Wetlands act as natural flood regulators, absorb excess rainfall, purify water and rejuvenate rivers degraded by human activity, writes Sabrina Naz
BANGLADESH is a delta, crisscrossed by an intricate network of rivers, haors, baors, lakes, beels, mangrove and swamp forests, ponds, dighis, estuaries, and floodplains. Our wetlands are not static backwaters; they are dynamic ecosystems that sustain life in ways both visible and unseen. According to the Ramsar Convention, nearly two-thirds of Bangladesh is classified as wetland, including marine waters with depths of less than six metres at low tide. At any given time, at least 6.7 per cent of the country is submerged, 21 per cent experiences deep flooding, and 35 per cent sees shallow inundation.
For ordinary Bangladeshis, wetlands are inseparable from daily life. Fishermen, boatmen, farmers, shell and snail collectors, Bede (Water Gypsy) communities, herbal practitioners and others depend directly on these waterbodies for survival. Beyond livelihoods, wetlands are woven into our cultural fabric, celebrated in songs, dramas, literature, documentaries and films. Even city dwellers, for whom wetlands may appear primarily recreational, remain beneficiaries of their ecological services.
The biodiversity of wetlands is staggering. Every organism, from plankton and insects to fish and birds, depends on the wetland for growth and reproduction. The interdependence between living creatures and the physical environment sustains complex energy and nutrient cycles. Wetlands act as natural flood regulators, absorb excess rainfall, purify water, and rejuvenate rivers degraded by human activity. Many migratory birds rely on wetlands for habitat during critical stages of their life cycle.
Globally, wetlands are recognised for their uniqueness through international conventions. Bangladesh has established policies, including the National Water Policy 1999 and the National Wetland Policy, and the interim government in 2025 designated two Rajshahi wetlands as conserved areas. Yet the overall picture remains bleak. Nearly 45 per cent of our wetlands have vanished; the rivers and khals of Dhaka have shrunk by 76.7 per cent and 18.7 per cent respectively. Research shows the total area of waterbodies has declined from 15.74 per cent in 1990 to just 4.8 per cent in 2024.
The causes are familiar but alarming: overexploitation of resources, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, firewood collection, illegal hunting, population pressure, and the introduction of invasive species. Without intervention, the ecological, economic, and cultural services of wetlands will continue to erode.
What can be done
CONSERVATION must begin with awareness. People need to understand why wetlands matter, not only for biodiversity but for human survival. Comprehensive biodiversity assessments and mapping are essential. Leasing and use of wetlands should be regulated, with buffer zones established to protect vulnerable areas. Agricultural practices must adapt, including promoting soil-less farming and reducing reliance on pesticides, herbicides, and inorganic fertilisers. Polythene use should be restricted, and geospatial technology employed to monitor wetland change and inform predictive conservation strategies. At a regional level, negotiation over transboundary water sharing can safeguard upstream and downstream ecosystems alike.
Wetlands are more than water and mud — they are Bangladesh’s treasure islands, sustaining life, livelihoods and culture. Protecting them is not optional; it is an urgent responsibility for policymakers, communities, and citizens alike. The choices we make today will determine whether future generations inherit thriving wetlands or empty, degraded spaces.
Sabrina Naz is a professor of botany at University of Rajshahi.
