A project research on Bangladesh Ecology, Bangladesh Behavior and Conservation of Some Bangladesh Wildlife is towards an end now. This research in the area of wildlife, ecology, behavior and conservation was done under the bilateral collaboration between the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University Of Chittagong (UCHIT) (Chittagong, Bangladesh). It was funded by the Norwegian Cooperation Program for Development Research and Education (NUFU).

As prefixed the duration mentioned for the project was 2007-2011. They were primarily interested to look at the relationship that is there between the biodiversity & the ecology of wildlife and the effects of habitat adaptation and disintegration on conservation of species in Bangladesh. There were 4 PhD Researchers, 4 Mphil and 3 MSc students.

The most important intentions of the project were:

- To build human resource and institutional capacity in the areas of natural science, and

- To increase the ability to demonstrate a critical awareness and reflection on research-based information as a basis for problem solving and practice in professional contexts; to interpret and report research findings in areas of natural science; to formulate research questions and problems, design and carry out small scale research projects and present findings in academic conferences.

The chief doings of the project were as follows:

- To develop realistic international standard course curricula, research laboratory, organizing training and supervising for PhD and Masters study in the areas of natural science;

- To produce research based dissertation and publications and arrange seminars, symposiums and workshops or conferences to disseminate research-based information;

- To establish the linkage or networking with relevant disciplines or departments or research institutions at home and abroad.

Funding of the whole Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of Some Bangladesh Wildlife project was done by:

- Norwegian Cooperation Programme for Development Research and Education (NUFU)

- Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen).

Such researches & studies create awareness not only towards some endangered Bangladesh Wildlife species which need to be conversed but also the care nature life & ecology need from human life.

Bangladesh wildlife is vey interestingly full of Bangladeshi flora & fauna & their natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large portion of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by the growth of human population which lead to subsequent clearing of numerous natural habitats.

Bangladesh supports a surprising wildlife, including Bengal tigers and other endangered species. Forests, jungle, mangrove, waterways, hills and plains of Bangladesh have preserved many endangered species in them.

Set between the Indian plains and the hills of Myanmar, Bangladesh has more to offer in matters of conservation than one might expect. Wet and flat it may be but there are hills in the Sylhet and Chittagong districts, rising to over 1200 metres, and a large section of the Ganges delta sprawling across the southern coastline.

Different habitats encourage a variety of fauna and flora and with the establishment of parks and reserves; conservation efforts are well under way.

Bangladesh National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Bangladesh boasts eight national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries, many with recreation facilities, trails and guides, plus five conservation areas and one game reserve, Teknaf, overlooking the Bay of Bengal and known for medicinal plants.

Closest to Dhaka, the Bhawal National Park is home to peacocks, python, catfish, deer and others and protects a coppice sal forest. Himchari near Cox Bazar has grasslands and rainforest sheltering gibbons, leopards and sloth bears.In the Bay of Bengal, Nijhum Dweep adds its own contribution with some 5000 deer, clawless otters, fishing cats, turtles and dolphins.

Top of the wildlife sanctuaries is the UNESCO listed Sundarban, divided into east, west and south, across the Ganges delta spreading into India. Mudflats, islands, waterways, mangrove and freshwater swamps support crocodiles, flying fox, pangolin, chital, snakes, Ridley turtles and tigers.

Bangladesh Bengal Tigers and Endangered Species

Bangladesh has adopted the Royal Bengal tiger as its national emblem, setting up the Sundarban tiger project in 2005 to collect data, study habitat and raise conservation awareness through education. A male Bengal tiger weighs over 200 kg and hunts mostly at dusk, feeding on medium to large preys. In 2010, the Bengal tiger population was estimated below 2500 across the Indian subcontinent with over 200 in Bangladesh, mostly in the Sundarban but a few in the eastern hills.

