The Government of Bangladesh has launched an ambitious new programme to restore and safeguard the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and with financial support from the French Development Agency (AFD).
The Conservation and Restoration Initiatives in the Sundarbans Region (CRIS) project was formally inaugurated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and IUCN Bangladesh, followed by a grant agreement between AFD and IUCN. The EUR 3 million investment marks AFD’s first direct contribution to biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh and signals the start of a long-term cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Protecting a Critical Ecosystem Under Threat
Home to exceptional wildlife—including the iconic Bengal tiger—and a natural buffer protecting coastal communities from storms, the Sundarbans supports more than six million people. Yet the ecosystem faces intensifying threats from climate change, human pressures, and environmental degradation.
The CRIS initiative aims to bolster biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods through an integrated and science-based approach. IUCN Bangladesh will lead implementation in close collaboration with BFD.
The project focuses on four core outcomes:
- Development of risk-informed conservation and restoration plans
- Enhanced biodiversity protection through faunal inventories and improved management
- Strengthened ecological resilience via restoration and sustainable resource management
- Improved knowledge sharing and stakeholder cooperation
Commitment from Bangladesh and France
AFD’s Deputy Country Director in Bangladesh, Cecilia Cortese, emphasized France’s long-standing commitment to climate and biodiversity action.
“This partnership reflects our shared responsibility to protect the Sundarbans, a vital shield for millions and a sanctuary for irreplaceable wildlife,” she said.
Bangladesh’s Chief Conservator of Forests, Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, highlighted the national importance of the initiative. “The Government of Bangladesh is committed to protecting the Sundarbans in line with national and international goals. This project will help us restore degraded areas and work more closely with communities,” he noted.
Bipasha Hossain, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh, stressed the importance of coordination and evidence-based action. “The Sundarbans is a fragile ecosystem and a lifeline for millions of people. Through CRIS, we want to bring scientific evidence, traditional knowledge and community experience together,” she said.
A Comprehensive Agenda for Restoration and Resilience
Under the CRIS programme, partners will conduct climate-risk assessments, hydrological and socio-economic studies, faunal surveys and community-led ecological restoration. The initiative will also promote youth engagement, expand knowledge exchange, and upgrade the Sundarbans Interpretation Centre in Karamjal.
The project aligns with Bangladesh’s national strategies—including the National Adaptation Plan, Delta Plan 2100, and the National Conservation Strategy—and supports global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
By combining restoration, climate readiness, biodiversity protection and community participation, CRIS represents a significant step toward securing a sustainable future for one of the planet’s most important ecosystems.