Management of Sacrificed Animal-wastes

In 2009, about 4.5 million cows, 10 million goats, 82,000 buffaloes 0.3 million sheep were sacrificed during Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh. About 80% were slaughtered in the city and municipalities and more than one-third of the total were sacrificed in greater Dhaka city alone. According to the statement of Tannery Owners Association, this year in 2010 the number of sacrificed animals has increased significantly; may be double of last year. They also added that due to Anthrax-phobia the slaughter was less in last six months, as a result a big influx of cattle arose and thus the availability of cows was remarkable. Moreover, better security, easy transportation, smooth banking facility and fewer disturbances from the muggers, the Kurbani market was flourished. Continue reading

Respect the habit and habitats and natural laws during plantation establishment

At last it has come to the notice that “Nearly 500 trees have died in the Bashundhara residential area, 20 around the Baridhara Lake, 25 near the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and ten more at the Farmgate Park”.

What about the others in Uttara, Ashulia and other part of the city?
Thousands of rain-trees, acacias died in many areas of the city nobody raised the question of such dying of plants. In 2003-2005, many big rain-trees died in Chittagong (Polo-ground and CRB etc.). Some Nageshwars and Acaias died in Cantonment area. Thousands of Sissoo died after 1988 floods throughout Bangladesh especially along the roadsides of floodplains. Who cares for them? Continue reading

Study on the behavior of tea roots

Abstract

The behavior of tea roots was investigated. A great territorial and spatial behavior of has been observed among the tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) sub-species assamica. Roots exhibit a good natural habit of adaptation for wet and dry seasons with a distinct triple storey behavior spreading in top soil, and in wet and dry season-water available zones. Tea roots are quite deep rooted and good spreading of roots was observed at a depth of 4.15 meter. An antagonistic behavior also was observed with newly in-filled tea plants from the neighboring existing older plants which is found as the most important reasons for failure of in-fills in the mature and older tea plantations. These behaviors are influencing rehabilitation of teas and establishment of new tea plants.

Abstract submitted to: The Conference on Engineering, Research, Innovation and Education: January 11-12, 2011; School of Applied Sciences and Technology, Cheap Jerseys from china Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Please read the book “Improvement of Tea: Environment and Cultural Practices”: Plantation crops and Organic Farming Research Articles Series:-4 ISBN 984-300-002885-5

Coastal Zone Management in Bangladesh

Presented in the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) SIE LDCs Workshop at Maputo, Mozambique Held on September 20-22, 2010

Abstract

Bangladesh has a difficult coastline with many rivers and distributaries and complex ecology which is affected by natural hazards like cyclones, coastal flooding, tidal surges, salinity and the like phenomenon. The coastline is of 734 km involving coastal and island communities of about 50 million people, nearly about one-third of the total population of Bangladesh. Vulnerabilities in the coastal zone of Bangladesh are increasing with accentuations of natural hazards and sea level rise caused by various factors. Research findings, grey literature and indigenous knowledge are to be surveyed to develop policies for sustainable coastal zone management Continue reading

Wetland Preservation in Dhaka City Area

Bangladesh is a Tropical monsoon country of South Asia with geographical location 20°34’N to 26°38’N and 88°01’E to 92°41’ E bordering the Bay of Bengal in the south with a coast line 734 km, Myanmar for 193 km in the south east and India for 4,053 km in the west, north and east. It is a part of humid tropics, with the Himalayas in the north and the funnel shaped coast touching the Bay of Bengal in the south. The country comprises of an area of 147,570 km² with a population 165 million. The terrain is mostly flat; hilly in southeast. Natural hazards include droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season. Many people are being forced to live on flood-prone land with limited access to potable water. Water-borne diseases are prevalent. Water pollution is a big problem as a result of commercial uses of pesticides. In addition, there are intermittent water shortages, soil degradation, deforestation, and severe overpopulation. Continue reading

