Sustainable Development and Biodiversity: A discourse of contemporary development approach and practices
Sustainable Development and
Biodiversity:
A discourse of contemporary
development approach and practices
Abstract:
In the sense, over the last two
and half decades ‘sustainable development’ has mature from a phrase expressing
anxiety for social and environmental evils to a global obsession. The notion
supposedly offers cures for the many and assorted harms that bothering
contemporary society, and that the reason it engages an integrated approach,
the sustainable development trend has resulted much-needed partnership
connecting experts from different environments, to work on the difficult
dilemmas concerned in the exchanges linking society and environment (FRAZIER,
J. G.- 1997). Consequently, the term is rarely defined, and, being elegant and
institutionalized, the ‘sustainability movement’ now straights the method much
science and policy for natural protection and development are considered, implemented
and evaluated. Occult, but essential, in virtually all conversations of
sustainable development is the maxim of constant development. On the other hand
in maximum cases, as a substitute of contribution a proper explanation to
contemporary dilemmas, the term is a source of confusion, contention and even dishonesty.
It is imperative that the use of this term, especially in multidisciplinary,
international and scientific spheres, be based on clear understanding of its
meaning, and that the issue of growth and the concept of limits are clearly
incorporated into the core of the discussion (Frazier, J. G.-1997,
P-182).
Key word: Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Environment, Sustainability,
MHYVs, Economic Growth.
A. Introduction:
The issues of sustainable development are the different
people embrace different idea on confident methodical concepts or other vicinity
of understanding. Those technical attitudes are habitually valued by our positive
past experiences or marvelous findings and other enormous innovations. Defiantly
we gain some of the paramount acquaintance from practical sciences but it
certainly is not the absolute structure of knowledge (Alejandro, P. and Douglas,
K.A.: 1989). Personal discipline strength is the extreme outline of knowledge meanwhile
on other side it may slightly involve a confusion of science as entire or awareness.
Fundamentally knowledge is the study of the natural world through observation, recognition,
explanation, tentative analysis and hypothetical explanations. If we look the
lance of sociologist or development anthropologist than it would be found a
clear picture of people centered development which are illustrated by the
standard of social justice, comprehensiveness and eco-centric development that
highly emphasis to local knowledge and local economy and self-sufficiency of
the society as well as on the other hand that is that the international
development agency or partner’s primary emerging is development by using local
resources not their participation or sustainability but for sustainable
development it’s very much necessary that people-centered improvement persuade
people’s awareness association and encourage participatory conversation
building progression for attaining sustainable improvement and biodiversity (Barua,
B.P.-2010)[1]. That
this apprehension is no mere product of doomsday advocates has been revealed
repeatedly over the last two decades, for example, by an unprecedented joint
report, expressed in austere terms, by two august scientific bodies: namely the
Royal Society of London and the US National Academy of Sciences (1992). Even
the illustrious weekly Nature has recently found relevance in dedicating
space to global policy problems such as the fisheries’ crisis (Masood 1997). In
an effort to cure base maladies of contemporary society and our environment,
‘sustainable development’ (together with its countless variants) has been
prescribed in ever-stronger doses.
Conceptual
Frameworks:
This paper discusses the concept of sustainable
development and the enter directions of exploit on the way to constructing a
sustainable development path for third world developing countries (LDCs) particularly
in Bangladesh. It also recognizes key areas of local, regional and
international cooperation in the framework of execution of sustainable
development in the country. On the other hand aggregating the contemporary development
approaches that how to gain sustainability in prospect of developments on
emphasis of social, political, socio-economic specially ecological, as well as
empirical findings on the basis of ethnicity by economist and sociologist or
development anthropologist after globalization and modernization where
biodiversity are absolutely avoiding. On the other hand contemporary approaches
in third world developing countries are highly emphasis on their economic growth
without considering the nature or ecosystem. So, ultimate result is that several
unexpected problems frequently happening such as natural disaster, temperature increases,
and sea water level increases. After that we found global warming and losses our
sustainability and ecology.
