Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin called on all countries to join hands in conserving and restoring wetlands during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, aiming to ensure a sustainable future for current and future generations.
He made these remarks during the inaugural session of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) workshop on "Ecosystem Restoration in the Context of Climate and Other Vulnerability."
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, was held at the Department of Environment in the capital on Wednesday.
The minister emphasized the need to promote sustainable water management policies and practices that address the factors contributing to wetland degradation. This includes measures to improve water quality, reduce pollution, prevent and manage invasive alien species, sustainably use freshwater species, and protect the connectivity of freshwater systems.
Md Shahab Uddin highlighted Bangladesh's commitment as a member state of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to conserve and restore wetland ecosystems.
He mentioned the ongoing efforts to update the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Bangladesh in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in December 2022.
The government of Bangladesh has also developed various plans and initiatives, including the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050, updated NDC 2021, and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041. These emphasize the conservation, preservation, and restoration of wetlands and ecosystems while promoting their sustainable use. Several development projects and programs have been undertaken to support these goals.
The workshop was chaired by Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the special envoy to the prime minister on environment and climate change, and the chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, delivered a speech as a special guest.
Md Rais Hassan Sarowar, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also spoke at the occasion. Leading experts and officials from different CICA countries, including Turkey, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka, virtually participated in the workshop.
The event featured technical sessions on the themes "Restoration of Wetlands Ecosystem" and "Restoration of Forests and Coastal Mangrove Ecosystem."
The two-day workshop will conclude with a technical session on "Means of Implementation, Capacity Development, and Experience Sharing"; chaired by Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, additional secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bangladesh.