Objective of updating BD’s red list of fauna set

Staff Reporter :

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday said the objective of updating Bangladesh’s red list of fauna is to gradually increase the number of species classified as endangered.

“If this cannot be achieved, compiling such a list would be meaningless,” she said while addressing as the chief guest the inception workshop titled “Updating the Existing Red List of Fauna and Other Activities”, at a city hotel.
The workshop was held under “Updating the Red List of Fauna of Bangladesh”, being implemented by the Forest Department with technical support from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed and Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber spoke as the special guests with Chief Conservator of Forests Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury in the chair.

Syeda Rizwana said the government is establishing a wildlife conservation wing in the country, but that alone is not sufficient.

“People must come forward to protect and restore natural habitats. For this, integrated and strategic conservation initiatives are required,” she said.

The day-long workshop was attended by policymakers, scientists, researchers, and academics. Detailed technical discussions were held across nine taxonomic groups, focusing on the scope, methodology, coordination framework and timeline of Red List assessments.

Based on the national assessment conducted in 2015, approximately 2,200 animal species will be assessed and reassessed for their conservation status under this initiative.