B. Case study: MHYVs are robustly danger for
local ecosystem and sustainable development in the coastal area of Bangladesh
B.1. Local agriculture system is now
victimized by modern development (MHYVs)
Local
traditional farmer Motalib Boyati son of late Mr. Judge Ali Boyati, age 50+
years last 35+ years working in the field of agriculture, so he has a lot of
experience on various types of crops which are producing by himself in his
locality. The last two decades he has been using fertilizer for their agro
products but ultimate results is not rational because they have to depend on
market for seeds and fertilizer which are the main element of their production
too that really problematic for their agro production process, it is very in
general that when farmer has not enough money in his hand for purchasing seeds
and use fertilizer in their field that time they have to depend on local loan
provider/moneylender (locally known as “DADAN /MAHJAN”) and that type of loan
is very high interest so far consequently their production cost will be raised
and those proceeding of production interrelation play a great roll in market
price of crops, some time they have to lose a lot when crops are damaged by
various type of disaster or natural calamity such as cyclone, dry weather,
heavy rainfall and so on. On the other hand like their production cost is 700
BDT (USD $10) but market price is 500-600 BDT, that time they have to sold
their crops for timely meet the loan to provider otherwise they would have too
loss more for more interest on loan amount.
B.2. Agriculture and present reality in
livelihood of Coastal Area
Previously
they used cow and plough for their paddy field ready to seeding but now a day
they have been using power tiller, tractor and various types of modern
equipment and fertilizer as well as consequently production cost also raising
day by day. As their experience they produced a lot of variety of yield such as
Rajashail, Kartikjol, Aguni, Moulota,
chikon, chengail, shakhar khana, sada mota, bhainkhir (some local name of
paddy and variety of fragrant rice) but the last two decades has lost those
type of variety of yield because those type of variety does not produce in the
present field condition on the other hand most of the cases those type of seeds
has permanently vanished from their collection or preservation. Presently
produce two type local paddy namely mota
dan (local name-large size paddy) and doud
kolam (especial local paddy with fragrant) and produce as the session AMAN (paddy of winter variety) on the
other hand in the BORO session the main paddy’s are High Bride Variety of Yield
such as IRRI, BIRRI, BR41, BR44 and many more but in this case a lot of
fertilizer are necessary for produce the same as well as mainly use Uriah, TSP,
Mixed, Bio-fertilizer, Cow dung etc. Although modern high-yielding varieties
(HYV) of rice were adopted beginning in 1968, the rate of adoption remained low
till 1975-76. The major sources of growth of food grain production in the 1970s
were the expansion of area and the yield of wheat. The rapid diffusion of rice
HYVs took place after mid-1980s with the liberalization of policies regarding
the procurement and distribution of agricultural inputs, and reduction of
import duties on agricultural equipment. Traditional varieties are grown only
in the unfavorable ecosystems, the rain fed uplands (Aus), the deepwater areas
(broadcast Aman) and the saline affected coastal areas. So far they know that
most of the south zone and coastal area’s rice production has going on without
irrigation as well as totally dependent on nature so irrigation and proper
cultivation procedure should be in favor to local culture, ecosystem as well as
nature. The last four decades or after liberation they found a lot of variety
of trees in their locality with various type of fruits trees such as litchi,
jackfruit, mango, amloki, kawfall and guava gardens but the last one and half
decades a large number of wood which built to furniture and fruits trees have
lost permanently or died forever because there are two specific tree are highly
cultivate in their village namely Chamball
and Mehgoni, thus those trees leafs
are very much dangerous for local land and water because both tree’s leaf
strongly make an impediment/firewall for produce other trees as well as fish in
water because it has a dangerous poison (local
peoples’ experience). Government or any NGO or INGO did not took any
initiatives for solve those problem or there were no any research was made by
any institution or organization as well as local agricultural institute and
government body total avoid it or they have no ideas in this case. Most
recently launch a new tree explicitly AKAHMONI
which also very much precarious for local land and water too. On the other
hand in their village’s cow, sheep and goat were very significant and vital
domestic animals for livelihood to local inhabitance but currently the natives
totally avoid or forgive and forget inherent household procedure and not to be
able to maintain that’s animals to their life (Barua B.P: 2010) It was very
much important and popular that milk of cows and goats usually important to
fill the demand of vitamin of local citizens. On the other hand a lot of
verities of fish were available in our locality but after using of fertilizer,
poison and so on what did happened it is very much clear like fresh sky that we
lost most of them and replace hybrid fishes some time there is no fish, so what
is going on people are strongly facing like previously told ‘vitamin’ that’s
very much essential for local people as well as the villagers has losing a very
strong earning source to maintain their livelihood.
