Behind the Lens of Healthy Forests for Healthy People: Jute Cultivation in Bangladesh
This blog series features interviews with the winners of the 2020 Climatelinks Photo Contest. This photo, submitted by Moniruzzaman Sazal, is available on the Climatelinks Photo Gallery.
Can you tell us the story behind the photo, such as the woman in the photo?
In the photo, a woman is harvesting jute at Manikganj near Dhaka, Bangladesh. I visited the area and found this beautiful example of the relationship between nature and human life, and captured the moment immediately.
As the photographer, what does this photo mean to you?
In this photo, I see the relationship between humans and nature. Jute absorbs carbon dioxide from the environment while growing, and returns it while decaying. Jute products are better than similar products made of synthetic fiber in terms of environmental benefits.
This year’s theme was “Healthy Forests for Healthy People.” Tell us more about how your photo relates to the theme.
Jute plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, which results in air purification. Along with the use of jute as a paper pulp and domestic fuel, jute composites are great alternative sources of wood. Jute composites are safe, biodegradable, and renewable. They consist of a polymer that is reinforced by jute fibers. To manage carbon emissions sustainably, it is necessary to recognize the importance of biodegradable polymers, and replacement of reinforced materials with renewable materials is increasing. For example, jute composite is used in the automobile sector, which can prevent greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced fuel consumption.
How does this photo show work that is being done to combat climate change?
There are huge benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions from integrated crop management practices and the climate smart jute farming approach. Jute crops have the potential to absorb and fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, save for the carbon released back through the application of agro-chemical inputs and use of fossil fuels in the management of jute production systems. Jute plants can play a role in removing carbon from the atmosphere.
The Climatelinks community is encouraged to submit new photos to the gallery through this submission form.
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Climatelinks is a global knowledge portal for USAID staff, implementing partners, and the broader community working at the intersection of climate change and international development. The portal curates and archives technical guidance and knowledge related to USAID’s work to help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.