International Year of Biodiversity

World Environment Day was observed in a befitting manner. The day was declared as the International Year of Biodiversity with the theme “Many Species One Planet, One Future”. Dr Mahammed Ataur Rahman, Director, Centre for Global Environmental Culture of International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), Uttara, Dhaka has strongly advocated for the importance of biodiversity saying as “The more species provide better scope for adaptation, survivability and food security in the changing climatic condition. He emphasized the needs for protection of species and varieties within the species which are developed after hundreds and thousands years of adaptation. Continue reading

Revolution of Jhumia’s life through Rubber plantation: A Case Study of Dhalai District, Tripura

Author: Sukanta Sarkar, Lecturer in Economics, ICFAI University, Agartala, Tripura, India, E-mail: Sukantaeco@gmail.com
June 6, 2010

ABSTRACT:

Jhum cultivation is a form of agriculture in which the cultivated or cropped area isshifted regularly to allow soil properties to recover under conditions of natural successive stages of re-growth. There exists a great deal of direct and indirect employment potential associated with rubber plantation. Economic conditions of jhumia people are very poor and therefore they are unable to purchase those products which are essential for their daily life. Without perceptible improvement in their socio-economic condition, tribal development itself will be at stake. Disparate living standard, differential access to income earning capacity and other amenities are likely to generate discontent among jhumia’s and weaken their motivation to participation in socio-cultural activities. Case study in Dhalai district in Tripura shows that rubber plantation has able to change the economic life of jhumia’s.

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Coconut- A Great Plantation Crop for Climate Change Adaptation

“Coconut is an excellent tree crop for Climate Change Adaptation – should be brought under massive cultivation across the country especially in the high water-table zones and in the cyclone prone coastal regions as it can easily reduce the wind speed of storm and mitigate global warming” said Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman, a re-known Plantation Crop Specialist.

Coconut water is a wonderful safest natural drink, thrust quencher and remedy for diarrhea and cholera. The trees are suitable for climate change adaptation by keeping water table up, controlling erosion, acting as strong windbreaks and reducing storms and cyclones. It rejuvenates and creates soil and it has endless uses. More interestingly, it grows luxuriantly in salinity prone areas without application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and it is absolutely grown organically.
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Bamboo- An Excellent Plantation Crop for Climate Change Adaptation

“Bamboo is an excellent crop for Climate Change Adaptation – should be brought under massive cultivation across the country as it can easily mitigate global warming” said Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman, a famous Plantation Crop Specialist.

He claimed that bamboo is a very fast growing wonderful natural resource suitable for climate change adaptation by converting atmospheric CO2 into biomass, keeping water table up, controlling erosion, acting as strong windbreaks and reducing storms and cyclones. It rejuvenates and creates soil and it has endless uses. More interestingly, it grows luxuriantly without application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and it is absolutely grows organically.

“Although it is a great crop with many contributions but a very little study on its production, yield, habit and habitat has practically been done here in Bangladesh” Dr Rahman, an accomplished agricultural researcher thus expressed his great concern during the presentation of keynote paper on “Environment and Cultural Practices of Bamboo” .
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Climate Change Adaptation for Cities

Climate Change and Extreme Cyclones

Abstract

Cities are the colonized places of high-dense population, where the inhabitants enjoy easy livelihood, communication, healthcare, education, security and recreation facilities. Due to climate change effects, the basic ingredients namely air, space, light, water and other logistic support and services of a citizen are increasingly hampered and the cities are becoming inhabitable. The present study analyzes the magnitude of climate change effects on city lives and works out the ways of adaptation to reduce the risk of the anticipated disasters. It is found that migration towards the cities for livelihood is increasing at a very high rate and the cities are increasingly facing various crises like accommodation, energy, transportation, pollution, wastes, insecurity, crimes and social unrest. Resource management and biomass recycling have been seriously affected. It has also been investigated that the poor planning and administrative weakness aggravate the crises. However, it has been found that the cities are the ultimate shelters during major disasters like floods, tidal surge, cyclones, tornadoes and famine. To keep the cities safe and habitable, the ways for mitigation of climate change effects are focused, and appropriate ways are recommended for better adaptations. Continue reading