The Outraged Attraction Of Same Sex Marriage - 1631 Words

Alexis Gutierrez November 24, 2015 PBL Draft Paper Describing the Outraged Attraction in Same Sex Marriage Law 11 states: â€Å"The right to enter, form, and dissolve marriage and other similar types of relationship based on equality and full and free consent. Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to marry and to enter freely and with full and free consent into marriage, partnership or other similar relationships.† (WAS, 2014) Everyone should be allowed the same rights as everyone else even if that means they will be getting married to the same sex. Everyone should not be treated any different just because they are married to the same sex. Just because someone is different does not mean that they should be treated different or†¦show more content†¦This is a great start to be able to let same-sex couples be able to express themselves and let them live without fear because of others. â€Å"International human rights law creates a universal right to marriage that includes gay and lesbian couples, and denying same-sex couples this right is a clear violation. In accordance with both treaty law and international customary law, states are obliged to recognize all individuals’ fundamental right to marriage. Refusing same-sex couples the right to marry violates the principle of nondiscrimination and the individual’s right to privacy, marriage, association, and dignity.† (Gus, 2013) â€Å"States cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions, the Supreme Court says in a ruling that for months has been the focus of speculation. The decision was 5-4.† (Chappell, 2015) â€Å"For decades, conservative Christians who oppose LGBT equality have singled out the federal government or secular atheists as their preferred enemy in public settings, blasting both groups for supposedly attacking â€Å"traditional marriage† or infringing on their religious liberty.† (Jenkins, 2015) Conservative Christians are really against same sex marriage because it is not a â€Å"normal marriage†. Same-sex couples want to be able

Evolution of the dichotomy Self and Other Within American...

Evolution of the dichotomy Self and Other Within American History American’s culture has been a big influence for American literature; because it not only has serves writers to convey the lives of Americans ancestors, but also to express their thoughts and feelings. Furthermore, American literature shows the power exerted by the white Americans against African American slaves. The superiority of white Americans over blacks population forms part of American heritage and it is reflected in American literature. The â€Å"Narrative of The Life† by Olaudah Equiano, who witnesses the power that white Americans exert against people of color, not only presented his story to the reader so people could learn the reality about slavery, but also shows†¦show more content†¦Jefferson writing shows biases towards African Americans by making the blacks appear as objects that are incapable of thinking, besides of reflecting that they were considered a second class population. â€Å"Narrative of The Life†, by Frederic Douglass, also portrays the power of the whites against the blacks. Douglas shares with more detail one of his experiences of his journal as a slave, when he was under the power of Mr. Covey, in where he witnessed how he used a female slave as a breeder: â€Å"Mr. Covey bought her from Mr. Thomas Lowe†¦ she was a large, able-bodied woman, about twenty years old†¦after buying her, he hired a married man of Mr. Samuel Harrison, to kive with him one year, and hm he used to fasten up with her every night! The result was that at the end of the year, the miserable woman give birth to twins...the children were regarded as being and addition to [Mr. Covey’s] wealth. 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The pros and cons of a database management system a. free essay sample

The other notable advantage of database management system (DBMS) is data integration: since related data is stored in one single database, enforcing data integrity is much easier. Moreover, the functions of the database management system (DBMS) can be used to entorce the integrity rules witn minimum programming in the application programs. Data sharing is another advantage of a database management system (DBMS): Related data can be shared across programs since the data is stored in a centralized manner. Even new applications can be eveloped to operate against the same data since several users can access and use the same data for different purposes, provided they are authorized users, as you might be aware that databases are normally protected by passwords to avoid unauthorized users from accessing and or manipulating such database content (Date, 2003:268-276). Enforcement of standards and better controls are also achieved due to the centralized nature of the system. We will write a custom essay sample on The pros and cons of a database management system a. or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Standards in the organization and structure of data files is required, and is also easy in a data system since it is one single set of programs which is always interacting with the data files. Another dvantage which gives database management system (DBMS) a plus is application development ease: the application programmer need not build the functions for handling issues like concurrent access, security, data integrity to mention but a few, the programmer instead only needs to implement the application business rules. This hence brings in application development ease because addition of additional functional modules becomes easier than in file-based systems. NiJssen, (1976:158) outlines that data independence is yet another merit of database management system (DBMS): He outlines that data independence is isolating an upper level from he changes in the organization or structure of a lower level. For example, if changes in the file organization of a data file do not demand for changes in the functions in the database management system (DBMS) or in the application programs, data independence is achieved. He further defines that data as immunity of applications to change in physical representation and access techniques. The provision of data independence is one of the major objectives of database systems due to the architectural nature of a database management system (DBMS) which can be viewed as a three level system comprising the internal or physical level where the data esides, the conceptual level which the level of the DBMS functions and last but not the least the external level which is the level of application programs or the end users. Due to the centralized nature of a database management system (DBMS) maintenance cost is reduced thus accounting for yet another advantage of DBMS. It is generally acceptable that it costs much less to create a system of smaller computers with the equivalent power as a single large and expensive computer. This makes it more cost-effective for corporate divisions and departments to obtain separate and less expensive computers. It is also much more cost-effective to add workstations to a network than to update a mainframe system.

Wetland Resource in Bangladesh Essay Example

Wetland Resource in Bangladesh Paper Nevertheless, the Rams definition has been adopted and being used in Bangladesh. Wetlands of Bangladesh are lassie on the basis of their hydrological and ecological functions and land types. Broadly wetland in Bangladesh is divided into estuarine and freshwater systems, which again further subdivided by soil type and plant life. Thus wetlands include areas of marsh, fen, bog, flood plain, and shallow coastal areas. Wetland area is characterized by sluggish or standing water that can create an open water habitat for wildlife. As I mentioned earlier wetlands in Bangladesh are represented by both inland freshwater and estuarine/tidal salt-water wetlands. Flood plains, bells (low-lying depressions in the flood plain), hairs and boors (oxbow lakes) present the inland freshwater wetlands (Khan et al. 1994). The hairs are bowl-shaped natural depressions between the natural levees of the river subject to monsoonal flooding every year. While the hoar itself is a seasonal water body formed during the monsoon, the bees are low-lying depressions of the hoar system retaining water even during the dry months of the season. Thus, the hoar system is a complex of both illustrate and Palestine wetlands depending on the hydraulic behavior in different seasons. The ecology of the hoar system is principally driven by seasonal hydraulics. During the monsoon, he entire hoar system becomes a single body of open water linked to the river system. We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When floodwater recedes, the bells become isolated and remain as standing water bodies till the next rainy season. They differ from a true lake system in that the main source of waters in tropical lakes is rainwater, while a hoar system depends on both precipitation and floodwater as sources of water. Estuarine/tidal salt-water wetlands constitute about 25 per cent of the land area and are represented by mangroves, salt marsh, lagoons, delicate islands, sand dunes and beaches, barrier islands, sea grass and coral habitats. In the following table major types of wetlands of Bangladesh are presented. 1. Saltwater wetlands a) Marine permanent shallow waters at low tide, egg bay coral reefs, egg SST Martins reef b) Estuarine intertribal mud, sand or salt flats with limited vegetation, egg newly-accreted land intertribal marshes intertribal forest wetlands including mangroves, egg Sandbars c) Lagoon brackish to saline lagoons with narrow connection with sea 2. Freshwater wetlands) Revering wetlands permanent rivers and streams including some char land, temporary seasonal rivers and streams b) Illustrate atlantes There are thousands of lakes of varying sizes in Bangladesh, the greatest concentrations being in the main delta region covering the districts of Rajahs, Pain, Chula, Josser, Purify, Camilla and National. Palestine wetlands permanent freshwater marshes and swamps with emergent vegetation, permanent peat-forming freshwater swamps, freshwater swamp forest, egg hajji forests of lowland 3. Man-made wetlands aquaculture ponds (brackish and freshwater) irrigated land and irrigation channels salt pans hydro-dam, egg Captain Lake However, the real extent of wetlands in the above classification is not available. A different classification is show to give idea about the wetland in Bangladesh which is rather indicative than exact as primarily because size of each wetland varies depending on season; Monsoon, for example when area under wetland increase by contrast during wet season it shrink. Types of wetlands and their areas (in sq km) Open waters Rivers,497 Estuaries and mangrove swamps Bells and hairs 1,142 Undeniable floodplains 54,866 Captain Lake 688 Closed water/Ponds 1 , 469 gars (oxbow Lakes) 55 Brackish-water farms 1 , 080 Total 72,899 source Khan 1994 6,102 Significance of Wetlands in Context of Bangladesh: Wetlands are critically important in Bangladesh for human settlements, biodiversity, fisheries, agricultural diversity, navigation communication, and costumers. These are discussed in some details in the following sections. In a land scare country like Bangladesh where average population density is almost 1 000 person per sq . Km people in the marginalia category build their habitat/settlement in the wetland in the event of acute shortage of available high land. Flood plain areas are the treasure-house for rice- the staple food of Bangladesh people. More than 100 varieties, some of which are even deep eater tolerant, local rice are cultivated in these floodplains. Thus floodplain is the power house of rural economy In Bangladesh. Similarly in the wetlands of Bangladesh more than 250 species of freshwater fishes are available. Freshwater capture fishery is an important source of employment in the fishery sector and the key supply source of animal protein especially for the rural people. About 200 million people still directly or indirectly depend on freshwater fishing for their livelihood (Tsar, and All, 1997). A part from that, wetlands