Mountain cutting is one of the potentially most disastrous environmental hazards in Bangladesh, with threats to the basic life support systems in the region, particularly within the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The cutting of mountains or hillocks for various purposes such as building materials, expansion of agriculture, and/or infrastructure projects has resulted in severe environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of local water resources.
The immediate outcomes of mountain cutting include deforestation, whereby the trees and vegetation that help maintain ecological balance are depleted. It has been found that because of such activities, the Chittagong Hill Tracts-home of heavy biodiversity-have showed a dramatic decline in forest cover. The resultant effects of this deforestation include not only a reduction in the number of natural habitats for species but also increased soil erosion to levels where landslides can occur during the monsoon season. This means the trees no longer can hold the soil together with their roots, and the land is highly susceptible to erosion and, eventually, to losing its fertility and being unsuitable even for agriculture.
Besides, it destroys forests as part of mountain cutting and directly adds to climate change. The forests are a sort of carbon sink-they absorb much of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When the trees are destroyed, that carbon is released into the atmosphere, adding to global warming. This is especially of grave concern for a country like Bangladesh, highly vulnerable to the eventual impact of climate change due to rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
The practice of mountain cutting also severely disrupts local water resources. In areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts, hills and forests form part of the natural mechanism that regulates the water cycle. The hills with forests absorb rainwater through a process of percolation, which renews the underground water supply and maintains a steady flow of water in rivers and streams. If the hills are cut, this natural water retention capability is lost, and as a result, water sources dry up.
In many parts of the CHT, water holes that were a certain source of water during the whole year have started to dry up, especially during the dry season.
The acute water crisis has already displaced some communities in finding more dependable supplies of water, and further added to their already pathological socio-economic predicament. As the link between deforestation and water scarcity is increasingly demonstrated, communities are beginning to take action to preserve their forests in order to secure their supplies of water.
The hills of Bangladesh, mainly the Chittagong Hill Tracts, represent a storehouse of different flora and fauna. The cutting of mountains not only destroys the habitations of many species but also separates these small patches of land from each other. It is quite impossible for wildlife to survive properly in such small areas; therefore, many species are compelled to migrate to other areas. Those species which do not get a suitable environment fail to survive or go extinct.
Loss of biodiversity is inferred to have wider impacts on the ecosystem. For instance, with the disappearance of some certain plant species, the fertility of the soil and food sources for other species are affected. It is also considered a disruption in the food chain, ending up in a less resilient ecosystem. The loss of biodiversity also reduces the medicinal plants available to local people for traditional medicine.
Mountain cutting is causing enormous environmental degradation, especially in the hilly areas. For the indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, these forests and hills are more than a source of livelihood but part of culture and spirituality. The loss that comes with such destruction in these landscapes means the very loss of traditional knowledge and practices passed down the generations.
It is also economically destructive because fertile land becomes less available, and water resources are further misused owing to reduced agricultural productivity considered as the primary source of sustenance for most rural communities. With increased frequency of landslides and soil erosion because of deforestation, farmers become increasingly unable to cultivate their crops, therefore creating food insecurity and economic instability.
Besides, the advent of environmental degradation displaces communities, which again leads to a life full of challenges. The general sentiment is that communities displaced often relocate to areas with access to limited resources and opportunities, which act as a catalyst in increasing the rate of poverty and social inequality.
Recognizing the severe environmental and social impacts of mountain cutting, there have been efforts to address the issue in Bangladesh. It is well combined-how far local communities, government agencies, and NGOs go in promoting sustainable land-use practices and reforestation. For instance, the local community had taken the lead with the restoration of degraded lands by planting native trees and protection of existing forest covers in some areas. This, among other ways, restores environments that have been degraded and helps build resilience to impacts related to climate change.
More importantly, however, there is heightened awareness of the need to further enforce environmental laws in terms of preventing illegal mountain cutting. Policies that encourage sustainable development and conservation are essential to protecting natural resources in the Chittagong Hill Tracts for future generations.
Mountain cutting in Bangladesh has resulted in severe environmental degradation: deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to water resources. Such changes have deeper social and economic consequences in the long run, especially for indigenous communities that depend on these landscapes for their livelihood and cultural practices.
While some remedies to this problem are being attempted through reforestation and sustainable land-use practices, a great deal more could be done with respect to protecting Bangladesh's hill regions. The enforcement of environmental laws is absolutely necessary, as also community engagement in all conservation work.
Conservation of crucial ecosystems for the benefit of future generations will thus need to be one step ahead. By addressing the root causes of mountain cutting and thereby boosting sustainable development, Bangladesh can help safeguard the long-term health of its environment.
A global “peace pact” signed by more than 190 nations at the Montreal COP 15 summit in December 2022 pledged to protect nature and reverse decades of environmental destruction threatening the world’s species and ecosystems. That deal pledged to secure 30 percent of the planet as a protected zone by 2030, stump up $30 billion in yearly conservation aid for the developing world, and halt human-caused extinction of threatened species. According to the Forest Survey 2015-2019, the amount of Bangladesh’s green coverage was 22.37 per cent of its total area.
But, many areas of our country may face serious disaster as unscrupulous influential quarters continue destroying forests and cutting the hills in gross breach of environmental laws. The authorities concerned sometimes conduct raids to stop hill cutting and fine the influential people, who are involved in destroying forests and cutting the hills.
These influential people and musclemen in association with local armed middlemen also issue threat to the people who protest the destruction of forest and cutting of hill. Different environmental issues, including hill cutting, leasing and grabbing of forest and hilly land were discussed widely in order to prevent such manmade disasters.
But deforestation and hill cutting are still going on unabated in the name of housing as the demand for plots and flats in the hill area is very high. Many residential and commercial buildings, resorts and hotels have been developed, cutting down hills over the last two decades, with the authorities concerned turning a blind eye to this mindless act.
While we are very excited and charmed to see the natural beauty of the forest and hills, it is unfortunate to note that country’s most forest and hills are in very sorry state because of unabated hill cutting, tree felling and unplanned construction of structures.
So, the forests and hills are getting destroyed due to mindless deforestation and earth cutting for lack of monitoring and effective action plan to protect those.
Such unabated deforestation and hill cutting posed a serious threat to the environment in the hilly region. These forests and hills will be facing serious consequences in the future if ‘effective steps’ are not taken to check their ruination and ensure proper use of their lands and resources.
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra is a University Correspondent of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Bangladesh Post, and a final year honours student of the Anthropology Department of the institution.
