Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo says land degradation, drought, salinity and climate change threaten Bangladesh’s food security, biodiversity and sustainable development, calling for stronger restoration efforts and international support.
Abdul Awal Mintoo underscored the critical role of healthy land in securing food supplies on Wednesday, protecting biodiversity and strengthening climate resilience, warning that sustainable development cannot be achieved without safeguarding land resources.
Speaking at a workshop organised at the Department of Environment (DoE) headquarters in Dhaka to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026, Mintoo said land should be regarded not simply as a means of production but as the very foundation of human existence.
“Without healthy land, food security, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development cannot be achieved,” he said.
The minister described the international observance as more than a symbolic occasion, saying it serves as a reminder of humanity’s responsibility toward land, the environment, food security, livelihoods and future generations.
Referring to this year’s theme, “Rangelands: Recognize, Respect, Restore,” Mintoo said it draws attention to the need to conserve and restore grazing lands and natural grasslands worldwide.
He noted that nearly half of the world’s land surface consists of some form of rangeland ecosystem, which supports the livelihoods of billions of people while contributing to food systems, biodiversity conservation, water cycle regulation and carbon storage.
Although Bangladesh is not a desert nation, the country remains highly vulnerable to desertification, land degradation and drought, he said.
According to the minister, climate change, unplanned land use, declining soil fertility, rising salinity, river erosion, deforestation and prolonged dry seasons are accelerating land degradation across different regions of the country.
He highlighted several areas requiring urgent and sustained attention, including drought-prone districts in the northwest, saline-affected coastal zones, degraded hill regions and fragile river basin ecosystems.
Citing research findings, Mintoo said the area affected by moderate to very severe land degradation in Bangladesh increased from 10.70 million hectares in 2000 to 11.24 million hectares in 2020.
“On average, around 27,000 hectares of land have been degraded annually over the past two decades,” he said.
The minister also pointed to a rise in drought-prone areas, which expanded from 1.43 million hectares to 1.54 million hectares over the same period. These areas now account for nearly 10.4 percent of the country’s total land area.
He said climate change-driven irregular rainfall, prolonged dry spells, excessive precipitation, flash floods, cyclones and sea-level rise are placing growing pressure on the country’s land and water resources.
Particular concern remains over the Barindra region and other northwestern areas, where recurring drought conditions are causing long-term impacts on agricultural production, water availability and local livelihoods, he added.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s international commitments, Mintoo said the country signed and ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994 and has since worked consistently to fulfil its obligations under the treaty.
He outlined a range of government initiatives aimed at addressing land degradation, including social forestry programmes, coastal greenbelt development, sustainable agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, wider use of organic fertilisers, conservation agriculture and the expansion of climate-resilient crop varieties.
The minister said Bangladesh has achieved significant progress in managing drought risks in the Barindra region through water conservation measures, efficient irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting and improved groundwater management practices.
Calling for stronger international cooperation, Mintoo urged the global community to increase financial assistance, technology transfer, capacity-building support and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
He also appealed to development partners, international financial institutions and relevant United Nations agencies to invest more heavily in land restoration, drought mitigation efforts and nature-based solutions.
On the occasion, the government reaffirmed its commitment to achieving land degradation neutrality through the restoration of degraded forests, wetlands, char lands and other ecosystems. It also pledged to strengthen drought early warning systems and expand the use of information technology in science-based land management.
The workshop was chaired by DoE Director General Dr. Md. Lutfor Rahman and attended by Additional Secretary of the ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam, senior officials from various ministries and agencies, representatives of development partners and UN organisations, researchers, academics and environmentalists.
