‘Forests foundational to economy, biodiversity’
City Desk :
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday said forests and natural resources are not only crucial for the environment but also foundational to the economy, biodiversity, and the security of future generations.
“So, ensuring the inclusive participation of all stakeholders is essential for effective management of these resources,” she told a workshop here.
The “Workshop for the Second Cycle of the National Forest Inventory of Bangladesh and National Validation Workshop on the Generation of the Land Cover and Natural Capital Map and Developing Integrated Collaborative Forest Management Plans” was held at the Forest Department headquarters in Dhaka.
Virtually joining the meeting from her residence, Rizwana emphasised that forests should not merely be viewed through the lens of carbon trading, rather as vital providers of oxygen and as habitats for biodiversity, reports BSS.
She warned that if developed countries continue to only purchase carbon credits instead of reducing actual emissions, the global climate crisis will persist.
The environment adviser stressed restoring degraded forests, implementing community-based management, and formulating realistic forest management plans.
Learning from past experiences and verifying the outcomes of projects such as SUFAL (Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods) is also crucial, he said.
Rizwana highlighted that the data collected from the second cycle of the National Forest Inventory would play an important role in building a comprehensive database on forest resources, informing forest-related policymaking, promoting the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, and supporting climate change mitigation efforts.
She also noted that maps on topography, land use, and natural capital, along with integrated forest management plans, would help guide the country toward sustainable development.