are valuable sources of food (vegetable), fuel, fodder and traditional declined in rural Bangladesh. For a vast tract of areas especially in the north- east, south and south-central part of Bangladesh both perennial and seasonal floodplains are they key means of transport and communication for the rural people. In the context of biodiversity (which includes: plant diversity, faunal diversity and habitat diversity) wetlands in Bangladesh perform significant role. These are important habitats for a large variety of flora and fauna of local, national and regional significance. In the freshwater wetlands the floral composition includes trees, shrubs and aquatic vegetation. More than 5,000 species of flowering plants exist in these wetland areas (Khan, 1998). Here wetlands support 660 species of birds which represents about 50% of the total number of bird species recorded from the entire Indian sub-continent, and over 7% of the known bird species In the world (Harvey 1992). On the other hand, rich aquatic biodiversity also includes 260 species Of freshwater fish belonging to 55 families (placing Bangladesh third in the world in terms of fish species per land area) (Tsar and All, (Deeds). 1997). At any rate, the known levels of endemics in the Ganges/Premature basin are very gig: 25% of the aquatic species found in this basin are found nowhere else in the world. Because of its geographical position at the receiving end of the three major rivers, and given the dispersal behavior of aquatic biodiversity, the wetlands of Bangladesh become crucial for conserving the globally important biodiversity of the entire basin (Hussein, 1997). Likewise, the estuarine/ marine resources of the Bay of Bengal are part of the worlds largest immunological province. These resources include clams, Oysters, scallops, snails, slugs, chitin, squids, octopuses and some others. The catchy-fauna of the Bay of Bengal includes about 475 recorded species of fish, 53 of which are cartilaginous and 422 species are bony fish (CNN, 1989). Chowder and Sensually (1991) described 19 species of shrimps and prawns found in the marine waters of Bangladesh. At least seven species of edible oyster can be found in the coastal waters of Bangladesh. Apart from those wetlands perform significant ecological and environmental services and functions which could not be replaced by artificial means or adopting artificial method would entail significant cost. Among other the role of purification of eater in the marsh is an important one. From the foregoing discussion it is evident that have a wide range of ecological, socio-cultural, economic and commercial importance and values in Bangladesh. Causes and Consequence of Wetland Degradation: Various development interventions/activities undertaken without much consideration of wetland ecosystems in the post independent period of Bangladesh have caused irreversible damage to the wetlands. For example, massive physical infrastructures in the form of rural road and flood embankment have been developed in the wetlands including floodplains and hoar areas. Many of these infrastructures disregarded local topographic condition and natural water flow direction, which has often resulted in poor drainage or water logging and impacted on the local surface water regime. The critical point of such development activities in the wetlands led the transformation very rapidly at a massive scale. In the Ganges-Premature floodplain area, about 2. 1 million ha of wetland have been lost to Hood Control, Drainage and Irrigation development projects (FOCI). Introduction of HOW of rice which requires high inputs like mechanical tillage, chemical fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide, fungicide in fact caused recoverable damage of wetland habitat for freshwater fish and birds at the expense of higher food yield. In this indiscriminate use of agro-chemical and over exploitation of fish stock, especially brood fish by fisher community for their livelihood put the freshwater fish stock at the verge of extinction. A part from the above other human interference in the wetlands has been damaging the fragile ecosystem and to long term sustainability of the wetlands. For instance, in the southwest brackish water coastal plains of Bangladesh farmers used to have a payday crop only during monsoon season hen surface saline layer is depleted due to rainfall and for rest of the months the field is left for grazing. This cultural practice was established for centuries. However, in the last two decades this has been abandoned for more profitable shrimp farming practice. As a result, local ecosystems are threatened because of changed water exchange system, rapid isolation of the channels and continuous inundation of land with saline water. In the hoar areas, large-scale settlement was initiated over the last couple of decades from surrounding densely populated regions and since then the sources of the hoar basins are being exploited at an increasing rate causing adverse effects. Continuous large-scale exploitation of aquatic