Among other endangered species found in Bangladesh are Indian elephants, black bears and hoolock gibbons, the second largest of the species, a number of snakes, turtles and crocodiles. The blind freshwater dolphin is seen in groups of just two or three and often considered on the critical list. Rare birds include the Baer’s pochard and Palla’s fishing eagle.

Bangladesh wildlife, national parks & sanctuaries are trying their best to save these species. If they don’t then, such a large loss will usually effect the environment to a greater or lesser degree and result in environmental imbalances.

Bill Stilwell loves nature. He loves it in the scientific sense of so many creatures live in a habitat. He loves the art of landscape full of color, texture, light and shadow. And he loves in a romantic sense of the life instinct great wild places. All this was evident during Stilwell’s presentation of Manitoba Wild at Red River North Regional Library in Selkirk last week.

“I tried to design this book as a place where you can go for a ride, and en route you will need something past that is really a crossroads,” said Stilwell. “And when you reach this point is to do this combination and experience to do so. And when you get there, you have not finished, he said. “So you have to spend time hiking or walking or cycling.”

More than a dozen people gathered at the library Feb. 2 to hear Stilwell talk about his third book of provincial scenic gems. Both Manitoba Naturally and Scenic Secrets of Manitoba became bestsellers; Outdoor Writers of Canada named Manitoba Naturally the best outdoor book in Canada.

Stilwell, who lived in the Tri-S and Interlake areas for a number of years, included 10 regions across the province in Manitoba Wild including the Interlake.

During the presentation, Stilwell talked about the research process for Manitoba Wild. The Neepawa resident personally made at least three trips to every site included in the book. He also read excerpts from Manitoba Wild during his presentation, and showed a number of slides; all of various photographs included in the book.

Some of the notable Interlake features were Netley Marsh, Grindstone Point and Lundar Beach.
“I just love Canada geese, and I love working in the Interlake because I’m always surrounded by them,” Stilwell said.
He mentioned that most of Manitoba Wild was written on-site at the various places he visited. Notebook in hand, he would jot down impressions as he waited for the right photo opportunities.

Some people in attendance last week had already been to several of the various scenic spots Stilwell included from around Manitoba. Others plan to visit as many more as they can.

Joyce Latimer, of East Selkirk, said she decided to attend the presentation because she likes wildlife, especially owls and other birds, and hopes to visit some nearby places from the book. She recognized a few areas to which she had already been.
Jeff and Ruth Riesen live in the RM of St. Andrews near Oak Hammock Marsh, and have been fans of Stilwell’s work for years; systematically visiting the places featured in his books.

“I like nature and we’ve been following his books for a long time now,” said Jeff Riesen.

“These places are laughing all the time and you do not think of anything to see,” says Riesen. “She opens her eyes.” Stilwell and only the will. “I’m trying to get you off the beaten track a bit ‘you without getting caught,” he said.

Develop technology and light pollution is considered one of the reasons why fireflies disappearing into the swamps, fields and forests around the world. To investigate this accident, the team leader Chung Hwa School East in Kampung Kuala Belait Mentire to study the causes of the disappearance of their princess Rashida Awards for young people to scientific or PRYNSA 13 of the project entitled “Lampyridae:. Conservation and education in Brunei ”

Fireflies considered charismatic insects from National Geographic. Their location choices are hot, humid and stagnant water near the ponds, smoke and rivers or shallow depressions that retain water longer than the surrounding land, but when our rivers look more development and noise pollution, natural habitat of fireflies destroyed. By choosing the field, brought together members of the team information through the Internet and chose Kampung Mentire their destination. The study focused on identifying
the predators of the fireflies to understand and conclude to a reason why the fireflies population are decreasing.
Through this study, students are convinced they will be able to prevent the extinction of the fireflies and also raise awareness and public understanding by emphasizing the importance of observation and preservation of fireflies. Beyond Brunei will also benefit from this study to promote its eco-tourism, creating more jobs and bring more revenue for the country.

