the UN Secretary General
to “enhance UN system-wide inter-agency coordination” and whose membership consists of “programmers, organs and
specialized agencies of the UN system, and all of the secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements.” Each of these
organizations has a defined environmental mandate and many have specified environmental activities. The membership of this
group gives a still incomplete but impressive, picture of the breadth of actors that influence global environmental governance
(Bouguerra, 2004). For instances Basel Convention Secretariat Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), Secretariat Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Secretariat Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Secretariat
Economic and Social Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Economic and Social
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP), Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Global
Environment Facility (GEF), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Maritime
Organization (IMO), International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Secretariat International Trade Center (ITC),
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Global
Environmental Governance: A Reform Agenda Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands Secretariat Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), Secretariat UN Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs/ Division for Sustainable Development
(UNDESA/DSD), United Nations Development Programmed (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP),
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), Secretariat United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Human Settlements
Programmed (HABITAT), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (UNITAR), United Nations University (UNU), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Food Program (WFP), World

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Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO),
The World Bank World Trade Organization (WTO), World Tourism Organization (WTO) (Biermann & Simonis, 1998).

9. Crisis of the Global Environmental Governance (GEG)

Over the last few years a heated debate has emerged among policymakers as well as scholars on the possible need and
potential directions of a reform in the GEG system so that it can keep up with its own rapid evolution. Although the debate on
GEG has focused overwhelmingly on reform of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the issue is far more
expansive. This is largely because, since 1972, the business of global environmental governance has grown in many new
directions (Von Moltke, 2001: 23-28).
Much of this evolution is, in fact, quite positive and points to an expanded (certainly busier) global system of
environmental governance. In particular, the GEG system has expanded in three ways-

More Actors
More Money
More Rules and Norms
Table 1: Crises in the Global Environmental Governance (GEG)

The increasing scale and gravity of environmental problems in terms of climate change, loss of biological diversity and
degradation of ecosystem services threaten to block any possible attempts at a solution by the various stakeholders, and are
already restricting the prospect of economic development in many countries and regions. Environmental protection measures
remain insufficient in the face of the warnings of the scientific community. The necessary reforms represent a slow process
that requires time, energy, money and, above all, diplomatic negotiation. And a serious environmental crisis has proved
incapable of generating a unanimous response from all countries. Persistent divisions are slowing down progress towards
properly organized global environmental governance (Roussel, 2007).
The question is whether an alternative to the current production system is needed to solve the environmental crisis. Does
the current system contain the solutions for its own preservation? Can biotechnology and sustainable development be
considered as solutions? The architecture of the regulations for international environmental protection reflects these questions.
Rio de Janeiro, The Hague, Nairobi, Stockholm, Montreal, Kyoto, Johannesburg, Cartagena and Bali have all hosted a
panoply of international environmental actors and states affected and concerned in one way or another by the environmental
crisis. These conferences and agreements and resulting regulations indicate the balance of power within a context containing a
multitude of interests and contradictory standpoints.

10. Challenges to Effective Global Environmental Governance (GEG)

Table 2: Key Challenges to Effective Global Environmental Governance (GEG) (Najam, Papa & Tayiba, 2006: 29-62).
 Proliferation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and
 Fragmentation of Global Environmental Governance (GEG)
 Lack of cooperation and coordination among International Organization
 Lack of Implementation, Compliance, Enforcement and Effectiveness
 Inefficient Use of Resources
 Global Environmental Governance outside the Environmental Arena
 Non- state Actors in a State- centric System

Some of the obstacles and challenges facing environmental governance include:

 Various sources, some of them within the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), maintain that lack of political
will is at the root of the governance crisis. By persistently showing a lack of political will for solving environmental
problems and seeking instead to develop policies in favour of the sustainable use of the earth’s resources, environmental
regulations produce effects that include lack of funding, imbalance and absence of links with the economy, and the limited
application of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) (UNEP, 2008).
 Financial resources are limited and direct investment in the environment insufficient. In concrete terms, although the
UNEP, the main UN body for environmental issues, has obtained noteworthy results during its mandate, the lack of long-
term stable financing hinders its chances of tackling new challenges (UNEP, 2008).

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 This lack of coordination is not confined to the United Nations system. It also exists in governments, the private sector and
civil society. Regional and international cooperation is difficult, since it arises only from occasional action taken by
stakeholders without any shared vision or regulation (GMEF, 2002).