C.
Sustainability and its aspect in issue of development
“Sustainability” and in spin “sustainable development” are
situation that mean diverse things to different people, making it complicated
to provide a single meaning. The original definition (widely used) of sustainable
development was made in the Brunt land Report (Our Common Future, World
Commission on Environment and Development in 1987) which defined it as: “Development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs". To
be ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, present and future
generation, that’s all about sustainable development. That could be
accomplished through the three string of social Equity which recognizes the
needs of everyone, maintenance of stable levels of Economic growth and employment, and using natural resources
carefully, even as defensive, and if possible enhancing, the Environment (www.ciria.org.uk). This can be shown illustration as follows as shown as
below:
Three areas of sustainable development (Source:
www.ciria.org.uk)
D. Biodiversity and Sustainable Development:
Biodiversity or eco-diversity
describes the natural capital held within a region and it refers, primarily, to
the inequality connecting livelihood beings at diverse stage of organic
organization - genetic material, entity class and ecology (Mukul, S.
A. : 2007). On the other hand it’s could be dig out the rational relation with
society, animal, nature and human. The out side of our home we can found a lot
of verity in nature and when we dig out prospect of present and past in nature
but we are very much unsatisfied when it has to be look that there is not
co-relation. So it is the reflection or effect of so call western or euro-centric
development which never consider the local nature or biodiversity. So we can deliver
same speech from website www.globalissues.org, they argued:
“The
variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as
biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the
enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the
planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically
diverse Earth. Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies
attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach”.
The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) defined
biodiversity as: ‘the variability among
living organisms from all sources including; inter alia, global, marine, and other water ecosystems and the
ecological composite of which they are part’. Biodiversity includes
multiple values and is vital for the production of food and to conserve the
ecological foundations needed to sustain people’s livelihood (Mukul, S. A.
(2007). Biodiversity protection is though vital to recover and modify this condition.
Biodiversity preservation through environmental sustainability (Goal Number -7)
is one of the prime objectives of Millennium Development Goals which strongly
linked with its first objective, i.e., eradication of poverty and hunger (Mukul,
S. A. 2007).
Besides, previously discussed, it is very much clear that
sustainable development is ‘the development which meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs’. This includes taking into account the impact of present decisions
on the options of future generations. Three goals of sustainable development
have been identified which includes; i) economic well being ii) social and
human development and iii) ecological sustainability and regeneration (FRAZIER,
J. G.-1997). Because events, concepts and actions do not stand in isolation,
the ecosystem approach is an analytical framework that adopts the notion of
ecosystem as its guiding principle. This approach is currently used to
understand change in human-related activities and environments, such as natural
resource management, urban planning and human health. The ecosystem approach is
essentially trans-disciplinary, and promotes a holistic view of sustainability.
Ecosystem is initially an idea produce tool as a storehouse of
interdisciplinary behavior and accomplishments; ecosystem is anticipated
for sharing experience and fostering creativity. Students will use ecosystem to
select courses based on an accessible and extensive set of information, ranging
from detailed outlines to previous exams and course evaluations. It will also
associate courses and programs with existing research projects. By providing
these linkages and by opening communication channels, ecosystem aims to enhance
interactive learning. Researchers will use ecosystem to identify current
efforts, avoid duplication, and for developing research. The transfer of
paradigms across disciplines may be one of the most interesting potential
spin-offs (http://staff.aub.edu.lb).
