|
2nd ASEAN
Symposium and Workshop on
Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation
|
SESSION
1: Management and Conservation
|
ABSTRACTS
|
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED
MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME IN BANGLADESH
Rashiduzzaman Ahmed, Anisuzzaman
Khan, Ainun Nishat
IUCN Bangladesh
Bangladesh marine waters, along a
720-km. Coast line, support five species of marine turtles. These are Green
Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea),
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta
caretta) and Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). The
major breeding and nesting area are concentrated in the eastern coastal
region. The western coastline in the Sundarban mangrove forest area is
important nesting ground. Major threats identified to the turtles and their
nesting grounds are obstruction by fishing trawlers and fishing nets, poaching
of eggs and loss of nesting beach.
Local community are not aware about
the conservation needs of these globally important turtle species. People
have been hunted them for fun, collected eggs for economic purposes and
fishing gears have no TED. As a result population of Marine Turtles in
Bangladesh territorial water have declined over the years. To mitigate
the aforesaid threats, some local NOGs have taken up awareness programme.
They have also initiated ex situ turtle breeding and rearing programme
on a very limited scale, which could minimize these threats. These community-based
activities have been proved to be effective marine conservation programme
in Bangladesh.
However due to lack of resources,
these efforts are limited to very small areas and have proved to be inadequate
from the national and international point of view. To address all these
issues and for development of a long-term conservation and management plan,
a strategy is proposed. The salient features of the strategy are: i) collection
and collation of all data regarding turtle movement in Bangladesh coast;
ii) assessment of the present status of turtles including their population;
iii) introduction of TED and awareness campaign among fisherman; iv) development
of awareness and educational programme to involve all local communities;
v) pilot level activity and rehabilitation programme for eggs poachers;
v) long term monitoring programme.
|
