When thousands of birds fly over your head, you can feel your blood running faster and you start to fly with those thousands of colorful feathers. It’s crystal clear water where you can easily see the fishes swimming around. WiserLocal Dhaka organizer Adib Khondoker Ratul reflects on a recent field trip.

Knowledge has the ability to change the world. It can even change one’s own vision, inner motivation and ethical background. What drives me to protect the environment is not only ethics, but also the core scientific and philosophical knowledge (I am still learning) from my educational institution. I am studying Environmental Sciences at the Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh. This is the place where my knowledge is derived–of how the earth works and how human and Mother Nature affect each other. From Geology to GIS and Meteorology to analytical Chemistry, I found these subjects tough but also challenging. It is true that being armed with knowledge and imagination gives us the opportunity to conquer the whole world.

Our Earth comprises of thousands of complex natural phenomena with unique natural balance. To maintain this natural balance we, as the only conscious animal found in the world, have the highest edge of responsibility. In order to reach a true understanding and fundamental solutions for all environmental problems, it is important to study how the Earth and human beings can coexist in more sustainable ways.

It is very realistic that polluted air, impure drinking water, and toxicity in soil, water, air and food are not gifts of nature. Instead, clean air to breath, pure drinking water and nutritional food are the gifts of nature presented by our Allah (SWT). We have to think seriously to protect this nature for our own sake and for our future generation. We have to start a sustainable lifestyle, even if it’s in a small scale.

Besides the theoretical side of learning, we pay many field trips each year with our department to different parts of our country. Recently, we paid a visit to Tanguar Haor (a marshy wetland) and a place named Amalshid from where Barak river of India enters into Bangladesh by Shurma and Kushiara. Barak is the river where India proposed to build a high dam for electricity and irrigation purposes.

Tanguar Haor (probably the second largest wetland in Bangladesh) is one of the most unique places, rich in biodiversity. Many migratory birds land here every winter. When we entered into the Haor area, we saw thousands of migratory birds flying, catching fish, swimming. The entire natural landscape is so amazing that one couldn’t imagine it until see it with their own eyes.  When thousands of birds fly over your head, you can feel your blood running faster and you start to fly with those thousands of colorful feathers. It’s crystal clear water where you can easily see the fishes swimming around. Nature always widens your insight, strengthens your passion, love and patriotism.

Tanguar Haor exhibits a unique wetland ecosystem. Considering its ecological importance, it has been declared as Ramsar Site. Two NGOS are responsible for its conservation: IUCN and CNRS.

The Department of Environmental Sciences at the Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh.

Through WiserEarth, I found a nice social network to share my views and environmental insight with other people from the rest of the world. In the end, I say: Green your thought, Green your Environment. As Paul Hawken said in his book Blessed Unrest, the way we harm Earth affects all people. How we treat one another is reflected in how we treat the Earth.

Find Adib on WiserEarth to see what else he is working on.

Have you had an experience like Adib’s or have similar visions? Share with us in the comments below.

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