E. International initiatives for sustainable development
The inspiration for this undertaking has arisen from the
South and Central Asia Regional Roundtable of Eminent Persons on Sustainable
Development, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 30 July-1 August 2001 organized by
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) as an input into the
preparatory process of the 2002 WSSD, which the author attended in his personal
capacity. However, before going into Bangladesh perspectives on sustainable
development, let us quickly review the background and preparatory process of
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in Johannesburg
in 2002, given that this roundtable has been convened to help develop
Bangladesh perspectives in the context of the Summit. Previously in the 1992
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Or the Rio Earth Summit was
convened to address urgent problems of environmental protection and
socio-economic development (http://www.un.org/geninfo/bp/enviro.html). The assembled leaders signed the Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCC) and the
Convention on Biological Diversity endorsed the Rio Declaration and
the First Principles; and adopted Agenda 21 plan for achieving
sustainable development in the 21st Century. The Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD) was created as the Technical Commission of UN Economic and
Social council (ECOSOC) in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of
UNCED, and monitor and report on implementation of the Earth Summit agreements
at the local, national, regional and international level. Rio plus 5: Special
Session of the General Assembly held in June 1997 adopted a comprehensive
programme for the further implementation of Agenda 21. It also adopted the work
programme of the CSD for 1997-2002. At its Millennium Summit in 2000, the UN
General Assembly agreed to undertake a ten-year review of progress of the
implementation of Rio-Summit outcomes. It was also agreed that this review
would take place at the Rio+10 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
in Johannesburg in 2002.
F. International Assistance
on Sustainable Development to Bangladesh
Bangladesh would increase support from bilateral donors
and international agencies in various respects regarding the structure and accomplishment
of sustainable development. The major extensive areas would embrace development
of approaches and reform programmes attached on establishing veracity and
cultural dynamics in the country and within the framework of sustainable
development by some important indicators such as low level of human capability,
low productivity and unfavorable competitiveness, extensive unemployment,
narrow export base, deteriorating environment formation of a ‘sustainable
development fund’ for undertaking specific research and development as well as
innovative action programmes within the framework of sustainable development;
human capability and institutional capacity building, both processes designed
to suit the realities prevailing in the country; environmental capacity
building, specifically for adaptation to climate change; foreign direct
investment (FDI) to help accelerate economic growth; technology transfer as
appropriate; easy market access for Bangladeshi goods, particularly in
developed countries; and management of natural exposures (floods, cyclones and
storm surges) that cause rapid poverty and obstruct developmental activities
and finding solution to arsenic pollution.
G. Integrating Sustainable Development Principles into
Practice
There is no single, quantitative indicator for
sustainable development used by governments in the way that, for example, GDP
growth and employment rate are critically important and well understood
performance indicators of macroeconomic management. Instead, a range of
indicators is used and integration of the goals in the public sector often
appears to take place at the political level. When sustainable development is
evaluated, qualifying terms such as “balancing goals” and “trade-offs between
goals” are commonplace. Similarly, and not surprisingly, companies must keep in
mind bottom-line profitability and return on shareholders' funds, while seeking
cost-effective ways of integrating environmental and social goals into their
organizations. Both private companies and governments could probably do more to
base their decisions and report their activities on a broader basis than just
the financial bottom line. At an international level, this vision drives
initiatives such as the Global Reporting Initiative for corporate and
government reporting and the Bangladeshi principles for development project
financing. At a national level, some firms now report on a triple-bottom-line
basis, and socially or ethically responsible investment guidelines are now used
in the financial services industry. The case studies show that many companies
consider the application of sustainable development principles to be a key
issue for board-room consideration and seek to disseminate sustainable
development principles throughout their organizations. By the time issues reach
board-room level, environmental and social goals have been taken into account
and harmonized with economic goals. This is possible for larger companies,
anticipating the evolution of public policy and societal goals. They do so to
ensure their commercial survival in the longer-term. But this may not always be
an option for smaller companies or for companies under greater commercial
pressure, for whom short-term survival is the principal goal. Many of the case
studies illustrate corporate “good citizenship” and the socially-responsible
manner in which modern companies go about their activities. In developing
countries, some companies are actively assisting national governments in
achieving their development goals over and above the substantial economic contribution
they make through taxation, employment, investment and other benefits linked to
traditional business activity. Distinguishing the application of sustainable
development principles from normal modern corporate behavior is not always
obvious because governments and the public have come to expect socially
responsible behavior at a corporate level.
H. Contemporary practices in ‘Sustainable Development’
It is very important that when government or NGOs or
INGOs are initiating a new development project on that time they have to bear
in mind on biodiversity or ecology in their development plan. But practices are
very different and unrealistic too, thus they have never been considering with
nature for their development intervention. Thus contemporary efforts at surroundings
and performing sustainable development-reply to the issue of what
sustainability means in practice —illustrate technical consensus, ethical
consensus as well as moral or physical participation; from those three models
of social action (Blake D. Ratner 2004).
