Speeches and Remarks

Remarks by Ambassador Moriarty to the Press Following the Consultative Meeting on Conservation and Co-Management of the Lawachara National Park in Srimangal 

Ambassador Moriarty speaks at the Press Conference

On August 4, Ambassador Moriarty addressed a U.S. Government-sponsored dialog on conservation and co-management for the Lawachara National Park in Srimangal. This dialog is part of the U.S. Government-funded US$ 12.7 million forest and wetland protection program called the Integrated Protected Area Co-management (IPAC). The event brought together civil society members, business leaders, government officials, academicians, and community members to discuss important issues related to conserving the national park. In his remarks, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of democratic and inclusive decision-making to protect Lawachara, “not just the pride of Srimangal, but a jewel of Bangladesh.”

Remarks by u.s. Ambassador james f. Moriarty to the Press Following the Consultative Meeting on Conservation and Co-Management of the Lawachara National Park in Srimangal

August 4, 2009

Assalamu alaykum and good evening. 

I am delighted to be here today.  We just finished a very important meeting on conservation and co-management of the Lawachara National Park.  For the last six years, the U.S. Government has provided financial and technical support to the Government of Bangladesh to improve park management.

The United States has a long history of supporting sustainable natural resource management around the world.  President Obama is committed to continuing this support. 

We must begin to reverse the environmental damage that the human race has caused over centuries.  Biodiversity conservation, whether in the United States or Bangladesh, represents a critical element of any sustainable development program.  Unfortunately, unless something changes, Bangladesh will deplete its forests in less than 15 years at the current deforestation rate.  Millions of Bangladeshis now dependent on the forests will lose their livelihoods if those forests disappear.

Lawachara is a unique place.  The park is not just the pride of Srimangal, but a jewel of Bangladesh. It is an internationally-acclaimed ecosystem home to one globally threatened primate species – the hoolock gibbon.  The 1,250 hectare forest is home to many varieties of plants and animals.  Lawachara is also home to one of the most ethnically diverse human communities, where Tripura, Khasia, Monipuri, Santal, Garo, and Bangali live in harmony.

It is not an easy task to manage such an important ecosystem.  I am here today because the United States Government is committed to help Bangladesh protect this forest and manage it in a sustainable way.  We are committed to improving the lives of the people who live in and around Lawachara and other protected forest areas.  We are committed to ensuring that generations of future Bangladeshis can benefit and enjoy these national treasures.

The U.S. Government-funded Integrated Protected Area Co-management project – known as IPAC – is an example of America’s commitment to Bangladesh.  The Bangladesh government ministries responsible for managing Lawachara and other protected areas understand that it is impossible to protect these resources without the direct involvement of the people who depend on them.  IPAC and the Government of Bangladesh have developed a co-management approach, bringing the people of the area together to jointly manage this valuable natural resource.  Co-management provides a new way to manage natural resources.  So far, we are encouraged with the results in several pilot areas across Bangladesh. 

As we discussed during today’s collaborative meeting, tough challenges remain.  One challenge is to protect Lawachara National Park’s 1250 hectares.  The park needs a buffer area brought under co-management to protect wildlife and endangered species. We discussed how to establish this buffer.  We discussed how to protect the core area from encroachment. We also discussed how to further strengthen the legal and institutional framework.  The co-management committee and the community patrol groups try hard to protect the forest, but illegal logging continues.  We discussed ways to more effectively prevent illegal logging.  We also talked about making the Park more attractive for eco-tourism.

What we have witnessed today is democracy at work.  It is a pleasure to see that many Government of Bangladesh agencies, including the civil administration and law enforcement, are joining hands with communities to protect and conserve the invaluable resources that this forest has to offer, and to do it in a sustainable way.

Saving this important resource requires all concerned parties- including those at the grassroots level- to come together to discuss the crucial issues.  This is exactly what co-management is all about.   And this is exactly what today’s consultative meeting accomplished.  The United States stands ready to help move the effort forward through a dynamic partnership between the Government of Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh and the American people.

Thank you.