WASHINGTON – When Mitt Romney speaks to an agreement on the Conservatives here Friday, he faces a potentially fatal political obstacle: his past embrace of a health insurance mandate, as his Republican friends who now scoff at as “Obamacare.

“I like mandates. The mandates work, “he said, when seeking the presidency of speech 2008.Such thrilled many conservatives, and affects the former Massachusetts governor likely 2012 bid for the Republican candidate for president. It is among the candidates best known, better funded and better organized potential, but he is haunted by the shadow health care.

As governor, Romney signed legislation in 2006 requiring most people in Massachusetts to obtain health insurance. He has repeatedly said that while states should have the option to impose such mandates, Washington shouldn’t.

The Massachusetts law is widely considered the model for the national health care program – and its requirement that most people obtain health coverage by 2014 – which President Barack Obama signed into law last year. Fierce opposition to it has become a strong rallying point for Republicans.

Romney will speak Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. The audience will hear from a parade of potential GOP presidential candidates over three days, and they warn that Romney better have a good explanation for his health care record.

“The health care plan he supported in Massachusetts is eerily similar to Obamacare,” said Ed Failor, the president of Iowans for Tax Relief, a conservative group.

Romney’s speech is one of the gathering’s most anticipated. His 2008 White House bid failed, in no small part because he couldn’t convince the conservatives who dominate the GOP electorate that he was truly one of them, on issues such as abortion and gay rights.

Since then, he’s traveled the nation to champion their causes, donating his money and time to their campaigns. He’s among the most popular potential candidates in national polls on the still-evolving 2012 GOP presidential field, as well as the narrow leader in cash on hand. But lurking behind all that is the health care problem.

“If you want a liberal albatross to put around Romney’s neck, this is it,” said Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of social science at Boston University.

Romney’s camp didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Nate Gunderson, who manages MittRomneyCentral.com, a website that promotes the candidate, acknowledges, “This is a problem, but we’ll be trying to correct the record.” Their point of emphasis: Romney favors allowing states to determine what’s best for their residents, and opposes Washington telling them what to do.

It’s uncertain how this states’ rights argument will play among conservatives.

Whalen calls the states’ rights argument the “Jefferson Davis approach, which is somewhat idiotic.”

Romney tries to nuance his stand on the mandate. In January 2008, during a New Hampshire Republican debate, he defended the health care mandate in his state. But, he added, “I would not mandate at the federal level that every state do what we do.”

Last week, he told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the federal law on health services “is a song very bad law.”However, he added, “I will not apologize for the rights of states to develop plans on a bipartisan basis to believe that help your people,” said Romney.

To raise awareness of environmental issues, CMS Vatavaran, an organization based in New Delhi nonprofit, organized a one day workshop for teachers of environmental science and teachers of the city on Friday. The day of the workshop presentations, various activities for teachers and exchange of experiences.

Rosa de Lima, senior consultant for CMS and a trainer at the workshop discussed how climate change is a serious problem. “Why India, climate change is seen in all countries. Australia has recently experienced the worst floods in 100 years. Zimbabwe to droughts and rains cause floods in Bangladesh face terrible,” he said.

She said that it will not be any different for the city and Ahmedabad may soon become a desert if its citizens don’t’ bother about water conservation.

“Building water reservoirs and economic utilisation of water will help in having a better future,” Rosalind, a wildlife biologist researcher for the last 11 years, said.

Rosalind said that we are over exploiting natural resources. “We are overusing the earth’s resources. Is this the way we want to continue?” she questioned, leaving around 25 teachers and lecturers, who attended the session pondering over the subject.
Later, speaking to DNA, Rosalind said that such workshops are important to sensitise teachers and make them aware about environmental issues. “If teachers are made aware, they will teach the same to school children, who are the future of India. So, the best way to have a better future is to teach the future of India (children), through teachers,” she said.

“Through this workshop, we are making attempts to clear all the mysteries and complexities about climate change so that teachers understand them in a better way and explain the same to their students,” the trainer said.

