Ecosystems for Life project team visits Northern Bangladesh to understand water management issues (Part I) | WPN World People News

Like most of Bangladesh, life in the north is centred alongside the many rivers that meander cross country. As the E4L team watched the magical sunset over the Mohananda River, it’s hard to envisage how these very rivers have over time caused so much loss and destruction. Bangladesh’s majestic river systems are a lifeline to so many, supporting food security and livelihoods. Team members from Bangladesh’s country office this week were able to see firsthand how important these rivers and the associate water infrastructure are to the people of Bangladesh.

Mohananda River

Bangladesh is the land of rivers, criss-crossed by over 300 rivers, 54 of these trans-boundary with India. Surrounded on 3 sides by India, Bangladesh is a gigantic delta formed at the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems. It drains a total catchment area of about 1.72 million square km through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. However out of this massive catchment area, only 7% lies in Bangladesh.

Flooding in Sirajganj

This week the Bangladesh Ecosystems for Life team undertook a field trip to northern Bangladesh focusing on trans-boundary Rivers and water management infrastructure in the region, notably the Teesta River. Increased demand in water due to overpopulation, overexploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation has had a profound impact on the world’s freshwater resources. Trans-boundary water issues have historically been an important agenda item for both Bangladesh and India, the international dimension being a crucial factor affecting the management of local river systems. Effective and efficient water benefits sharing between the two countries is essential to ensure food security and for the livelihoods of millions of people.

Hard point at Jamuna River

The trans-boundary water management issues between India and Bangladesh are an important element of IUCN’s Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh-India initiative. The project focuses on five thematic areas: food security, water productivity and poverty; impacts of climate change; convergence of inland navigation and integrated water resources management goals; environmental security and biodiversity conservation.

Jamuna River

The goal of the initiative is to promote a greater understanding of the trans-boundary ecosystems in the Bangladesh-India sub-region in order to contribute to an improved system for sustainable management of resources. The team travelled firstly to visit the Teesta Barrage and surrounding canals before scrutinizing the current flooding situation in Sirajganj.

Sunset at Mohananda River

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature