Govt to formulate action plan to protect Sundarbans: Rizwana
She stressed the need for not only a solid action plan but also an effective coordination mechanism to ensure implementation
The government will formulate a concrete action plan to protect the Sundarbans, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (17 June).
"The Sundarbans is truly one of a kind. We all must come together to save it," she said while presiding over a meeting on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) at the ministry's conference room.
She stressed the need for not only a solid action plan but also an effective coordination mechanism to ensure implementation.
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Rizwana noted that if any risks to the Sundarbans are identified, both the Department of Forests and the Department of Environment must immediately raise the issue, prompting timely action by relevant government agencies.
She instructed the Department of Environment to monitor the environmental impacts of cement factories in the southwest region.
Additionally, the environment adviser asked the ministry to prepare a clear and immediate work plan to determine urgent conservation actions.
Highlighting the importance of a bottom-up approach for Sundarbans conservation, she said, "The capacity of the Forest Department must be enhanced to prevent illegal activities."
The meeting was attended by Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, additional secretary; Dr Fahmida Khanom, additional secretary; Dr Md Kamruzzaman, director general, Department of Environment; Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury, chief conservator of forests and Malik Fida A Khan, executive director, CEGIS, among others.
Earlier in the day, Rizwana also presided over the Wildlife Advisory Board meeting.