vegetation and fruits has caused serious degradation of the quantity and quality of the habitat required for fish and migratory birds of the hoar areas. Similarly, embankment constructed for FOCI projects reduce floodplains and obstruct fish movement and migration from rivers as well as bells to the remaining floodplains for feeding and breeding. As result, many fishermen have lost their livelihood. However, there have been some positive effects of wetland transformation as ell. The major impact has been on cropping patterns and intensity. Dependence on local boor has been shifted towards HYPE boor. In the FOCI project areas, culture fisheries have replaced the deficit of capture fisheries. The positive impact of development projects in the wetlands relates to improved road transport and communication network. This has led to an enhanced marketing infrastructure and relatively easy access to social and other services. Conversely, the navigation system has been either closed or substantially reduced. As a whole, degradation of wetlands has caused several problems including extinction and reduction of wildlife, extinction of many indigenous wild and domesticated rice varieties, loss of many indigenous aquatic plants, herbs, shrubs and weeds, loss of natural soil nutrients, loss of natural water reservoirs and of their resultant benefits, increase in the occurrence of flooding and degeneration of wetland based ecosystems, occupations, socio- economic institutions and cultures. Plan and Activities to Conserve Wetland: Overt the yeast Bangladesh Ministry of Water resources development, Land, Forest and Environment, and Fisheries and livestock in cooperation with arioso multilateral agencies ( like Workloads, DAB), bilateral agencies (like SAID, DIANA, CIA), intergovernmental agencies, and MONGO (both international and national) initiated various institutional reform, plan and program to conserve and manage water resources in an efficient ways. Even though in most cases the focus of those programs were not on conservation of wetland however recently recognizing both the importance of conserving biological resources and the need for new approaches to floodplain, wetlands, and forest conservation and management, SAID/Bangladesh, in injunction with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (Move), is implementing the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH) project to help promote the conservation and sustainable management of critical floodplain and wetland habitats (SAID, 2002). Kisses, DAD in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (Move), is implementing Community Based Fisheries Management (CUFF). Apart from these II_JAN [at present World Conservation union] is implementing Wetland and Coastal Biodiversity project which has exclusive focus on hoar, and estuarine/marine wetland ecosystem insertion. A part from the above there are relevant laws and acts and ordinance focusing on the conservation of environmentally critical areas, especially on wetlands. For example, Environmental Protection Act 1995, Environmental Conservation Rule 1 997, Environmental Conservation Rule 2002 (amended) among other is aimed to protect water reservoir, wetland of ecological significance (Seed, 1998); however their implementation is fur from optimal. Conclude inning Remarks: Conservation of wetland is very important from various stands points. But the way in most cases conservation initiatives were taken in the past could be at est.. Termed at command and control/top down approach. Limited. Wetland Resource in Bangladesh Essay Example Wetland Resource in Bangladesh Essay Wetland Resources in Bangladesh Saroar M. Mustafa Concept, Types and Status of Wetlands in Bangladesh: The Ramsar Convention (1971) has defined wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, peat-land, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. The Ramsar definition of wetlands lumps together a wide range of contrasting habitats like fluvial, coastal and marine. Nevertheless, the Ramsar definition has been adopted and being used in Bangladesh. Wetlands of Bangladesh are classified on the basis of their hydrological and ecological functions and land types. Broadly wetland in Bangladesh is divided into estuarine and freshwater systems, which again further subdivided by soil type and plant life. Thus wetlands include areas of marsh, fen, bog, flood plain, and shallow coastal areas. Wetland area is characterized by sluggish or standing water that can create an open water habitat for wildlife. As I mentioned earlier wetlands in Bangladesh are represented by both inland freshwater and estuarine/tidal salt-water wetlands. Flood plains, beels (low-lying depressions in the flood plain), haors and baors (oxbow lakes) represent the inland freshwater wetlands (Khan et al. 1994). The haors are bowl-shaped natural depressions between the natural levees of the river subject to monsoonal flooding every year. We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Wetland Resource in Bangladesh specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer While the haor itself is a seasonal water body formed during the monsoon, the beels are low-lying depressions of the haor system retaining water even during the dry months of the season. Thus, the haor system is a complex of both lacustrine and palustrine wetlands depending on the hydraulic behavior in different seasons. The ecology of the haor system is principally driven by seasonal hydraulics. During the monsoon, the entire haor system becomes a single body of open water linked to the river system. When floodwater recedes, the beels become isolated and remain as standing water bodies till the next rainy season. They differ from a true lake system in that the main source of waters in tropical lakes is rainwater, while a haor system depends on both precipitation and floodwater as sources of water. Estuarine/tidal salt-water wetlands constitute about 25 per cent of the land area and are represented by mangroves, salt marsh, lagoons, deltaic islands, sand dunes and beaches, barrier islands, sea grass and coral habitats. In the following table major types of wetlands of Bangladesh are presented. 1. Saltwater wetlandsa) Marine permanent shallow waters at low tide, eg bay coral reefs, eg St Martins reef b) Estuarine intertidal mud, sand or salt flats with limited vegetation, eg newly-accreted land intertidal marshes intertidal forest wetlands including mangroves, eg Sundarbans c) Lagoonal brackish to saline lagoons with narrow connection with sea 2. Freshwater wetlandsa) Riverine wetlands permanent rivers and streams including some char land, temporary seasonal rivers and streams b) Lacustrine wetlands There are thousands of lakes of varying sizes in Bangladesh, the greatest concentrations being in the main delta region covering the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Khulna, Jessore, Faridpur, Comilla and Noakhali. c) Palustrine wetlands permanent freshwater marshes and swamps with emergent vegetation, permanent peat-forming freshwater swamps, freshwater swamp forest, eg hijal forests of lowland 3. Man-made wetlands aquaculture ponds (brackish and freshwater) irrigated land and irrigation channels salt pans hydro-dam, eg Kaptai Lake However, the areal extent of wetlands in the above classification is not available. A different classification is show to give idea about the wetland in Bangladesh which is rather indicative than exact as primarily because size of each wetland varies depending on season; Monsoon, for example when area under wetland increase by contrast during wet season it shrink. Types of wetlands and their areas (in sq km) Open waters Rivers7,497 Estuaries and mangrove swamps 6,102 Beels and haors 1,142 Inundable floodplains54,866 Kaptai Lake688 Closed water/Ponds 1,469 Baors (Oxbow Lakes) 55 Brackish-water farms1,080 Total72,899 Source Khan 1994 Significance of Wetlands in Context of Bangladesh: Wetlands are critically important in Bangladesh for human settlements, biodiversity, fisheries, agricultural diversity, navigation communication, and ecotourism. These are discussed in some details in the following sections. In a land scare country like Bangladesh where average population density is almost 1000 person per sq. m people in the marginalized category build their habitat/settlement in the wetland in the event of acute shortage of buildable high land. Flood plain areas are the treasure-house for rice- the staple food of Bangladeshi people. More than 100 varieties, some of which are even deep water tolerant, local rice are cultivated in these floodplains. Thus floodplain is the power house of rural economy in Bangladesh. S imilarly in the wetlands of Bangladesh more than 250 species of freshwater fishes are available. Freshwater capture fishery is an important source of employment in the fishery sector and the key supply source of animal protein especially for the rural people. About 200 million people still directly or indirectly depend on freshwater fishing for their livelihood (Tsai, and Ali, 1997). A part from that, wetlands are valuable sources of food (vegetable), fuel, fodder and traditional medicine in rural Bangladesh. For a vast tract of areas especially in the north-east, south and south-central part of Bangladesh both perennial and seasonal floodplains are they key means of transport and communication for the rural people. In the context of biodiversity (which includes: plant diversity, faunal diversity and habitat diversity) wetlands in Bangladesh perform significant role. These are important habitats for a large variety of flora and fauna of local, national and regional significance. In the freshwater wetlands the floral composition includes trees, shrubs and aquatic vegetation. More than 5,000 species of flowering plants exist in these wetland areas (Khan, 1998). Here wetlands support 660 species of birds which represents about 50% of the total number of bird species recorded from the entire Indian sub-continent, and over 7% of the known bird species in the world (Harvey 1992). On the other hand, rich aquatic biodiversity also includes 260 species of freshwater fish belonging to 55 families (placing Bangladesh third in the world in terms of fish species per land area) (Tsai and Ali, (Eds). 