Wetlands and Biodiversity: A Case Study of Common Property Resources in Bangladesh

Abstract

"Bangladesh, a deltaic flood plain formed by the three major rivers of the world is endowed with vast wetland resources which include 1.03 million hectares of rivers, canals and estuaries, 114,161 hectares of reservoirs, 2.8 million hectares of seasonal floodlands and 87,300 hectares of brackish water aquafirms. These wetlands support biological diversity of flora and fauna. Wetlands and their biodiversity have been contributing substantially to the socio-economic life of the millions of people of rural Bangladesh by providing opportunities of employment, food and nutrition, fuel, fodder, transportation, irrigation, etc. Men, women and children are engaged in harvesting diverse resources of wetlands. The paper highlights different management patterns of wetlands. It also covers the use and access rights in harvesting wetland-based natural resources and relates these to social stratification and wetland types (including location and seasonality). The paper discusses issues related to conversion of wetlands to croplands and depletion of wetland-based biodiversity. It cites some instances of gradual transformation of common property rights regimes on wetland resources into private property rights. One of the aims of this paper has been to focus on the importance of conducting detailed studies on the existing status of wetland-based common property resources and rights in Bangladesh and to come up with specific recommendations toward building institutions in the country for conserving and protecting biological and cultural diversity of wetlands on a sustainable basis so that the common people are benefitted."