|
Chittagong
International Biodiversity Conference 2007
Date: 22-24 May 2007
Theme: Biodiversity and Climate Change
The United Nations has proclaimed May 22, the International
Day for Biological Diversity, to increase understanding and
awareness of biodiversity issues. Biodiversity is the source
of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute
the source of life for all. The celebration each year of the
International Day for Biological Diversity is an occasion
to reflect on our responsibility to safeguard this precious
heritage for future generations.
Biodiversity Workshop of BRGB
 The
first National Workshop of the Biodiversity Research Group
of Bangladesh (BRGB) took place on 7 Janury 2002, hosted by
the Instute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences and jointly
sponsored by University of Chittagong and BioNET-INTERNATIONAL.
The workshop sought a consensus from a wide range of biodiversity
practitioners on the best approaches to meeting the priority
for taxonomic information and expertise needs especially to
enable Bangladesh to implement the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), including its Global Taxonomy Initiative
(GTI)
Participants included over 70 biodiversity information users
and a broad range of taxonomic experts from throughout Bangladesh,
representing many of the national environmental management
agencies such as the Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH),
IUCN, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh
Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Department of Forest (DoF),
Universities, etc.
 All
present at the workshop were both delighted and honoured by
the participation of two Government Ministers, Mr. Shajahan
Siraj MP and Alhaj Jafrul Islam Chowdhury MP, from the Ministry
of Environment and Forest. Both Ministers spoke strongly in
support of the establishment of SACNET, the South Asian Countries
Network for Taxonomy, and anticipated its important role in
helping South Asian countries achieve self-reliance in identifying
and understanding the relationship of all organisms. The meeting
was presided over by Professor Md. Fazlee Hossain, Vice Chancellor
of Chittagong University while Professor Dr. Mohammad Shamsuddin,
Pro Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University and Dr. Mohammad
Nurul Alam, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council (BARC) were present as special guests
Recommendations of the 1st workshop
- To link and co-ordinate among researchers, institutions,
government focal points and donor agencies.
- To strengthen taxonomic skills and resources.
- National Biodiversity Resource Center be established
in Chittagong which could appropriately be designated as
the Bangladesh National Taxonomic Reference Center, as recommended
by CBD-SBSTTA (may evolve as a National Museum of Natural
History).
- SACNET (the South Asian Network for Taxonomy) should be
established by Govt. of Bangladesh in collaboration with
other SAARC countries in support of CBD.
- The National SACNET Secretariat should be established
at IFESCU which may act as National Co-ordinating Institute
(NACI).
- To make link and close co-operation with the International
organizations for taxonomy through different initiatives.
- To prepare an up-to-date List of Microbes, Flora and Fauna
of Bangladesh.
- To promote and strengthen taxonomy in the country.
Bird & Bird Habitat Conservation Workshop
 A
three day training workshop on Bird and Bird Habitat Conservation
of the Potenga Sea Shore and Chittagong University Campus
was organized under the leadership of eminent bird lover,
Mr. Enam Ul Haque. In all 65 students took training on various
aspects of bird watching and conservation. At least 20 teachers
from different department of Chittagong University including
scientists from BFRI and the Department of Forest participated.
At this time an Avifauna Research Team of Chittagong was formed
under the joint leadership of professor Dr. Ghazi S. M. Asmat
and Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman.
Two separate checklists of birds of Chittagong University
Campus and Patenga sea shore was prepared after the three
day workshop.
BRGB observed World Biodiversity Day on 22 May 2002
 The
world Biodiversity Day was observed by holding a day long
Seminer on 22nd May 2002. The theme the seminar was "State
of Biodiversity in Bangladesh" which was held at the
premises of IFESCU. The Seminer was inaugurated by the Honourable
State Minister for Environment and Forest Alhaj Jafrul Islam
Chowdhury, MP, as the Chief Guest.
Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Science and Information
and Communication Technology Mr. Karar Mahmudul Hassan, Professor
A J M Nuruddin Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor and Professor Dr.
Mohammed Shamsuddin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor both of Chittagong
University,
were present as Special Guests.
Professor Dr. Mahmud-ul-Ameen, President of the Zoological
Society of Bangladesh presented the keynote paper. More than
70 delegates from different universities, research institutes
and NGOs of the country participated at the Seminar. A total
of 20 scientific papers on various aspects of biodiversity
were presented in two different scientific sessions.
Species Diversity Seminar
A one day seminar was jointly organized by BRGB and British
American Tobacco Bangladesh at the premises of Institute of
Forestry and Environmental Sciences on 7 January, 2003. State
Minister for Environment and Forest Mr. Jafrul Islam Chowdhury
MP inaugurated the seminar. The theme of the seminar was "Species
Diversity in Bangladesh".
More than 65 delegates from different universities, research
institutes and NGOs of the country attended the seminar. A
total of 15 original scientific papers on different disciplines
of biodiversity were presented in two different scientific
sessions.
|