She said that climate change has suddenly become a big and we need to realise that it is no more an environmental problem, but an economical one.

“Unseasonal rains, floods, all these affect agriculture, communities and our society at large. Science and technology should be used innovatively to reduce global warming and to create awareness about such issues,” the CMS consultant said.

I’m talking about the water situation in Ahmedabad, Rosalind, said the case for water conservation and water harvesting facilities to help improve the groundwater of the city. During the session, teachers were asked to submit some things in new ways.

The environmental group Greenpeace filed a grievance with the German legitimate Court against the initiatives taken by the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, to extend the life of the oldest nuclear plants in the country in September.

“Everyone has the right to life and physical integrity,” Greenpeace said in a declaration on its website, adding that these rights are “necessary by law, the executive and the courts.”

The group said the government had decided to extend the life of German nuclear power plants to serve commercial interests, but not wanting to endanger the safety of citizens living near the factories.

Green peace’s 73-page case file, which was handed in to the Karlsruhe court on Thursday in cooperation with residents’ groups living near the nuclear plants, argues that the nuclear sites were inadequately protected against plane crashes and that safe nuclear waste disposal was not yet possible.

“The continued operation of the old reactors is highly dangerous, and the safe disposal of nuclear waste is not in sight,” said Greenpeace nuclear expert Heinz Smital.

Widespread opposition

Opposition parties from five German states also plan to complain to the constitutional court on the grounds that the lifespan extension of the country’s nuclear plants did not have the approval of parliament’s upper chamber, the Bundesrat.

The governing coalition lost its majority in the Bundesrat mid last year, though it still has a majority in the Bundestag, or lower house.

Merkel said in favor of prolonged use of plants to meet energy demand in the user of the stronger European Union. His supporters say that more use of nuclear energy could also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

Germany, 17 nuclear power plants accounted for about 23 percent of total electricity production last year, when coal and natural gas, consisting of a total of 55 percent.

Coalition of Merkel’s center-right to repeal the law under the coalition of center-left former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has seen the closure of all nuclear power plants in Germany, 2020.

This definition includes two key concepts: The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor should be given priority, and the idea of limitations imposed by technology and society’s ability to meet environmental present and future.

United Nations Permanent Forum has adopted this view and actually identified four “interrelated and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, environmental and” cultural “is newly added in the fourth as an important pillar because” Cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. ”

Global mining’s efforts for sustainable development

In 1999, the International Council on Metals and the Environment published a set of case studies on mining and indigenous peoples and issued a clear message that mining companies “should take a more comprehensive approach to sustainable development and to integrate principles of sustainable development into their relations with indigenous peoples in such a way to contribute to meaningful outcomes for indigenous communities.”

This development led to the formation of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) in 2001 to act as a catalyst for performance improvement in the mining and metals industry by launching various imperatives, one of which – is to enhance mining’s contribution to development and poverty reduction through multi-stakeholder partnerships worldwide.

At present, ICMM has global membership consisting of 19 large mining and metals corporations as well as 30 mining associations and global commodity associations worldwide. To address the core sustainable development challenges by the industry, all member-companies and associates (which include those that have mining operations in the Philippines) have committed to implement the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework consisting of 10 Principles, four of which are directly related to mining and metals, namely: (1) implement and maintain ethical business practices and sound corporate governance; (2) integrate sustainable development considerations within the corporate decision-making process; (3) uphold fundamental human rights and respect cultures, customs and values of those affected by mining activities; and (4) contribute to the social, economic and institutionalized development of the communities in which we operate.

Local CSR & sustainable development initiatives

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Philippines has gradually evolved since its modest start not too long ago. Initially, CSR had focused mainly on basic philanthropy, business ethics, and corporate governance.

But in recent years, it has expanded in a dramatic way to include broader set of socio-economic development programs for the benefits of all stakeholders concerned. Not only that, many corporations are now also integrating their social commitments into their core business strategy to ensure company-wide implementation starting from the top down to the lowest levels of organization.

