Bangladesh needs to strengthen its institutional capacity and develop internationally viable projects to secure funding for biodiversity conservation, as experts warn that financial constraints remain a major obstacle to protecting the country’s rich natural ecosystems.
The issue is expected to feature prominently at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), scheduled to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19 to 30, 2026.
Despite its rich biodiversity, Bangladesh continues to face challenges in protecting forests, wetlands, rivers, coastal ecosystems and marine habitats. Habitat destruction, pollution, encroachment and climate change are putting increasing pressure on the country’s natural resources.
Experts say Bangladesh has conservation strategies and access to international funding mechanisms, but it needs to improve its ability to prepare and implement projects that meet international standards.
Dr Md Golam Rabbani, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University, said the CBD has fewer financial resources than the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Unlike climate finance, which includes dedicated mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, biodiversity conservation has fewer dedicated funding channels.
However, Bangladesh can access funding through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as well as programmes supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Bangladesh has been actively accessing its country allocation from the GEF, but experts say more needs to be done to mobilize international resources for conservation.
Dr Rabbani said Bangladesh has the potential to expand its conservation areas to cover up to 30% of its territory, subject to political commitment and the availability of resources.
He stressed that securing international funding requires more than identifying conservation needs.
Bangladesh must develop bankable projects that meet international standards and strengthen its institutional and human resources to implement them effectively.
Bangladesh has 60 protected areas covering approximately 818,247 hectares, according to figures provided for this report.
These include 19 national parks, 13 Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) and five marine protected areas and reserves—four marine protected areas and one marine reserve.
While the country has taken steps to expand its conservation network, experts say the effectiveness of these areas depends on proper management, adequate financing and sustained implementation.
Expanding protected areas alone will not be enough to safeguard biodiversity. Conservation efforts must also address habitat degradation and the pressures faced by local communities that depend on natural resources.
SM Munjurul Hannan Khan, executive director of Nature Conservation Management (NACOM), said Bangladesh’s rich biodiversity provides an opportunity to attract international support.
Although the country is relatively small, it contains important biodiversity hotspots and ecosystems that have global conservation significance.
However, Bangladesh has yet to achieve significant success in mobilizing international funding for biodiversity conservation, he said.
He stressed the need to secure resources to implement the country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
Bangladesh has already developed several strategies and plans, including the NBSAP and management plans for Ecologically Critical Areas. The challenge now is to mobilize the necessary financial and technical support to implement them.
According to Munjurul Hannan Khan, COP17 is not expected to allocate funds directly to individual countries. Instead, the conference will focus on discussions about financial mechanisms and ways to support member states in implementing their biodiversity commitments.
He expressed hope that the conference would make progress on resource mobilization mechanisms and support programmes for countries working to protect biodiversity.
For Bangladesh, the conference offers an opportunity to highlight its conservation priorities and seek stronger international cooperation.
Experts say the country should use the global platform to raise the need for financial assistance, technical support and institutional capacity-building.
Rivers and wetlands are essential to Bangladesh’s biodiversity, providing habitats for fish, aquatic plants, birds and other wildlife. However, pollution, encroachment and disruptions to natural water flows are threatening these ecosystems.
Mohammad Monir Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh River Foundation, said protecting rivers and wetlands is essential to biodiversity conservation. He stressed the need to prevent pollution and encroachment, address unplanned development and restore the natural flow of rivers.
Experts say Bangladesh’s success in biodiversity conservation will depend on how effectively it translates existing policies and strategies into action.
Developing viable projects, improving institutional capacity and ensuring transparent implementation will be crucial to accessing international funding.
COP17 could provide an important platform for Bangladesh to press for greater financial and technical support. However, the country will also need to strengthen its own systems to ensure that available resources lead to measurable conservation outcomes.
With biodiversity under growing pressure, experts say sustained investment in protected areas, forests, rivers, wetlands and marine ecosystems will be essential to meeting Bangladesh’s conservation goals.