11. Elements of a reform agenda for Global Environmental Governance (GEG)

Pulgar Vidal identifies four factors of reform agenda that can be used to develop these processes:

 Formal and informal regulations, procedures and processes, such as consultations and participative democracy;
 Social interaction between participant groups which can arise from external factors such as participation in development
programmes proposed by public institutions or from the reaction to certain unjust situations
 Regulating or correcting certain social behaviours to transform an individual question into a public matter and be able to
collectively negotiate progress towards sustainable and acceptable agreements
 Horizontality at the level of the social group’s structure, decision-making mechanism and mechanisms for relations with
external actors (Manuel, 2005).

The International Institute for Sustainable Development proposes a “reform agenda” for global governance. The main
argument is that there seems to be a tacit but powerful consensus on the objectives of environmental governance at the
international level. These objectives are as follows (Najam, Papa & Tyeeba: 2006).

Figure 3: Elements of a Reform Agenda for Global Environmental Governance (GEG)

11.1 Leadership

The GEG system should grasp the attention and visible support of high-profile political leaders. The key institutions
within the system should be managed by leaders of the highest professional caliber and international repute; all working
together towards the best interests of the GEG system as a whole.

11.2 Knowledge

Science should be the authoritative basis of sound environmental policy. The GEG system should be seen as a knowledge-
based and knowledge-producing system.

11.3 Coherence

GEG should operate as a coherent “system” with reasonable coordination, regular communication and a shared sense of
direction among its various elements.

11.4 Performance

The institutions that make up the GEG system should be well-managed; they should have the resources they need and
should use these resources efficiently; and they should be effective in implementation. The ultimate purpose of the GEG
system is to improve the global environmental condition.

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11.5 Mainstreaming

The GEG system should seek to incorporate environmental concerns and actions within other areas of international policy
and action, and particularly so in the context of sustainable development (Najam, Papa & Tyeeba: 2006).

12. Environmental and Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a developing country in South Asia. It has a border on the west, north, and east with India, on the southeast
with Myanmar, and the Bay of Bengal is to the south. Geologically, Bangladesh is a part of the Bengal Basin, one of the
largest geosynclinals in the world. Bangladesh has a comparatively low natural resource base, but a high growth rate of
population, with almost half of the population below fifteen years of age. Most of the people are among the poorest in the
world, and depend mainly on the natural resource base for their livelihood. But now the resource base is under serious threat,
as many natural resources are either being over exploited or used sub-optimally. Besides the effects of anthropogenic stresses,
the low land-man ratio in the country is often further threatened by natural hazards. Thus, for the survival of Bangladeshis
dense population, it is essential to have environmental planning and management that conserves and sustains the ecosystems
that support their livelihoods. The high population density, low economic growth, lack of institutional infrastructure, an
intensive dependence on agriculture and agricultural products, geographical settings, and various other factors, all contribute
to make the country weak in its economic development and quality of life (MOEF, 2003).

12.1 Environmental development in Bangladesh

Environment and development are inextricably linked. The state of environment is critical for the existence of living
creatures as well as for non-living things to exist in the long run. The global environment has been changing gradually and it
has become a serious concern for all. Industrialization, exponential population growth, tremendous increase in the number of
automobiles and indiscriminate felling of trees are some such activities. Bangladesh is recognized to be the worst suffer from
the impact of global warming and climate change. The Government is, therefore, giving special emphasis on conservation of
environment and development. It has undertaken integrated policies and plans to protect the country from the impact of global
warming.

12.2 Environment and sustainable development in Bangladesh

The Environment and Sustainable Development Cluster is dedicated to playing a catalytic role to facilitate mainstreaming
sustainable development in Bangladesh by integrating pro-poor environment in policies and development planning. The
programmatic interventions of the Cluster fall into four programmed areas: (1) Natural Resource Management and
Biodiversity Conservation, (2) Sustainable Land and Water Management, (3) Improved and Cleaner Urban Environment
Management and (4) Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance (Rahman, 1994).

Environmental
Development in
Bangladesh

Figure 4: Environment and Sustainable Development in Bangladesh

13. The major environmental problems of Bangladesh

From the geographical location in BD frequencies of hazards arising from drought, flood and other natural calamities are
on the increase in Bangladesh. The surface water of the country is being polluted through capricious disposal of untreated
industrial effluents and municipal waste water, runoff pollution from chemical fertilizers and pesticides and oil and lubes

