UNEP launches State of the Environment reports for Bangladesh and Dhaka City
Hosts South Asia meeting for control and prevention of air pollution

Dhaka, October 6, 2003 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today launched a local-language version of its state of the environment report for Bangladesh and initiated a similar assessment for the City of Dhaka.

The national state of the environment report identifies land degradation, water pollution and scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity loss and the threat of natural disasters as five key environmental issues facing the flood-prone nation which is home to 140 million people.

Using standardized monitoring and assessment methods the report has been widely used by government agencies, non-governmental organizations and research institutes since its publication in English two years ago.

UNEP Regional Director Surendra Shrestha said he hoped its translation into Bangla language would further strengthen its value as a tool for environmental action planning, policy setting and resource allocation.

The inception today of a Dhaka City State of the Environment report, due for completion in March next year, would also build capacity for integrated environment assessment methodologies at the local government level, Mr Shrestha said.

The SOE reports have been prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and Dhaka Municipality Corporation.

While in Bangladesh UNEP officials are also hosting a Network Meeting on the Mal? Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and Its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia.

The declaration, signed by environment ministers in the Maldives in 1998, has enabled South Asian governments to initiate baseline studies and action plans designed to improve air quality. Monitoring stations will have been established in each of the signatory countries by the end of this year.

"While high population growth and poverty in Bangladesh cause direct impacts on forest, land and water resources, there are also more complex pressures brought about by industrialization, urbanization and changing lifestyles that need to be addressed by collective, regional action," Mr Shrestha said.

"The quality of our atmosphere and health will be largely determined by how we decide to meet Asia's demand for primary energy, currently expected to double every 12 years."

The two-day network meeting of government representatives, starting today, will be followed by a stakeholders forum on Wednesday, designed to enhance the understanding and involvement of civil groups in scientific research and policy formulation.

The launch of the SOE reports and the Male declaration meeting were attended by Bangladesh Minister of Environment and Forest Mr Shahjahan Siraj, State Minister for Environment and Forest Mr Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, and the Secretary for Environment and Forest, Mr Sabihuddin Ahmed.

For further information:

The Bangladesh State of the Environment report is available at http://www.rrcap.unep.org/reports/soe/bangladeshsoe.cfm

Further background on the Strengthening of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Capabilities (SEAMCAP) project funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) is available at http://www.rrcap.unep.org/projects/seamcap.cfm

Further background on the Male Declaration process, supported by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program and Stockholm Environment Institute, is available from http://www.rrcap.unep.org/issues/air/Maledec/

Or contact:

Tim Higham, Regional Information Officer, UNEP/ROAP, Bangkok, Thailand, tel: +66 (0) 2 288-2127, email: higham@un.org

UNEP ROAP News Release 2003/12