কনটেন্টটি শেষ হাল-নাগাদ করা হয়েছে: শুক্রবার, ৩০ জানুয়ারী, ২০২৬ এ ১১:০০ AM
IHCWH
কন্টেন্ট: পাতা
Name of Projects: “Impact of Hydrological Regime Changes and Connectivity Loss on the Selected Waterbodies in the North-East Hydrological Region of Bangladesh (IHCWH)” Research Project
The northeast region of Bangladesh has a unique wetland ecosystem that is an essential source of livelihood for millions of people in the country. It is also a vital habitat for numerous species of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the region. The hydrological regime is primarily driven by seasonal monsoon rainfall and the overflow of rivers and tributaries. However, in recent decades, anthropogenic activities (especially water resources development projects) and land-use change (due to urbanization and industrialization) have significantly altered the hydrological regime of the region. The changes in the hydrological regime have had far-reaching impacts on the ecosystem that depends on it. The alteration of water flow patterns has resulted in changes in water quality, erosion-deposition, and flooding & water logging frequency. These changes have affected the productivity and diversity of aquatic vegetation, fish populations, and other aquatic fauna. Moreover, the changes in the hydrological regime have also altered the distribution and abundance of terrestrial species that depend on the wetland ecosystem for food and habitat. The assessment of the impact of the change in the hydrological regime on the ecosystem is of paramount importance for the conservation and management of that particular region. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of the change in the hydrological regime on the ecosystem along with connectivity loss for the selected waterbodies in northeast region of Bangladesh. This study will utilize both primary & secondary data along with physically based numerical modelling to evaluate the changes in hydrological regimes and their impact on the ecosystem. The results of this study will provide crucial insights into the causes and consequences of the alteration of the hydrological regime and inform policy and management decisions for the sustainable development and conservation of the waterbodies in the northeast region. It is important to enhance research, decision-making and capacity building in area-based conservation under uncertain future developments as area-based conservation is essential safeguard for natural diversity. In view of expanding human land use, increasing climate change and unmet conservation targets, area-based conservation requires efficient and effective plan, management and governance. Biodiversity conservation and management requires the continuous availability of data on baseline condition, current states and trends of degradation of the natural components, connectivity loss of water bodies and identification of threats.
Economic valuation and shifts in funding priorities can boost the effectiveness and efficiency of the approaches and activities for the conservation of the water bodies and related natural biodiversity. In-situ monitoring techniques, remote sensing and open data infrastructures can fill data and information gaps for the water bodies and related natural biodiversity area planning and management. Moreover, adaptive management is an auspicious concept in the framework of systematic conservation planning to ensure the enduring effectiveness of protected areas despite unpredictable future developments (Hofmann, 2022).
Adaptive management is an integral part of modern frameworks of systematic conservation planning. International biodiversity and sustainable development goals could be met earlier if protected areas were more effective. The need for a global information system that is to support area-based conservation by synthesizing challenges and opportunities for water body and related biodiversity management effectiveness and efficiency at the local to global level through basin wide management and planning of water resources. Conservation of biodiversity through the conservation of water bodies will be enhanced by the Climate-smart conservation of water bodies, biosecurity interventions and surveillance and to provide the economic valuation of the water bodies, wetlands and associated resources.
Economic valuation would be tools to reveal the monetary benefits of conserved water bodies, wetlands and associated resources to sensitize the people. Market-based incentives such as environmental certifications, payments for ecosystem services and multi-lateral approaches would be also helpful to conserve water bodies, wetlands and ecological settings of a particular area and also helpful for the decision-makers to reveal the financial reasons for conservation. Environmentally sustainable products from conserved areas can be promoted and need to share their profit with the local people
The research will address the conservation and management of the water bodies in the study area considering the ecology and biodiversity aspect following the section 22, Bangladesh Water Act 2013 which state that the “Conservation of water bodies and management. The research will also assess the data requirement and acquisition to address the SDG goal 15.1: Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and Target 15.5: Protect biodiversity and natural habitats in connection with the connectivity loss in selected waterbodies in the northeast region of Bangladesh.
In conclusion, research on the conservation and management of water bodies in the North-East Region of Bangladesh, with a focus on ecology and biodiversity, is essential for preserving the region's natural heritage, sustaining livelihoods, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. It provides the foundational knowledge needed to develop evidence-based policies and strategies to ensure the long-term well-being of both the environment and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.
The decrease of biodiversity and ecology are related to the decrease of waterbodies and connectivity of the waterbodies along with climate change impact.