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spillage in the coastal area from the operation of sea and river ports and ship wreckages. Now in BD, presence of high-level
arsenic contamination in ground water is a national problem especially in Chandpur, Shatkhira, Noakhali, Comilla, Gopalgonj
and some other countries (Bangladesh Economic Review, 2011: 242). Bangladesh a low-riparian country has 57 trans-
boundary rivers, of which 54 are shared with India and 3 with Myanmar. A significant quantity of water flow is withdrawn
and diverted upstream by neighboring countries for irrigation and other purposes resulting in reduce flow of waters in the
rivers. The Farakka Barrage on the river Ganges is a notable example. Decertification prevails in some area of BD due to the
withdrawal of water from the Ganges through the Farakka Barrage (Bangladesh Economic Review, 2011: 242). The depletion
of biodiversity is the result of various kind of human intervention that impact on it through destruction and degradation of
land, forest and aquatic habits. These activities encompass the sectors of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, urbanization, industry,
transport, tourism, energy, chemicals and minerals (Rahman, 1994).

14. The government initiatives to address environment protection and development

There have various initiatives by government of Bangladesh to address environmental problems. Actually BD government
pursue to resolve the environment problems applying by national and international plans and policy and taken some strategy,
policy to resolve environmental problems and protection of climate and best use of renewable and non-renewable resources in
Bangladesh which are as follows-

Table 3: Government initiatives to address environment protection and development

Preparation of National Land Policy

National Water Policy

Air Pollution Control

Control of Industrial Pollution

Control of Noise Pollution

Conservation of Biodiversity

Protection of Ozone Layer

Development of the National Bio-safety Framework

Publication of Dhaka City State of Environment

Natural Disaster Management

NGOs Activities for Conservation of Environment

Social Forestry

14.1 Preparation of national land policy

The govt. has approved National Land Use Policy’ Bangladesh. The govt. has adopted various other national policies and
measures to prevent land depletion. These include- The National Environmental Policy, National Environment Act and Rules,
National Forestry Policy and the National Plan for Agriculture Research (Zahid, 2002).

14.2 National water policy

Water resource is of immense importance for socio-economic development of the nation. Bangladesh is endowed with
good number water bodies scattered all over the country. Regional Cooperation is indispensible for water management and
protection of water resources and rational use of water (Bangladesh Economic Review, 2010: 244).

14.3 Air pollution control

The Department of Environment is implementing a number of projects to control air pollution. There has been a ban on the
plying of two stroke three-wheelers in Dhaka city January 2003. Control of air pollution by-
a) Capacity building for sustainable environment initiative (SEI) in transport and brick industry.
b) Reduction of emissions from brick industry

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c) Mitigate acute traffic congestion in Dhaka city

d) Introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at the capital city under the government Strategic Transport Plan (STP) and
e) Reduction of emission from vehicles (Rahman, 1994).

14.4 Control of industrial pollution

In compliance with the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 and the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997, the
mechanism for issuance of environmental clearance certificate has been introduce for new industries or projects after
assessing the project area and pollutants to be emitted or discharged by the industries or projects to be set up. Such type of
projects is very important to prepare strategy for controlling industrial pollution (Marr, 2009).

14.5 Conservation of biodiversity

Under the Bangladesh Wildlife Conservation Act, 1974 which amendment up to 1994, three protected areas have been has
been identified as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries with an aim to conserving the biodiversity, preserving and
developing natural environment and eco-tourism and facilitating research. Moreover, the government has declared 8 protected
areas in different parts of the country Such as Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Sea beach, St. Martin’s Land, Sonadia Island, Sundarban
reserve forests, Gulshan-Baridhara Lake, Hakaluki Haor Marjat Baor as Ecologically Critically Area (ECA) (Ecologically
Critical Area, 1995).

14.6 Protection of ozone layer

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in protecting ozone layer. By now, Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) have
been phased out from aerosol sector in Bangladesh. As a result 60 percent use of ODS has been reduced in the country and
recycling towards cheeking unnecessary emissions of Chloro-Fluro Carbon (CFCs). With the financial system of multilateral
fund such as UNDP complying with the Montreal Protocol, Ozone Depleting Substances Rules, 2004 has been farmed under
which import and use of ODS are being controlled through licensing system (Ahmed, 1994).

14.7 Natural disaster management

Various government and non-government organizations are working relentlessly in the field of disaster management and
mitigation. The focal point for disaster management is the Disaster Management Bureau under the Ministry of Food and
Disaster Management. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) is responsible for forecasting natural disasters like
cyclones, droughts, storms and such other disasters. Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization
(SPARRSO) provides satellite images while the food forecasting and warning center (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water
Development Board is entrusted with the responsibility with the responsibility of forecasting flood (Kafiluddin, 1991: 72).
In various way management the natural disaster such as like-

i. Cyclone Preparedness Programmed Implementation Board (CPPIB)

ii. Disaster Management Training and Public Awareness Building Task Force (DMTATF)
iii. Focal Point Operation Coordination Group of Disaster Management (FPOCG)
iv. NGO Coordination Group on Disaster Management (NGOCC) (Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief,
Government of Bangladesh, 1999: 104).

