Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury has said that the country's wetlands will be mapped within the next year to conserve them. Coordinated efforts should be made with a view to determine the course of action for sustainable use of natural resources, he also said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the Forest Department on Sunday (January 4), on the occasion of World Wetlands Day.

Read: Discussion held marking World Wetlands Day 

The Environment Minister said that wetlands are a crucial part of the environment. They play an important role in protecting biodiversity, managing floods and providing livelihoods. The government has taken various effective steps to protect wetlands. He called upon everyone to help protect wetlands.

The special guests of the event were Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director General, Department of Environment. The event was chaired by Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Department. 

Among the discussants were Mukit Majumder Babu, Chairman, Nature and Life Foundation; Enam Ul Haque, Founder, Bangladesh Bird Club.

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Md. Zahidul Kabir, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Management Wing, welcomed the guests. Keynote presentations were made by Dr. M. Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Director, Center for Natural Resources Studies and Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division, Forest Department.