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Bangladesh
/ Environment
Environmental
degradation and depletion of natural resources are often observed
in Bangladesh due to poverty, over-population and lack of awareness
on the subject. It is manifested by deforestation, destruction
of wetlands, depletion of soil nutrients, etc. Natural calamities
like floods, cyclones and tidal-bores also result in severe socio-economic
and environmental damage.
With
a growth rate of 4.3%, the contribution of forest resources to
GDP and the agriculture sector are 2.3% and 7.33% respectively.
Afforestation generates employment and helps maintain environmental
balance. The total forest area of the country is 2.5 million hectare,
which is 17% of the total land area of Bangladesh. Out of the
total forest lands, trees exist in only 45% area. A national policy
has been adopted for conservation of forests and the environment.
Apart from afforestation, programs include planting trees on fallow
lands, alongside roads and rail lines, on flood protection embankments
and the coastal belt and in educational institutions.
In
recent years, the government has taken some important steps towards
protection of the environment, environmentally sound use of natural
resources and pollution control, Adoption of National Environment
Policy and formulation of National Conservation Strategy and the
National Environment Management Action Plan are some of the measures
undertaken by the government to integrate environment with development
in a policy framework.
To
take prompt legal action agaainst environmental pollution, the
government has recently set up Environment courts. The Environment
Conservation Rules 1997 has also been passed by the Parliament.
The Department of Environment is taking measures to carry out
surveys on identification and control of polluting industries,
river pollution and automobile pollution.
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