14.8 NGOs Activities for conservation of environment

Along with government, a good number of NGOs have been working to face environmental problems and to improve
environmental system of the country since 1980s. The NGOs play an important role in motivating people at grass root level to
protect environment and to take coordinated efforts in solving environmental problems. Some of the important NGOs are:

 International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

 Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD)
 Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)
 Environmental Conservation Management Centre, Waste Concern
 Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) and
 Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA) (Environment and NGOs in Bangladesh, 2012).

14.9 Policies and laws for the development and protection of environment

The DoE has been working not only for protection of environment of the country but also formulating requisite laws and
responsible the implementation of the conventions, protocols and agreements signed on environmental protection at
international and regional level. This calls for creating mass awareness and legal obligation. With this end in view, the
following policies and laws have been framed:

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 The Environmental Policy, 1992

 The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995
 The Environment Conservation Rules, 1997
 The Environment Court Act, 2000 (Rahman, 1994).

14.10 Conservation of ecology

Considering the importance of hills in protecting ecology of the country, the government has issued a notification in
March 2002 banning hill destruction. Awareness about the importance of hills in protection of ecology is increasing and the
illegal attempts of cutting/razing of hills are on the decline.

14.11 Publication of Dhaka City state of environment report

The DOE has published Dhaka City State of Environment report with financial assistance from UNEP: Beside a report on
Bangladesh National Programme of Action for protection of the coastal and marine environment from land based activities
have been published.

14.12 Social forestry

Social forestry programme is one of the important programmes of the Forest Department. Since 1981, the Forest
Department implemented four social projects with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB). Currently
along with the social forestry programme for development and management of forest resources, the forest department to also
implementing forest development programme for poverty reduction (Sadeque, 1994).

15. Strategy, policy and plan for environmental development in Bangladesh

Figure 5: Policy and strategy for environmental development in Bangladesh

15.1 Food Security, social protection and health

 Adaptation against drought

 Adaptation in fisheries sector
 Adaptation in livestock
 Adaptation in health sector
 Development of climate resilient cropping system
 Institutional capacity for research towards climate resilient cultivation and their dissemination.

15.2 Comprehensive disaster management

 Improvement flood forecasting and early warning

 Awareness raising and public education towards climate resilience
 Risk management against loss of income and property

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15.3 Infrastructure

 Repair and maintenance of existing flood embankments

 Adaptation against floods
 Improvement of urban drainage
 Adaptation against tropical cyclones and storm surges

15.4 Research and knowledge management

 Establishing center for knowledge management and training on climate change

 Monitoring ecosystems and biodiversity changes and their impacts
 Macroeconomics and sectoral economic impact on climate change
 Monitoring of impact on various issues related to management of tourism in Bangladesh and implementation in priority
action plan

15.5 Mitigation and low carbon development

 Improved energy efficiency in production and consumption of energy

 Gas exploration and reservoir management
 Development of coal mines and coal fired power stations
 Renewable energy development
 A forestation and Reforestation programmed

15.6 Capacity building and institutional strengthening

 Strengthening human resource capacity

 Strengthening gender consideration in climate change management
 Strengthening institutional capacity for climate change management
 Main-stream climate change in the media (Bangladesh Economic Profile, 2010).

16. Conclusion

This is point out that the emerging forces of environmental governance as like NGOs, scientists, certain international
institutions and partnerships between different stakeholders can help to reduce the distance which separates the local and
international levels. Nonetheless, the problem, both political and technical, of how to successfully link up the different levels
remains unsolved (Kanie, 2004: 86-113). The local level to the global level is important because the way in which local
initiatives and best practices, often fragmented, are adapted to the concept of a global system. By which system Bangladesh
can develop their environment system. GEG reform cannot be restricted only to a few organizations in the GEG system. It
needs to be systemic, even in the short term. That means, at the very least, that it must focus on the key environmental
organizations in the system—and especially on the relationships between them. The reform must be designed for—and
ultimately evaluated by—the positive impact and it has on actual environmental performance then Bangladesh intractably
linked with hoe for pursue of well from the global environmental governance and make a environmental sustainability in
Bangladesh.

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