KHULNA, July 04, 2024 (BSS)- The Department of Forest has taken initiatives for afforestation on the banks of 52 rivers and canals adjacent to the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

The programme of mangrove afforestation, financed by ‘The French Development Agency, will jointly be implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Forest Department of Bangladesh (FDB), said official sources.  

The integrated project titled 'Upper Sundarbans Restoration Programme' has been taken for Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts with a view to increasing adaptive capacity to face the impacts of climate change.

Following the structural design of the Sheikh Russell Eco Park, which has covered an area of five acres on the bank of river Rupsha at Labanchara area of Khulna city, the official said the mangrove forest on the banks of a total of 52 rivers and canals, which was lost due to river erosion, in Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira districts will be restored under the programme for the first time.

These rivers and canals are flowing through six upazilas namely Sharonkhola, Morelganj, Mongla, Dacope, Koyra, and Shyamnagar of three southern districts on the surface of the Sundarbans, the official added.

Talking to BSS, Divisional Forest Officer of the West Forest Department Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, said high officials from the forest department, the French Development Agency, and IUCN Bangladesh will jointly visit the cyclone-affected areas in the Sundarbans and the upper Sundarbans.  

“Successful implementation of the programme on the banks of the selected 52 rivers and canals, biodiversity loss will be minimised and at the same time, the eco system won’t be at stake,” he added.

The French government wants to minimise the 'Loss and Damage' of cyclone-affected areas in Bangladesh, one of the first climate victims, and as a part of this initiative the 'Upper Sundarbans Restoration Programme' will be implemented, he said.

During the two-day visit to Bangladesh on 10-11 September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron assured that the French government would help the countries that are affected by climate change.

In continuation of that assurance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bangladesh has taken the initiative for mangrove afforestation with financial support of the French Development Agency.