Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
The programme intervenes amidst the interface and interrelationship of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services that could eventually feed into policy, targeted to sustainable development. On the other hand, specific actions accompany the research to mainstream explored best practices both in the community level and policy level that simultaneously augment conservation and development.
The word biodiversity is a common contraction of biological diversity, is indeed commonly used to describe the number, variety and variability of living organisms. Biodiversity is an umbrella term for the degree of nature’s variety, including both the number and frequency of ecosystem, species and genes in a given assemblage (McNeely,1988). Biodiversity has several components, such as number, abundance, composition, spatial distribution and interactions of genotypes, populations, functional types and traits, and landscape units in a given system. All the components may play a role in maintaining life support systems in the long run. The ecosystem services can be affected by Biodiversity directly or indirectly. Humans derive most of their essential food and fibres from animals and plants. Biodiversity also helps to generate many ecosystems services, such as, soil formation and retention, pollination, climatic regulation (Clean air, water, precipitation etc) and protection against natural hazards. It enables ecosystems to respond to external influences, to recover after disturbance and to maintain the organisms essential for its ecological processes.
Humankind is benefited from ecosystems through a multitude of resources and processes which are known as ecosystem services. These services are distinct from other products and functions provided by ecosystem. Ecosystem services can be subdivided into five categories: Provisioning such as production of food and water; Regulating such as control of climate and diseases; supporting such as nutrient cycle and crop pollination; Cultural such as spiritual and recreational benefits; and Preserving, which includes safeguards against natural hazards. These services are produced by the interacting functions of different components of an ecosystem (both the living and non living components). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, however, highlighted a continuing trend of ecosystem degradation throughout the world, with obvious consequences on the ability of ecosystems to deliver services (MA, 2005).
Prevailing development strategies advocate for using natural resources as a means of growth without paying any heed for conservation. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA 2005) reported that 60% of the ecosystem services, accessed, are in decline due to unsustainable human actions. The main driver of declining ecosystem services is the indiscriminate loss of biodiversity. Unnayan Onneshan, therefore, deems biodiversity as a tool for poverty alleviation and thus conservation of biodiversity is of utmost importance for sustainable development. Biodiversity is a part of the solution for worldwide food demands, in that it provides the genetic information used in plants and animal breeding. Furthermore, it makes vulnerable livelihood more resilient by providing risk spreading options across a range of domesticated and wild species rather than relying on a few staples that may become susceptible to diseases, pests, climate changes and market collapse.
Research
Unnayan Onneshan carries research on various aspects of biodiversity ranging from forest biodiversity to agriculture biodiversity. Sundarbans, world’s largest mangrove forest, always remains as one of the focus areas for Unnayan Onneshan research. Since inception, the organisation is conducting research on Sundarbans, mainly focusing biodiversity, traditional resource management and livelihoods of the forest peoples in collaboration with different national and international development partners.
Research on Sundarbans
Community Based Management of SundarbansResuscitating the Sundarbans: Customary Use of Biodiversity and Traditional Cultural Practices in Bangladesh
Deserting the Sundarbans: Local People’s Perspective on ADB-GEF-Netherlands funded Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project
Recent Publications Agriculture biodiversity and food security: Two sides of a coin
Completed Research Works
Agriculture Biodiversity and Food Security: Two Sides of a CoinResuscitating the Sundarbans: Customary Use of Biodiversity and Traditional Cultural Practices in Bangladesh
Deserting the Sundarbans: Local People’s Perspective on ADB-GEF-Netherlands funded Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project
Advocacy and Dissemination
Creation of broad awareness of, and active support for, biodiversity conservation and generation of ecosystem services as a tool of poverty alleviation in government, the private sector, NGOs, academia and the general public arena heading towards sustainable development.
Capacity Building
Provide innovative and improvised approaches for biodiversity conservation to the practitioners through community level workshops, training, media campaign etc. Simultaneously, provide rigorous information, organise training for Government and NGO conservation officials, arrange national level seminars, workshops incorporating policy makers.
Dissemination
Unnayan Onneshan, as a part of dissemination process, is continuously publishing research reports in organisation’s website www.unnayan.org. These reports are downloadable free of charge and user friendly. Moreover, the organisation arranges seminars, workshops to disseminate research reports to the broader stakeholders with the aim of influencing policy modules for change. In addition, every week the organisation is publishing policy briefs and opinions in renowned national and international dailies and weeklies as part of capacity building programmes to aware mass people also to inform policy makers regarding contemporary conservation research and policy debates. Here some of our published media articles focusing biodiversity conservation and importance of ecosystem services:
Events
Unnayan Onneshan is continuously organising seminars, workshops, round table discussions. In-house Seminar, held every Saturday in the conference room at Unnayan Onneshan premise, is another distinctive feature of the organisation, what is intended to share research findings, opinions among researchers conducting research on diverse aspects. We believe that this ‘in-house’ seminar series would help to strengthen our researchers’ capacity to conduct interdisciplinary research and contribute positively to our move towards building a ‘knowledge based society’. Moreover, organisation’s researchers are continuously participating different national and international seminars and conferences and present research reports; contribute to advancing knowledge in conservation science. Since 2004 organisation is presenting national conservation position and current research status in World Summit like CBD-COP, FAO meeting or other high-brow international conferences:
Unnayan Onneshan at Working Group Meeting on Protected AreasUnnayan Onneshan participated at 2nd Working Group Meeting on Protected Areas (WPGA 2) held at FAO headquarter, Rome, Italy from 11th -15th February 2008. A poster on “The Sundarban Reserve Forest In Bangladesh – An Urgent Call To Ensure The Full And Effective Participation Of Indigenous And Traditional Resource Users In Its Governance And Management” was displayed in the meeting.
The Unnayan Onneshan participant also made a presentation on “Indigenous and Local Communities Rights and Participation in Protected Areas” at the side event organized by “Forest Peoples Programme, UK” on February 14, 2008.
Diversity conservation and ecosystem services that could eventually feed into policy, targeted to sustainable development. On the other hand, specific actions accompany the research to mainstream explored best practices both in the community level and policy level that simultaneously augment conservation and development.
Research Programme 2010
Community Based Management of Sundarbans
Agriculture Biodiversity, Ecosystem services and Food Security in Rural Bangladesh
Green Space and Ecosystem Services in Dhaka City
Climate Change Impacts on Water Security and Ecosystem Services in Different Agro Ecological Zones of Bangladesh
Research on Sundarbans
Community Based Management of SundarbansResuscitating the Sundarbans: Customary Use of Biodiversity and Traditional Cultural Practices in Bangladesh
Deserting the Sundarbans: Local People’s Perspective on ADB-GEF-Netherlands funded Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project
Recent Publications
(Click on the name of report for downloading)
Agriculture biodiversity and food security: Two sides of a coin
pasha
Posted at 2012-03-03 22:16:07
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