Dhaka seeks inclusive ecosystem-based adaptation to protect Bangladesh: Adviser Farida
Collaboration between communities, government and partners are crucial for building resilience among nature-dependent populations, she says
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has called for scaling up inclusive, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) across all sectors to protect Bangladesh's key ecosystems.
Speaking at a COP30 side event at the Bangladesh Pavilion yesterday (14 November), she said collaboration between communities, government and partners are crucial for building resilience among nature-dependent populations.
"Bangladesh's vulnerable communities cannot build resilience without predictable finance and strong partnerships," Farida said, highlighting the importance of integrating scientific research with indigenous knowledge.
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The event, hosted by CARE Bangladesh in collaboration with C3ER and BRAC University, showcased ongoing adaptation efforts under the NABAPALLAB project in the Sundarbans and Hakaluki Haor, funded by the UK Government's Bangladesh Climate and Environment Programme (BCEP).
Mrityunjoy Das, deputy chief of party of NABAPALLAB, said, "Communities can lead adaptation when equipped with the right tools."
Speakers highlighted that combining science, local knowledge, and predictable climate finance is essential to protect biodiversity, strengthen community resilience, and achieve national adaptation goals.
Dr M Mokhlesur Rahman of Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) emphasised that effective adaptation requires science and local knowledge together, while AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance added, "Funding must be predictable and fair so communities can build long-term resilience."
World Wide Fund for Nature's Deputy Global Conservation Director Cristianne Close underlined that biodiversity protection and climate adaptation "go hand in hand — one cannot succeed without the other."
Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment reaffirmed long-term partnerships aligned with Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan and biodiversity goals.
Youth delegate Sohanur Rahman of YouthNet Global called for climate and nature finance guided by justice, stressing that "wetlands are climate-critical infrastructure for Bangladesh. Without dedicated finance for their protection, we risk losing vital ecological buffers and the chance to lead globally on nature-based climate solutions."
Closing the session, CARE Bangladesh Country Director Ram Das said, "Protecting nature and strengthening community resilience must go hand in hand. Every local action contributes to global climate solutions."
