Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, stated today that a new project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) will play a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh’s resilience to climate change while preserving its rich biodiversity.
She made this remark after receiving the Grant Agreement for the project titled “Strengthening Capacity of MoEFCC, DoE, and BFD for Natural Resource Management and Improved Climate Resilience” at the Department of Environment (DoE) in Dhaka.
The Environment Advisor said the project will strategically enhance the institutional capacities of the Ministry, DoE, and Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) to address environmental and climate challenges through innovative approaches. These include improving the monitoring of Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs), undertaking large-scale ecological restoration, and establishing the country’s first Wildlife Trust Fund.
The event was attended by Additional Secretary Md. Khayrul Hasan; Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General of DoE; and Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests.
Earlier, the Grant Agreement was formally signed by Dr. A.K.M. Shahabuddin, Secretary (Routine Charge) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Maria Stridsman, Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden. Also present were Lubna Yeasmin, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, and Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation.
Funded by a SIDA grant of SEK 5 million (approximately USD 0.53 million or BDT 64.4 million), the project is designed to deliver comprehensive support across three interconnected components. It will first focus on strengthening institutional capacity, with the Ministry taking the lead in aligning biodiversity conservation with national and global frameworks, including the National Adaptation Plan (2023–2050) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).This includes developing robust monitoring plans, offering specialized training on environmental impact assessment, and equipping the DoE with advanced tools to monitor pollution in critical rivers such as the Buriganga and Turag.
The second major focus will be on enhancing ECA monitoring and restoration, with special emphasis on Sonadia Island, an important ECA. Planned interventions include conducting baseline environmental assessments, restoring vital mangrove ecosystems, stabilizing sand dunes, and establishing a turtle hatchery. Local communities will play a key role in these efforts through the formation of Village Conservation Groups (VCGs), aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods while reinforcing biodiversity protection.
The third component of the project is the establishment of a Wildlife Trust Fund, which will be developed through a detailed scoping study and extensive stakeholder consultations. This fund aims to provide sustainable financing for the protection of endangered species and to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, ultimately reducing dependence on government funding for critical conservation initiatives. With its targeted interventions-ranging from mangrove reforestation to strategic policy development and grassroots conservation-the project marks a significant step forward in Bangladesh’s journey toward environmental sustainability and climate resilience.