DHAKA, Oct 14, 2020 (BSS) – Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said the government has taken special initiatives to protect native plant species as it is committed to protecting environment, forests, and wildlife.
“The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is committed to protecting forests, forest lands and wildlife. As part of this, it has taken an initiative to prepare a red list of endangered plant species in Bangladesh and to devise a strategic management system to protect native plant species and forest resources from the harmful effects of invasive foreign trees,” he said.
The minister said this while addressing an inception workshop on ‘Developing Bangladesh National Red List of Plants and Developing Management Strategy of Invasive Alien Species of Plants in Selected Protected Areas (PAs)’ at the Forest Department here, a ministry release said.
He said: “If implemented, it will help us achieve our Sustainable Development Goals”.
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Secretary of the ministry Ziaul Hasan, Additional Secretary Ahmad Shamim Al Razi, Director of Bangladesh National Herbarium Parimal Sing, Project Director of SUFAL Project Md Rakibul Hasan Mukul, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh Raquibul Amin also spoke at the workshop.
Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury presided over the function.
Shahab Uddin said if the preparation of Red List of 1,000 Plant Species in Bangladesh is completed through the project adopted by Bangladesh National Herbarium and IUCN Bangladesh with the financial support of Sustainable Forest and Livelihood (SUFAL) project of Bangladesh Forest Department, the government will be able play a major role in plant and forest conservation.
“We have already declared more than 40 national parks and sanctuaries, which are playing an important role in conserving forests and wildlife,” he said.
A large number of exotic plant species, planted by private and private enterprises for the expansion of afforestation, have become endangered for the survival of native plants, he added.
The environment minister said one of the major tasks of this project is to identify species of exotic plants and formulate five management plans for proper management of invasive plants.
To this end, he called upon all to work together with the government for the protection of forest, wildlife and environment.
In the second part of the workshop, experts participated in two working sessions titled ‘Developing Bangladesh National Red List of Plant Species’ and ‘Developing Management Strategies of Alien Invasive Species’.