🌿 Why this project matters
- 🔍 Strengthens oversight of Bangladesh’s Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs)
- 🛡️ Builds resilience against climate change impacts through institutional capacity
- 🐘 Lays groundwork for a Wildlife Trust Fund—ensuring long-term biodiversity financing
- 🌏 Aligns conservation with national and global climate goals (SDGs, Paris Agreement)
- 🤝 Supported by Sweden–a key development partner in environment and governance
In a major step toward advancing environmental governance and biodiversity protection, Bangladesh and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) have signed a grant agreement to launch a new climate-resilience project focused on institutional capacity-building and ecosystem restoration, said a press release.
The project, titled “Strengthening Capacity of MoEFCC, DoE, and BFD for Natural Resource Management and Improved Climate Resilience”, is backed by a grant of SEK 5 million (approximately USD 0.53 million or BDT 64.4 million). It will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Department of Environment (DoE), and the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) over a period from July 2025 to December 2026.
Speaking at the grant handover ceremony held at the Department of Environment in Dhaka, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, said the project will “play a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh’s resilience to climate change while preserving its rich biodiversity.”
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. A.K.M. Shahabuddin, Secretary (Routine Charge), Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Maria Stridsman, Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden.
Also present at the event were Additional Secretary Md. Khayrul Hasan; Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General of DoE; Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests; Lubna Yeasmin, Joint Secretary of the Ministry; and Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Cooperation from the Swedish Embassy.
Three Pillars of Impact
The project is built around three interconnected components:
1. Institutional Capacity Enhancement:
The Ministry will take the lead in aligning biodiversity conservation with Bangladesh’s national adaptation plans and global frameworks such as the SDGs. The project will support advanced monitoring systems, training in environmental impact assessment (EIA), and pollution control measures—particularly targeting critical rivers like the Buriganga and Turag.
2. ECA Monitoring and Restoration:
Efforts will be intensified to restore and protect Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs), with a special focus on Sonadia Island. Planned activities include baseline environmental assessments, mangrove reforestation, sand dune stabilization, and establishing a turtle hatchery. Local communities will be engaged through Village Conservation Groups (VCGs), integrating biodiversity protection with sustainable livelihood practices.
3. Establishment of a Wildlife Trust Fund:
The project aims to launch Bangladesh’s first-ever Wildlife Trust Fund to ensure long-term financing for conservation. Through stakeholder consultations and a detailed scoping study, the fund will address challenges like human-wildlife conflict and reduce dependency on annual government allocations.
A Milestone for conservation
Advisors and officials hailed the project as a timely intervention to support Bangladesh’s environmental sustainability goals at a time when climate vulnerabilities are rising, and biodiversity loss is accelerating.
“This initiative will not only improve our capacity to protect endangered species and vital ecosystems,” said Rizwana Hasan, “but also help secure long-term financing mechanisms for conservation through the Wildlife Trust Fund.”
With its comprehensive scope—from strengthening institutions to restoring mangroves and empowering communities—the project reflects a transformative step in Bangladesh’s journey toward resilient, inclusive, and ecologically grounded development.
