Bangladesh and Germany signed two agreements to protect the Sundarbans
Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in Bangladesh, and Martina Burkard, Acting Country Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Bangladesh, signed two agreements on July 13, 2024. The agreements focus on managing the Sundarbans in Bangladesh and the Marine Protected Area called Swatch No Ground.
The Secretary of the MOEFCC said that the Sundarbans’ Mangroves and Marine Protected Area (MPA) Swatch of No Ground in Bangladesh (SoNG) Project will be implemented through the joint efforts of the Ministry of MOEFCC, Bangladesh and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL), Bangladesh.
The SoNG project aims to improve marine conservation in Bangladesh by working together with authorities, fishermen, women, and youth in coastal communities near the MPA to build capacity and collaboration.
The main goals are to improve planning and monitoring, use scientific methods, enhance knowledge-based decision-making with digital tools, and raise awareness among coastal communities for marine conservation.
Dr. Farhina announced that there will be increased cooperation and funding for the sustainable management of Sundarbans. Bangladesh and India will work together to conserve the Sundarbans by implementing the Sundar-Bay project from March 2024 to February 2027.
The Environment Secretary said the Sundar-Bay project aims to improve public-private coordination between the two countries, help conserve the Sundarbans and provide ecosystem services to local communities, especially women and marginalized groups.
The project will help local communities by improving their capacity, offering joint training programs, creating sustainable income opportunities, and providing environmental education.
Both projects will help achieve Sustainable Development Goals for Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15) by focusing on protecting biodiversity and natural resources. The initiatives reflect Bangladesh and Germany’s commitment to sustainable development and protection of important ecosystems in the region.
Collaborative efforts are expected to bring important benefits for the environment, society, and economy, protecting the Sundarbans and surrounding areas for future generations.
Dr. Stefan Alfred Groenewald, Chief Advisor of GIZ Bangladesh, and Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Forest Conservator, signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations.
