Speakers at a discussion on Thursday stressed that biodiversity conservation must extend beyond policy frameworks and translate into tangible action.
Abu Sadat Moniruzzaman Khan, program head of the Brac Climate Change Programme, highlighted the need for collective support to restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity. He underscored the importance of addressing climate change through climate-resilient measures and climate-tolerant afforestation.
He also emphasized the need to build greater climate resilience to secure a livable world for future generations.
The event was organized by the Brac Climate Change Programme at the Brac Centre in Dhaka, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity.
The event was moderated by Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty, senior program manager of Brac Climate Change Programme and attended by prominent environmental activists, researchers, teachers and development practitioners.
This year’s theme was “Harmony with nature and sustainable development.”
The event aimed to explore the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in biodiversity conservation and to identify practical and collaborative actions that can yield long-term benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem protection.
During the discussion, speakers stressed the importance of allowing nature to thrive in its own space, noting that effective conservation begins with listening to people’s stories and amplifying nature’s narratives rather than focusing solely on policy-making.
They emphasized that these stories must be passed on to the next generation to ensure sustained engagement with biodiversity issues.
Several NbS-implementing organizations, including Arannayk Foundation, Brac, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), Barcik, ICLEI, and ULAB, presented their initiatives at the event.
These presentations underscored the importance of maintaining ecological balance through the planting of diverse tree species and implementing proper management strategies.
The discussions also addressed ways to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable afforestation systems.
Observed annually on Thursday, the International Day for Biological Diversity, led by the United Nations Environment Programme, aims to raise global awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the actions needed to protect it.