3. Research Questions:
- What is the rate of connectivity loss of the waterbodies and its impact in the selected waterbody of the study areas?
- What is the relation between connectivity loss and the water body, water availability and water quality in the study areas?
- What is the bio-physical factors for the existence of biological habitat?
- What is the relation between the decrease of the water bodies and loss of ecology and biodiversity in the Study areas?
- What will be the integrated plan for the water resources management in the study areas to restore and enhance the biological habitat?
4. Overall Goal
5. Objective
The main objective of this study is the conservation and management of the water bodies in the study area considering the ecology and biodiversity aspect following the section 22, Bangladesh Water Act 2013 which state that the “Conservation of water bodies and management: —(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, on the basis of the result of proper investigation, examination and survey, if it is proved before the Executive Committee that-
(a) Immediate action is required to protect ponds, lake or any other water preservers as the source of safe water, if there is huge scarcity of potable water due to any natural disaster or any other causes;
(b) Protection of haor, baor or any other water bodies is imperative to ensure safe place, movement and sanctuary for seasonal birds;”
The specific objectives are:
- To assess the change in hydrological regime and loss of connectivity and its impact in the selected waterbodies of the north-east hydrological region of Bangladesh
- To assess the change of water availability and water quality and its impact on the ecosystem, biodiversity and overall habitat loss in the selected waterbodies in northeast region considering climate change.
- To explore the relation between decrease of the water bodies and loss of ecology and biodiversity in the Study areas.
- To develop habitat quality model, carbon storage & sequestration model and nutrient delivery ratio model for the study area.
- To prepare integrated plan for the water resources management in the study areas to restore and enhance the biological habitat.
6. Expected Result
The output of the research will cover the following:
- Recommendations to the Executive Committee (Technical Committee, ECNWRC, NWRC etc.) for the rejuvenation and conservation of waterbodies in view of conservation of biodiversity on the scientific basis in the study area.
- Report on the identification of the impact on ecosystem due to the change in hydrological regime along with connectivity loss in selected water bodies for present situations,
- List of the species vulnerable to the changing hydrological regime due to loss of water bodies.
- Probable consequences for the ecosystem and socio-economy for the future change in hydrological regime due to different driving forces.
- GIS based ecological model for the study area covering habitat quality, carbon storage & sequestration and nutrient delivery ratio.
- Report with suggestions and recommendations for the mitigation of impacts due to changing hydrological regimes and connectivity loss for the rejuvenation and conservation of waterbodies under changing climate.
6. Study area
For this research, two different waterbodies will be selected where one has a better upstream and downstream connection with perennial water bodies and another which loses the connectivity with perennial waterbodies due to anthropogenic activities. Dekar haor (Figure 1) from northeast region of Bangladesh can be chosen as study areas. The northeast region has a vast wetland ecosystem that is characterized by large depressions or bowl-shaped basins. These areas are typically flooded during the monsoon season and are an important source of fish and other aquatic resources for the local population. The northeastern region of Bangladesh, which includes the districts of Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Kishoreganj and Netrokona, is home to some of the largest and most important water bodies in the country. These water bodies (river, khal, wetlands, etc.) provide a vital source of livelihood for the people living in the surrounding areas, who are primarily engaged in fishing and agriculture. However, they are also vulnerable to environmental degradation due to climate change, land use change, and unsustainable fishing practices, which can have a negative impact on the local ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.
Figure: Location of the Study area
Methodology:
The research will be conducted through a comprehensive literature review, field surveys, historical data collection, statistical analyses, physically based numerical modelling and GIS based ecological modelling. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights into the environmental consequences of changes in the hydrological regime in the study region and contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies to prevent further damage to the ecosystem. The study will also serve as a reference for future research on the subject. The output of the research will certainly help to recommend the future biodiversity restoration and enhancement program to future National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) and hence to implementation of the Bangladesh Water Act 2013 and Bangladesh Water Rules 2018.
Flow chart of Research Methodology
The overall duration of the Research work will be 18 (eighteen) months.
7. Present Progress
Contract of Agreement (CoA) has been signed between WARPO and IWM on 20 May, 2025. The project is scheduled to run for 18 months following the signing of the contract. Meanwhile, 15 members Technical Committee, and 4 members Research Team have been formed to ensure the effective operation of the research project. Additionally, the Inception Report of the research project has been submitted by IWM to WARPO in June, 2025. The national workshop on Inception report will be held soon.
Total cost of the Research
The research study cost is Taka Ninety-nine lakh sixty-eight thousand eight hundred seventy-six only (Tk. 99.69 lakh).