INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

IN BANGLADESH

Today there is a stronger recognition in Bangladesh that environmental protection requires a collaborative and concerted effort from all. Working within the framework of an evolving legal and regulatory framework, government agencies at the national and local levels are becoming more aware of the need to consider the environmental impacts of their policies and actions, and are gradually building their capacity to manage the environment. Environmental NGOs and the media have assumed increasingly important roles in raising public awareness and supporting grassroots activities. Research institutes and consulting firms are playing a larger part in improving the understanding of the environment. International donors and funding institutions are also contributing to the environmental management process. Although the various pieces of the institutional and legal puzzle are slowly taking shape, it will take a long time before they fall into place.

Concept of Institutional framework The term “institutional framework” refers to a set of

formal organizational structures, rules and informal norms for service provision. Such a framework is the precondition for the successful implementation of environment management intervention tools and therefore needs to be considered in particular. In the field of environment management, an institutional framework involves outlining the responsibilities of services institutions for various aspects of the sector (IEES 2006). Institutional structures vary from country to country, but whatever the specific structure is like, it is essential to have mechanisms for dialogue and co-ordination.

Importance of ensuring institutional frameworkAn institutional framework management consists of a range of different organizations that are in place (or need to be in place) to develop and manage the delivery of services at different levels of society (GWP 2008). Implementing an institutional framework is an important process for preparing the ground for sustainable environment management.

A lack of a sound institutional framework is the root cause of many failures in service delivery — and a major cause of failed environmental provision. Such institutional weakness often results from the lack of a clear institutional “home” for planning and management, together with limited capacity within institutions to coordinate and manage initiatives.so the importance of ensuring institutional framework is very important in the context of Bangladesh.

Environmental management system (EMS)

Environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner. It includes the organizational structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection.

Institutional Framework for Environmental Management in Bangladesh

The Ministry of Environment & Forest

(MoEF)

About MoEF

A number of laws, degrees, and ministerial decisions govern the institutional framework of environmental management in Bangladesh. Chief among them are the laws and degrees establishing the Ministry of Environment & Forest, defining its mandate and organizing the ministry. The administration of the laws on resource management is entrusted with respective ministries and public agencies. The Department of Environment (DoE) established in 1977 under the Environment Pollution Control Ordinance, 1977 .

Vision & Mission Vision:• Sustainable environment and optimum forest coverage.

Mission:

• To ensure sustainable environment and forest through conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity; controlling• environmental pollution; addressing climate change; research, floristic survey and development of forest resources

Major functions1. Management of environment and ecology. 2. Matters relating to environment pollution control. 3. Conservation of forests and development of forest resources (government and private), forest inventory, grading and quality control of forest products. 4. Afforestation and regeneration of forest extraction of forest produce. 5. Plantation of exotic cinchona and rubber. 6. Botanical gardens and botanical surveys. 7. Tree plantation. 8. Planning cell preparation of schemes and coordination in respect of forest. 9. Research and training in forestry. 10. Mechanized forestry operations. 11. Protection of wild birds and animals and establishment of sanctuaries. 12. Matters relating to marketing of forest produce.13. Liaison with international organizations and matters relating to treaties and agreements with other countries and world bodies relating to subjects allotted to this Ministry.

Policy, Laws & Acts • Bangladesh Environment protection law• Bangladesh Environment protection law (Amendment), 2000 • Bangladesh Environment protection law (Amendment), 2002• Bangladesh Environment protection law (Amendment), 2010 • Brick baking (Regulation) Act, 1989• Brick baking (Regulation) Act, 1992• Brick baking (Regulation) Act, 2001• Prepared and placed in the brick kilns ( Regulation) Act, 2013• Environment Court Act , 2000• Environment Court ( Amendment) Act, 2002• Environment Court ( Amendment) Act, 2010• Bangladesh Biodiversity Act, 2012• Climate Change Trust Act, 2010

Departments under this Ministry

a. Department of Environment (DoE)b. Bangladesh Forest Departmentc. Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI)d. Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corp. (BFIDC)e. Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH)f. Bangladesh Climate Change Trust

Department of Environment

(DoE)

Vision & Mission DoEVision -• Vision is to ensure sustainable environmental governance for

achieving high quality of life for the benefit of present and future generation.

Mission -• Mission is to help secure a clean and healthy environment for

the benefit of present and future generations:• Through the fair and consistent application of environmental

rules and regulations• Through guiding, training, and promoting awareness of

environmental issues; and • Through sustainable action on critical environmental problems

that demonstrate practical solutions, and that galvanize public support and involvement

Ministry of Disaster Management and

Relief(MoDMR)

Vision & Mission of MoDMR Vision -• “The disaster management vision of the Government of the

People's Republic of Bangladesh is to reduce the risk of people, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, from the effects of natural, environment and human induced hazards to a manageable and acceptable humanitarian level and to have in place an efficient emergency response management system.”

