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Wetland ownership and management in a common property resource setting: A case study of Hakaluki Haor in Bangladesh |
Reference |
Irina Ahmed, B. James Deaton, Rakhal Sarker, Tasneem Virani, "Wetland ownership and management in a common property resource setting: A case study of Hakaluki Haor in Bangladesh". Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDY-4SP05M2-1&_user=1007252&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=954242039&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050223&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1007252&md5=7e3d56fc5fefba589b352970c4cf7b40 |
Introduction to the Institution |
Wetlands provide a wide range of economic, social and ecological benefits. From the perspective of a developing country, wetlands are an important source of commercial fishing, agriculture, seasonal livestock grazing, wood collection and ecotourism. In Bangladesh, where inland water bodies constitute nearly 50% of total land area, wetlands are critical to economic development and environmental quality. The wetlands are owned by the public and the government confers exclusive use rights to individuals or groups who hold the lease. These individuals and groups are called isaradars. The isaradars are responsible for sustainable harvesting of the wetland resources particularly the fishes. |
Rules for Management
of the Institution |
(a) Boundary Rules |
Spacial Boundaries: Hakaluki Haor, a largest wetland in Bangladesh. The Haor is located in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh, between the districts of Sylhet and Moulvibazar.Social Boundaries: The groups who hold the lease of wetlands are called isaradars. The isaradars are responsible for sustainable harvesting of the wetland resources particularly the fishes. |
(b) Governance
rules |
Not mentioned |
(c) Resource Allocation |
In the case of Hakaluki Haor, the Ministry of Land and Revenue leases the right, through district offices, to a successful bidder mainly for fishing. However, surrounding villagers use the Hakaluki Haor for a wide variety of uses such as, fuel-wood collection, seasonal grazing, and fishing. Thus, a de facto set of rights influences uses of the resources beyond the de jure forms established in the leases. Men typically plant, grow, and harvestagricultural crops whether it is rice or wheat or other crops. Women are responsible for drying and husking and making grains ready for family use or for sale. With respect to fishing, men are typically involved in the fishing activity itself while women may tackle the job of cleaning and drying the fish. |
Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
Not mentioned |
Problems Faced by Institution |
Not mentioned |
Changes in the Institution over time |
Not mentioned |
Country |
Bangladesh |
Region |
The Hakaluki Haor is the largest natural wetland1 in Bangladesh and one of the largest in south Asia. It is composed of 6000 beels (small freshwater lakes) and covers up to 18,000 ha during the rainy season. Due to the economic and ecological significance of the Hakaluki Haor it was declared as one of the ecologically critical areas in the country by the Director General of the Bangladesh Department of Environment in 1999. |
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