Bangladesh has been playing an important role at both national and international levels on climate and environment-related issues under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Wednesday.
He said the government remains firmly committed to environmental conservation, biodiversity protection, climate adaptation and sustainable management of natural resources.
He made the remarks while addressing the inauguration workshop of the “Conservation and Restoration Initiatives in the Sundarbans Region (CRIS) Project” at a city hotel.
Mintoo said, “The Sundarbans acts as a natural protective shield for Bangladesh’s coastal communities. It protects us from cyclones, tidal surges, salinity intrusion and climate-induced disasters,” he said.
He added that the forest is deeply connected with biodiversity, fisheries resources, livelihoods, tourism and the cultural identity of coastal people.
“However, due to climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity degradation and increasing pressure on natural resources, the Sundarbans is now facing multiple challenges,” he said.
“Research and reliable data are essential for effective environmental management. The biodiversity assessments and environmental research conducted under this project will play an important role in future conservation planning,” he said.
He said nature-based solutions are gaining increasing importance globally in addressing climate risks, protecting livelihoods and strengthening ecosystem services.“Bangladesh must also move forward on this path through practical and broad-based initiatives,” he added.
The minister stressed that conservation efforts cannot succeed without recognising people as key stakeholders.
“The communities living adjacent to the Sundarbans are important partners in protecting the forest. Their experience, participation and responsible role are essential for long-term conservation and resilience,” he said.
“This project will contribute significantly to implementing Bangladesh’s international commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” he said.
The Bangladesh Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the executing agency, while IUCN Bangladesh Country Office is implementing the project.
According to project details presented at the workshop, the initiative aims to improve biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the Sundarbans region, including the Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF), Sundarbans Impact Zone (SIZ), and Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA), benefiting local communities through restoration practices.
The workshop began with a Poter Gaan performance by a local Sundarbans artist.
It was followed by welcome remarks from Bipasha S Hossain, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh; remarks by Cécilia Cortese, Deputy Country Director for Bangladesh of Agence Française de Développement; Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests of Khulna Circle and Project Director of CRIS; and special guest Mohammed Rayhan Kaosar, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The workshop was chaired by Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Bangladesh Forest Department.
Two panel discussions were also held titled “From Data to Action: Faunal Conservation in the Sundarbans” and “From Risk to Resilience: Ecosystem Restoration in the Sundarbans.”