1997). At any rate, the known levels of endemism in the Ganges/Brahmaputra basin are very high: 25% of the aquatic species found in this basin are found nowhere else in the world. Because of its geographical position at the receiving end of the three major rivers, and given the dispersal behavior of aquatic biodiversity, the wetlands of Bangladesh become crucial for conserving the globally important biodiversity of the entire basin (Hussain, 1997). Likewise, the estuarine/ marine resources of the Bay of Bengal are part of the world’s largest malacological province. These resources include clams, oysters, scallops, snails, slugs, chiton, squids, octopuses and some others. The ichthyo-fauna of the Bay of Bengal includes about 475 recorded species of fish, 53 of which are cartilaginous and 422 species are bony fish (IUCN, 1989). Chowdhury and Sanaullah (1991) described 19 species of shrimps and prawns found in the marine waters of Bangladesh. At least seven species of edible oyster can be found in the coastal waters of Bangladesh. Apart from those wetlands perform significant ecological and environmental services and functions which could not be replaced by artificial means or adopting artificial method would entail significant cost. Among other the role of purification of water in the marsh is an important one. From the foregoing discussion it is evident that have a wide range of ecological, socio-cultural, economic and commercial importance and values in Bangladesh. Causes and Consequence of Wetland Degradation: Various development interventions/activities undertaken without much consideration of wetland ecosystems in the post independent period of Bangladesh have caused irreversible damage to the wetlands. For example, massive physical infrastructures in the form of rural road and flood embankment have been developed in the wetlands including floodplains and haor areas. Many of these infrastructures disregarded local topographic condition and natural water flow direction, which has often resulted in poor drainage or water logging and impacted on the local surface water regime. The critical point of such development activities in the wetlands led the transformation very rapidly at a massive scale. In the Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain area, about 2. 1 million ha of wetland have been lost to Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation development projects (FCDI). Introduction of HYV of rice which requires high inputs like mechanical tillage, chemical fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide, fungicide in fact caused irrecoverable damage of wetland habitat for freshwater fish and birds at the expense of higher food yield. In this indiscriminate use of agro-chemical and over exploitation of fish stock, especially brood fish by fisher community for their livelihood put the freshwater fish stock at the verge of extinction. A part from the above other human interference in the wetlands has been damaging the fragile ecosystem and to long term sustainability of the wetlands. For instance, in the southwest brackish water coastal plains of Bangladesh farmers used to have a paddy crop only during monsoon season when surface saline layer is depleted due to rainfall and for rest of the months the field is left for grazing. This cultural practice was established for centuries. However, in the last two decades this has been abandoned for more profitable shrimp farming practice. As a result, local ecosystems are threatened because of changed water exchange system, rapid siltation of the channels and continuous inundation of land with saline water. In the haor areas, large-scale settlement was initiated over the last couple of decades from surrounding densely populated regions and since then the resources of the haor basins are being exploited at an increasing rate causing adverse effects. Continuous large-scale exploitation of aquatic vegetation and fruits has caused serious degradation of the quantity and quality of the habitat required for fish and migratory birds of the haor areas. Similarly, embankment constructed for FCDI projects reduce floodplains and obstruct fish movement and migration from rivers as well as beels to the remaining floodplains for feeding and breeding. As a result, many fishermen have lost their livelihood. However, there have been some positive effects of wetland transformation as well. The major impact has been on cropping patterns and intensity. Dependence on local boro has been shifted towards HYV boro. In the FCDI project areas, culture fisheries have replaced the deficit of capture fisheries. The positive impact of development projects in the wetlands relates to improved road transport and communication network. This has led to an enhanced marketing infrastructure and relatively easy access to social and other services. Conversely, the navigation