Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today announced that the government has initiated a project to prevent hill cutting by leveraging modern technology. She shared this information during a progress review meeting on the Natural Capital Mapping project held at the Ministry of Water Resources in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the project employs advanced tools, such as high-resolution WorldView-3 satellite imagery with a 30-centimetre resolution, to effectively map and analyze the natural capital of hillocks and hilly regions. The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is utilized to refine these boundaries, while time-series analyses using Google Earth imagery from 2004 to 2024 offer crucial insights into how hill-cutting activities affect vegetation and terrain.
Rizwana emphasized that the initiative aims to create a comprehensive Land Cover and Natural Capital Map and to develop Integrated Collaborative Forest Management Plans. These efforts are expected to enhance the sustainable management of natural resources, including forests, wetlands, and rivers, which provide vital ecosystem services such as carbon storage, flood protection, and biodiversity conservation.
The adviser highlighted that the project estimates the extent of hill-cutting and disturbed areas in hectares, underlining the importance of sustainable land use. Field surveys conducted by GIS and Remote Sensing teams, in consultation with stakeholders like the CHT Board, Regional Councils, and local communities, will be used to validate the findings.
This initiative demonstrates the government's commitment to preserving Bangladesh's natural heritage, ensuring informed resource management, and promoting sustainable development.