The dimensions of the sustainability concept can be considered commensurable by
technique, commensurable by a unifying ethic, or never fully commensurable and
therefore implicating value conflict. I summarize below how each of these alternatives
is represented in programmatic efforts to implementing sustainable development.
The examples I present are intended to accentuate the distinctions among these
alternate models. My intent is not to argue that actual development practice
divides cleanly according to these ideal types, but rather to demonstrate how
each of these models vies for legitimacy in practice. For others, the goal is to build a shared
ethic that may not eliminate conflict, but which offers a value basis for
resolving the conflicts that inevitably arise. Distinguish the “incomparable
challenge” in on the rise a sympathetic of the “support of social and
ecological morals” like liberty, fairness, community participation, natural
integrity, and equilibrium in the human relationship to nature Blake D. Ratner (2004). In third world developing countries like
Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand does not considering ecosystem when they initiated
any development project, that’s very much problematic for sustainable
development because of most of the project are articulated by govt. or NGOs and
their main objectives are only economic growth not sustainable growth as
because nature are very much effected by those project like urbanization or
economic transformation, infrastructure development, land reform and may more in
recent practices.
I.
Conclusion
and closing interpretation:
Such challenges stem
not only from theoretical discharges of eco-centric, outlook, but more
significantly from the difficulty of contemporary trends and diversity of sustainable
development outcomes. Human kind learns from its history and the lessons of
present success and failures are absorbed in scholarly analyses government
policies and the everyday practice of major social actors (Alejandro, P. and Douglas, K.A-1989) but contemporary practices and
development approaches is not considering our biodiversity or natural
resources. It has long been feared that human
activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at
conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The
costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high.
However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological
problems. Environmental issues are also a major
global issue. Humans depend on a sustainable and healthy environment, and yet
we have damaged the environment in numerous ways. Preserving species and their habitats
is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to
destroy environment for sorting, illegal hunting and other challenges are
making conservation a struggle. Rapid global warming can affect an ecosystems
chance to adapt naturally. The cold is very sensitive to climate change and
already seeing lots of changes. Ocean biodiversity is already being affected as
are other parts of the ecosystem. The climate is changing. The earth is warming
up, and there is now overwhelming scientific consensus that it is happening,
and human-induced. With global warming on the increase and species and their
habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are
diminishing. Many are agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest
threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various
regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather patterns. After over all
discussion it also attempts to provide insights into what governments,
companies, international institutions, and other organizations are attempting
to do about this issue, as well as the challenges they face. Some of the major
conferences in recent years are also discussed but ultimate results are very
narrow and that could not play any strong role to be established sustainable
development (Ahmad, Q. K.2001). Because
off in the all maximum cases or development projects design and accomplished by
those people or organization who has/have no primary concern on ecology or
nature that very much problematic. As a result we can not anticipate
sustainable development.
Mainly in this paper I
am digging out the sustainability in development initiatives by political
government or NGOs and/or bilateral or multilateral organization’s approaches
in development project appraisal and implementation but results are very much
inconvenient as because when they initiated any project that time their hiring
local or international consultants are not eco-centered but growth oriented.
So, from the beginning they use economist not sociologist or development
anthropologies, thus very much problematic in project intervention. It is very
much clear that an economist are always finding transformation and economic
development on the other hand a development anthropologist or sociologist’s
lance of eyes are very much eco-centric, participatory as well as bottom up
approaches that are demonstrate sustainable development with considering the
nature or biodiversity.
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Summarize:
Mainly
in this paper I am finding the sustainability in development initiatives by
political government or NGOs and/or bilateral or multilateral organization’s
approaches in development project appraisal and implementation. But results are
very much inconvenient as because when they initiated any project that time
their hiring local or international consultants are not eco-centered but growth
oriented. So, from the beginning they use economist not sociologist or
development anthropologies, thus very much problematic in project intervention.
It is very much clear that an economist are always finding transformation and
economic development on the other hand a development anthropologist or
sociologist’s lance of eyes are very much eco-centric as well as bottom up
approaches which are demonstrate sustainable development with considering the
nature.
