A new project commenced on protecting the environment of the Sundarbans and the Wetlands in Sylhet

A new project to protect the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and the essential wetlands (Haors) of Sylhet has started recently.

The project will work to improve the livelihood of the local people by protecting the environment and biodiversity of the two areas. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided 20 million dollars for this project.

The project was inaugurated at a hotel in the capital on May 08, 2022. The five-year project will implement by the Department of Environment (Bangladesh) (DOE, B angladesh), Forest Department, and Fisheries Department of the Government of Bangladesh.

Non-governmental organizations like Chemonics International, Arannayk Foundation , EcoFish, Center For Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) , and environmental cognition and awareness for descendant (ecad) will assist in implementing the project.

Under the project, farming methods compatible with climate change will use. The foresters will assist in business ventures. Reliance on the extraction of natural resources from forests for income and livelihood will reduce. This will help local people cope with climate change in the long run.

Speaking as the chief guest on occasion, M A Mannan, Minister of Planning, Bangladesh, said, “We all need to reach out and protect the environment.

We must protect our resources and pass them on to the next generation. Those who have come forward to help us are our friends. We welcome them. However, we have to do the job. Our resources are low. However, we have more resources than ever before. “

Isobel Coleman, Deputy Administrator (Policy and Programming) of USAID’s informed that the project would work to protect essential forests and wetlands in Bangladesh from destruction.

“The United States and the Bangladesh government will work together in the coming days,” he added.