The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has been implementing a pilot project aiming to survey the biodiversity in the port city.
The survey was initially conducted in the Shulakbahar ward under the Chittagong City Corporation. The program is likely to be expanded in the entire city if desired results area chieved.
On October 5, CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin formally inaugurated the program titled "Bio-diversity Survey and Conservation Pilot Project."
A group of biodiversity experts led by Prof Dr Badrul Amin Bhuiyan, chairperson of the Biodiversity Research Group of Bangladesh (BRGB), are conducting the survey. The group also includes environmentalists, botanists, zoologists and microbiologists.
Students with PhD and post graduate degrees from different colleges and universities including the Chittagong University, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and American International University are assisting the survey activities.
The research team has already prepared a primary report after conducting the survey in the Shulakbahar ward under the Chittagong City Corporation.
Biodiversity Team collecting insects Courtesy
Findings of the survey
Primarily, the research team has identified 17 species of microbes, 3 species crustaceans, 120 species of insects, 5 species of clams and snails, 40 species of fish, 3 species of amphibians, 10 species of reptiles, 20 species of birds and 15 species of wild mammals.
The veterinarians have identified 10 species of pet mammals and 15 species of pet birds and botanists have identified 210 species of trees.
Objectives of survey
Bio-diversity survey and conservation program is conducted once in every five years in different cities like New York, London, Toronto and Canberra. The survey is conducted to observe whether biodiversity is improving or deteriorating.
Concrete data is not available about the number of species of flora and fauna available in the port city.
While discussing the topic with the Dhaka Tribune, Prof Dr Badrul Amin Bhuiyan said, "The survey will help us know the present status of biodiversity in an area. It also provides a comparative picture of human beings and flora-fauna. Recommendations will be placed if flora-fauna is found less than the requirement. After identifying the problems, the concerned authorities will take necessary remedial measures based on the recommendations”.
“The project will later, be implemented on a larger scale in other areas of the city,"CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin said.
