Natural Resource Management in Bangladesh

Natural resources to indigenous peoples include that forest agricultural areas and rivers and coastal areas, in which land is central and often understood to encompass all natural resources collectively. The traditional communities have a close relationship to land and resources and see themselves as a part of the whole ecosystem.

Natural resources are significant not only as a means of production but also as part of indigenous peoples spiritual and cultural traditions, central to their identity as peoples.

Indigenous knowledge, innovations and practices on natural resource management are little understood by outsiders. They incorporate a keen awareness of the environment, an appreciation for conservation and continuity, encourages sustainable innovation, and places the long term wellbeing of the community as the focus of all activities.

Natural resource management involves both physical and spiritual realms and is easily embraced by every indigenous person in their daily activities such that it has become a way of life for the community. Indigenous people believe that the balance between the spiritual and physical realms will determine the condition of the universe and the immediate environment including that of the people. Indigenous resource management system are closely linked with the other indigenous social, cultural, spiritual, economic, governance, juridical, health technological and learning system.

The indigenous resource management systems as a serious issue that stems from:

1. Lack of understanding by the state of indigenous resource management.
2. Lack of recognition official of traditional administration.
3. Conservation ideas which do not recognize other systems of resource management. Particularly those which are considered “non-scientific”.
4. The pursuit by states of profits, modernization and development paradigm that is in conflict with indigenous resource management.

Laws and policies on natural resource management: Management of natural resources is administered by the following:-

1. Government Departments or Agencies: Natural resources are compartmentalized and are under the jurisdiction of specific government departments. In many countries federal constitution accords them substantial powers over land use and natural resource management. As every state is independent under the constitution, federal legislation in most causes is not binding on the states. So the government departments managing natural resources directly under the state. In the other countries, these departments are centralized and under the direct control of the central government.
2. District/provincial council/Body and sub district council/body: The implementation and monitoring of natural resource management laws, are decentralized to councils at the district or provincial level and subsequently to the sub-district level. It is at the sub-district level that indigenous peoples are more likely to influence decision on natural resources.

Gender and Natural Resource Management

In most countries laws and constitutions in all countries prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex but this is not reflected in the government’s natural resource management policies. Women’s primary responsibilities, such as cooking, fetching water and gathering, firewood are directly related to the use and management of natural resources. Although generally women are part of the work allocation and labor responsibilities in cultivation. The of women in plant and seed conservation and experimentation means they have a crucial in preserving the diversity of traditional medicines and food sources and natural resource management in general. 

Women suffer numerous hardships when ecological degradation occurs in forests and other common pool resources, making it difficult for them to go about their traditional activities such as the preparation of food, medicines and making handicrafts. Women also feel more burdened with the responsibility of looking for scare income-generating alternatives, if they denied access to natural resources for food, water and firewood. The degradation of natural forests results not only in the extinction of many plants, economic well-being and health of the family and society but also indigenous women’s knowledge systems. Gender roles within indigenous communities are changing continually as result of state policies. Thus, it is necessary that any policy formulation on natural resource management takes gender equations into account. There is a need to acknowledge the specific needs, perspectives, and roles of women in natural.

Conclusion

To bring about gender equity in natural resource management would need committed support from other factors, including social, political and community leaders. It is also important to ensure that laws and policies are made appropriate for preventing discrimination against indigenous women.