system has been either closed or substantially reduced. As a whole, degradation of wetlands has caused several problems including extinction and reduction of wildlife, extinction of many indigenous wild and domesticated rice varieties, loss of many indigenous aquatic plants, herbs, shrubs and weeds, loss of natural soil nutrients, loss of natural water reservoirs and of their resultant benefits, increase in the occurrence of flooding and degeneration of wetland based ecosystems, occupations, socio-economic institutions and cultures. Plan and Activities to Conserve Wetland: Overt the yeast Bangladesh Ministry of Water resources development, Land, Forest and Environment, and Fisheries and livestock in cooperation with various multilateral agencies ( like Worldbank, ADB), bilateral agencies (like USAID, DANIDA, JICA), intergovernmental agencies, and NGO (both international and national) initiated various institutional reform, plan and program to conserve and manage water resources in an efficient ways. Even though in most cases the focus of those programs were not on conservation of wetland however recently recognizing both the importance of conserving biological resources and the need for new approaches to floodplain, wetlands, and forest conservation and management, USAID/Bangladesh, in conjunction with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), is implementing the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH) project to help promote the conservation and sustainable management of critical floodplain and wetland habitats (USAID, 2002). Likewise, DFID in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), is implementing Community Based Fisheries Management (CBFM). Apart from these IUCN [at present World Conservation Union] is implementing Wetland and Coastal Biodiversity project which has exclusive focus on haor, and estuarine/marine wetland ecosystem conservation. A part from the above there are relevant laws and acts and ordinance focusing on the conservation of environmentally critical areas, especially on wetlands. For example, Environmental Protection Act 1995, Environmental Conservation Rule 1997, Environmental Conservation Rule 2002 (amended) among other is aimed to protect water reservoir, wetland of ecological significance (Syed, 1998); however their implementation is fur from optimal. Concluding Remarks: Conservation of wetland is very important from various stands points. But the way in most cases conservation initiatives were taken in the past could be at best termed at command and control/top down approach. Which not only failed to get the support from the relevant, especially primary stockholders but also created resentment among them. It was primarily because, in the name of conservation without making alternative provision for their livelihood they conservator basically evicted the people dependent on the wetlands. As a result we saw huge/mass protest against the conservation of few flood plain beels and haors which were really reach in critical state due to over exploitation for fishing and indiscriminate use of chemical inputs for agriculture. Finally it could be said that wetland conservation efforts must be bundled with development scheme which will not only conserve wetlands but also will not undermine the alternative avenues of livelihood for people dependent on wetland in one way or another. References: Syed, A. Sattar . 1998. Introduction to Environmental Laws of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Ace Data Products. BGD/97/017 – Empowerment of Coastal Fishing Communities for Livelihood Security, October 1998 (Draft UNDP project document) Chowdhury, S. Q. ,Haq, F. A. T. M. and Hassan , K. 1992. Coastal geomorphology of St. martins Island. Oriental Geographer 36(2): 30-44. Fattah, 1979. Protection of marine environment and related ecosystem of St. Martins Island. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Protection of marine Environment and Related Ecosystems, Dhaka,27-29 November,1979,pp 104-108. Flood Action Plan. Northeast Regional Water Management Project (FAP 6). â€Å"Wetland Resources specialist study (final draft), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), April 1993. Harvey, W. G. 1992. Birds in Bangladesh. Dhaka: University Press Limited. Hussain, M. G. 1997. â€Å"Stock Improvement and Genetic Resource Conservation of Floodplain Fishes. † In Tsai, Chu-fa and M. Youssouf Ali, Eds. Openwater Fisheries of Bangladesh. Dhaka: The University Press Limited. IUCN (The World Conservation Union). 1989. A Directory of Asian Wetlands. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Khan, Salar M. , et. al. , Eds. 1994. Wetlands of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies Nature Conservation Movement. Khan, S. 1998. Genetic Resources. In Bangladesh Environment: Facing the 21st Century. Ed. Philip Gain. Society for Environment and Human Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Tsai, Chu-fa and M. Youssouf Ali, Eds. 1997. Openwater Fisheries of Bangladesh. Dhaka: The University Press Limited.