Ecologically Critical Area

The Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) is an environmentally protected zone

where the ecosystem is considered to be endangered to reach a critical
condition by the changes brought through various human activities. Section
2(gg) of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation (Amendment) Act (2010)
provides that “Ecologically critical Area” means such area which is rich in
unique biodiversity or due to the importance of environmental perspective
necessary to protect or conserve from destructive activities. ECA also falls
within the category of natural and cultural heritage.
The Government of Bangladesh has declared eight areas as ECAs in 1999, e.g.
Cox's Bazar and Teknaf Peninsula, St. Martin's Island, Sonadia Island,
Hakaluki Haor, Tanguar Haor and Marjat Baor, Gulshan-Baridhara Lake and
Sundarbans. Subsequently in 2009, four rivers (e.g. Buriganga, Sitalakhya,
Balu and Turag) around Dhaka city were declared as ECAs.
Cox's Bazar is on the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar in the southeast
corner of Bangladesh. The Teknaf Peninsula is 80 km of sandy beach and holds
a variety of species as one of the longest beaches in the world. The Sonadia
Islands are home to some of the last mangrove forests that house distinct
species that can tolerate the high salinity of the mangrove forests in this area.
The Sundarbans also contain mangrove forests and was named an ECA
because it continues to suffer from over-exploitation and illegal urban
development. St. Martin's Island is known for its coral-algal that overwhelms
its rocky reefs. The island is a refuge for globally threatened marine species.
Finally, the Hakaluki Haor found in greater Sylhet is an ECA because it has an
extensive amount of wetland habitats that support a wide variety of life.