DHAKA, Oct 17, 2024 (BSS) - Two project agreements were signed today at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) between the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In preparation for the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference, the Government of Bangladesh, in partnership with the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has initiated projects aimed at combating biodiversity losses, addressing habitat degradation, and promoting the sustainable management of key wetlands in Bangladesh.

The signing ceremony held in the NEC-II conference room at the ERD, marked the formalization of two critical projects.

On behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), along with Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, signed the Project Documents (ProDoc) for the two initiatives, said an ERD press release.

The projects, titled “Community-based Management of Tanguar Haor Wetland Ecosystem” and “Implementing Ecosystem-based Management in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA)”, are funded by the GEF, aiming to tackle some of the country’s most critical environmental challenges.

These initiatives target to restore degraded ecosystems and promote sustainable practices that benefit local communities. Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of MoEFCC, emphasized the need to collaborate with development partners, including Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and to access dedicated environmental funds to make meaningful progress in ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of ERD, expressed his gratitude to UNDP for its continued efforts in mobilizing external resources, particularly grants, to support projects related to ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation.

He called for UNDP’s sustained collaboration to achieve the country’s environmental objectives and expressed confidence that the projects would positively impact ecosystem restoration and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.

Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted the urgency of addressing the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. 

The five-year Tanguar Haor project will focus on promoting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods to conserve biodiversity in this critical wetland area.

Meanwhile, the Ecosystem-Based Management project, covering the Halda River and Morjat Baor, will address issues such as unplanned tourism, over-exploitation, and the impacts of climate change.

This collaboration demonstrates the shared commitment of UNDP and the Government of Bangladesh to safeguard biodiversity and advance sustainable development in the country, said the release.