Staff Reporter :
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has urged for the expansion of inclusive, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) across all sectors to safeguard Bangladesh’s critical ecosystems.
Speaking at a COP30 side event at the Bangladesh Pavilion on Friday, she emphasized the need for collaboration among communities, government, and partners to build resilience among populations dependent on natural resources.
“Bangladesh’s vulnerable communities cannot build resilience without predictable finance and strong partnerships,” Farida said, stressing the integration of scientific research with indigenous knowledge.
The event, hosted by CARE Bangladesh in collaboration with C3ER and BRAC University, highlighted 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 noted that combining science, local knowledge, and predictable climate finance is essential for protecting biodiversity, strengthening community resilience, and meeting national adaptation targets.
Dr. M. Mokhlesur Rahman of the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) emphasized that effective adaptation requires both scientific and local knowledge. AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, added, “Funding must be predictable and fair so communities can build long-term resilience.”
Cristianne Close, Deputy Global Conservation Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature, 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 the need for long-term partnerships aligned with Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan and biodiversity goals.
Youth delegate Sohanur Rahman of YouthNet Global stressed the importance of climate and nature finance guided by justice, noting 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.”