In the case of mining, the local industry has just institutionalized its own specific CSR and further incorporated into it a number of sustainable and community-based development initiatives and other laudable programs that go beyond mandatory compliance. After conducting many months of extensive research, nationwide workshops and consultations with various stakeholders, the industry’s first integrated CSR Handbook was finally completed thanks to the concerted efforts of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP). Art Disini, COMP Chairman, informed me at one time that the final CSR guidelines will be distributed to all member-companies for implementation within the first quarter.

As a path toward greater responsibility, CSR news industry is generally defined as “the commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable development, in collaboration with employees, their families, local communities and society in particular to improve the quality of life, so a good business and good for development. ”

From the perspective of responsible mining, even the local industry also identified areas of CSR following industry-specific: (1) the fair and equitable sharing of benefits between business, government and mining communities, ( 2) adequate protection of the environment before, during and even long after mining has ceased, (3) the recognition of rights and participation in communities and indigenous peoples in the mining sector, and (4) effective communication and sensitivity to local socio-cultural practices.

The first village eco-tourism has developed in a joint venture with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) came up with some of the most beautiful temples in ancient Indonesia. According to a report in the ETN, the project around the village of gravel, which is located near the famous temple of Prambanan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was built around 850 AD?

Although the gravel has a rich background of music and handcrafted, about 60 percent of population living below the poverty line here. The project is expected to improve housing most of the villagers and to create a sustainable, eco-friendly business model of hospitality is based on historical and cultural heritage.

The village will be thrown open to foreign tourists within three years to showcase architectural marvel of Indonesia’s temples, folklore and cultural performances. The three-year project will have family homes with additional space and facilities to accommodate eco-tourists who visit the historic Central Java area.

All the houses are earthquake resistant, and comes standard with its need for guarantees that will not damage the environment. The initial phase of the project will train more than 250 villagers in the operating room of the eco-tourism, including clothing management, preparation of traditional, cultural, entertainment and marketing of traditional arts.

Tumbuan James, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia said that the project has established a shelter and economic opportunities for the whole community of Soran. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that everyone should have decent housing, safe and affordable place to live. And APP is one of the world’s largest pulp and paper, which joined the mission of the habitat as part of its social responsibility program.

Agartala, Oct 2 (IANS) India is explore the opportunity of structure power lines through the power of Bangladesh and provide power between the north-east and other parts of India, Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said on Sunday.

“We should be very cooperative projects to meet the mounting needs of electricity as well as in India and neighboring countries,” Shinde told a seminar here, “Opportunities for Energy Production”

‘According to the projections of the 17th Electric Power Survey, over 100,000 MW of power would be required by the end of the 12th (Five Year) Plan (2012-2017),’ he said.

The minister said that 50 percent of the capacity addition of 66,000 MW during the 12th Plan was expected to be contributed by the private sector. This sector contributed 10 and 32 percent to power generation in the 10th and 11th plans respectively.

He said several private-public projects were being executed for manufacturing power plant equipment, including turbines. ‘Non-availability and delayed supply of equipment was one of the major reasons for sluggish capacity addition,’ he said.

The day-long seminar was jointly organized by a media group and the Tripura chapter of the Institutions of Engineers (India).

Urging the private sector to invest in power transmission, Shinde said: ‘After the success of electricity distribution by the private sector through a franchisee model in some parts of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh has decided to hand over power distribution in Agra and Kanpur to a private company on franchisee basis.’

He said that since India’s independence in 1947, power generation had increased from about 1,400 MW to about 167,000 MW.

According to official records, approximately 64 percent (108,363 MW) of energy comes from thermal (coal, gas and petroleum) sources, 24.7 percent (37,367 MW) from hydro sources, 2.9 percent (4560 MW) nuclear power plants and 7.7 percent (16,787 MW) of renewable energy sources.