Organizers

Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh-India Initiative, IUCN

Venue

Guwahati, Assam

Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh‐India Initiative

Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh‐India Initiative is a multi‐stakeholder research and dialogue process led by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to promote insights into trans‐boundary issues across three major river systems: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. The project is being implemented in Bangladesh and India by IUCN Country Offices and managed by the IUCN Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand.

About the dialogues

These dialogues are part of the activities within IUCN’s regional project Ecosystems for Life. The waterways between Bangladesh and north-eastern India provide a cheap transport means for bulk agricultural and other goods. Understanding the importance of this sector a joint research was carried out focused on sustainability of the international navigation route between Ashuganj and Karimganj in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh and India.

It is expected that wide variety of policy makers, researchers, journalist, academicians, NGOs and private sector representatives will participate in the event.

Policy dialogue on trans-boundary inland navigation (January 10, 2013)

This dialogue will focus on the opportunities and challenges in regional cooperation between India & Bangladesh on the issue of Inland Navigation. Besides participation from India, the meeting will also have representation from Bangladesh

Objectives of the flood meeting (January 11, 2013)

The key objective of the meeting will be to bring together multiple stakeholders from India and Bangladesh to the same platform for a negotiated exchange of ideas on floods and flood management. The meeting will disseminate recent findings by the joint research team on the impact of climate change and global warming on future water availability and flood behaviour. Eminent persons from Bangladesh and India, will steer a comprehensive dialogue as to the crucial next steps for translating the research towards policy development and adaptation protocols.

The day long multi‐stakeholder consultations will discuss the following:

• Dissemination of the research findings on flooding patterns in a changing climate for the Brahmaputra basin; this includes the dissemination of the modeling and a vulnerability assessment report on community based flood preparedness prepared for Ecosystems for Life.
• Facilitate a contextual and community‐based understanding of the implications of future patterns/projections of flooding.
• Devise a trans‐boundary plan of action for India and Bangladesh to achieve a shared vision based approach towards flood management.

Contact details

Ecosystems for Life: A Bangladesh-India Initiative
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
2nd Floor, 20 Anand Lok; August Kranti Marg
New Delhi - 110049, INDIA
Tel/Fax: +91 11 4605 2583, 2625 7742, 41012581
Web: www.iucn.org/E4L