Mission -• The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) has been

given the mandate to drive national risk reduction reform programmes. Its mission relative to this agenda is: “To achieve a paradigm shift in disaster management from conventional response and relief to a more comprehensive risk reduction culture, and to promote food security as an important factor in ensuring the resilience of communities to hazards”

National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995

• NEMAP is an environmental planning exercise initiated by the government through the MoEF following the commitments made under Agenda 21 at UNCED in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. • population at large interest groups, resource users and environmental stockholders, NEMAP identified the key environmental concerns to Bangladesh and provided an action plan to halt or reduce the rate of environmental degradation, improve the natural and manmade environment, conserve habitats and biodiversity, promoting sustainable development and improving quality indicators of human life.

Environmental NGOs

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced

Studies(BCAS)

Field of Specialization of BCAS1. Natural resource management (land, water, fisheries,

forestry, agriculture and biodiversity)2. Enhance resilience of natural and human systems3. Livelihood analysis, poverty reduction strategy and food security Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Clean technology and pollution management4. Energy (conventional and renewable)5. Environmental education and health6. Public-private partnership7. Global climate change, and human dimension of global change8. Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)9. Trade, environment and sustainable development

BCAS work at different levels –

• International Level•National Level• Regional Level• Local and grass-roots level

Bangladesh Environmental

Lawyers Association (BELA)

• BELA, an advocacy group of lawyers, was established in 1992 with the broad objective of promoting environmental justice and contributing to the development of sound environmental jurisprudence. • BELA started its mission as an advocacy group of young lawyers

developing legal techniques and strategies to protect the environment and defend rights of communities dependent on nature and natural resources. Founded by Dr. Mohiuddin Farooque, the organization has paved the way for environmental legal activism in the country and has been the pioneer of public interest litigation in Bangladesh. BELA has adopted various means to create awareness amongst the major actors and the common people about their environmental rights and duties. BELA has published books and other awareness materials, all having relevance to the concept of environmental protection and justice. It is also active in promoting people’s right to information and the concept of participatory law-making in the country.

Proshika

•Proshika’s one of the major activities is social forestry programme. It is a systematic intervention to enhance the plantation, protection and regeneration of the forest resources.•It also provides disaster relief during national calamities such as floods, cyclones, cold spells etc.

BRAC

Brac also has two environment related progrmme:

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Disasters & Climate Change

The Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB)

The Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB) is a non-profit organization whose aim is to conserve the country’s biological

diversity.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)

BAPA’s objectives are:

1. To stop the process of further environmental degradation in Bangladesh. 2. To reverse, where possible, the damage that has already been done to the environment.3. To build up a nationwide, united, civic movement to achieve the aims of stopping and reversing environmental degradation in Bangladesh.

BAPA’s accomplishmentBAPA has already been able to bring about certain positive changes in Bangladesh environment. Working together with other pro-environment forces, BAPA has been successful to –a) make the government implement removal of two-stroke engine vehicles (TSEV) that were one of the major causes of urban air pollution in Bangladesh; b) make the government to put an end to the use of leaded gasoline in Bangladesh; c) make the government re-impose the ban on the use of polythene bags; d) encourage and spread the environment movement to various districts of Bangladesh;

Centre for Coastal Environmental

Conservation (CCEC)

• CCEC is a nonprofit grass roots environmental NGO in Bangladesh for protection & sustainable development of coastal ecosystem through local initiatives & participation. Sustainable harvesting of sundarbans resource & climate change adaptation strategies are the main activities for environmental awareness raising of the coastal communities.• Vision –• Community based sustainable development of sundarbans coastal ecosystem Bangladesh.• Mission –• Environmental sustainability of sundarbans coastal ecosystem & poverty reduction of the climate vulnerable communities through grass roots participation .

Research Institutes & Universities

Various Research institutes & Universities also play a major role in environmental research and education.

Research Institutes -• Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)• The Institute of Environmental Science (IES) • The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS)

Universities Department of Geography & Environment, University of

Dhaka Department of Geography & Environmental Studies,

University of Rajshahi Department of Environmental Science and

Management, North South University Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar

UniversityEtc……….

Others Institutions

Private sectorMediaDonors and funding institutionsTelevisionRedio

As most of the people of our country is illiterate so the institutional framework of environmental management system in Bangladesh should become more strong , only then the environmental management system will be more suitable for all. So this is the most important responsibilities of the institutions to make the people aware of the sustainable environmental development. The need to spread environmental awareness is must & It is linked to environmental education.

Because of the strong institutional framework the society in Bangladesh is now-a-days responding to the global call for protection of environment. With the adoption of new sets of laws and rules, the legal regime as it stands today sounds more progressive and sensitive. With a demand to implement law, overcome the shortcomings and ensure adequate institutional and policy support, the civil society activism is developing vigorously.

• The importance of environmental awareness is that it helps individuals understand the impact we as humans have on our planet. Being aware can help us find ways to keep our surroundings clean and green; such as planting a tree or recycling. Environmental management institutions speaks out about the environment and the proper management of it resources. The importance of these institutions are to push for change either through campaigning at the political level or simply by educating & taking various important measures to aware people. Without these institutions this issue would disappear and be forgotten. These institutions push to keep the environment fresh on the minds of the people.

Thank You