Story | 12 Jun, 2018
Common pool: Equitable water governance brings prosperity to Sabkhali
The Sundarbans, a vast forest in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, are considered one of the natural wonders of the world. Lying adjacent is Sabkhali, a largely agricultural village, highly vulnerable to climate change and tidal surges, salt water intrusion, and waterlogging. The area is…
Story | 29 Mar, 2018
Cookstoves for forest conservation in Teknaf, Bangladesh
Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary is crucial habitat for many species, but until recently, the forests of the peninsula and the mangroves along the bank of Naf River were the only sources of fuel wood for the nearby villages. The increased prevalence of wood cutting resulted…
Story | 31 Oct, 2017
Importance of gender equity in safeguarding water resources highlighted at recent regional forum
IUCN’s BRIDGE programme and the Oxfam Inclusion Project, in collaboration with the Lao Women’s Union, facilitated a regional forum on gender equity and women’s leadership in transboundary water governance from 13 to 15 September in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The forum, which provided a platform for…
Story | 18 Oct, 2017
MFF holds 14th Regional Steering Committee Meeting in Myanmar
The IUCN and UNDP regional coastal initiative Mangroves for the Future (MFF) held its 14th Steering Committee meeting in Yangon to assess achievements over the past year and discuss the programme's sustainability beyond 2018.
Story | 26 Jun, 2017
New tools to assess vulnerability of wetlands in the Mekong
From June 19 to 21, IUCN staff, partners, and local officials from the Xe Champhone and Beung Kiat Ngong Ramsar sites in Lao PDR gathered in Champhone District for a training on the use of a new series of tools to assess the vulnerability of the areas’ wetlands. The…
Story | 30 May, 2017
Tanguar Haor: A wetland in the hands of the people
After almost a century of exclusive ownership by wealthy elites, Tanguar Haor is finally back in the hands of the people who rely on it. A 10-year initiative of the government of Bangladesh, supported by IUCN and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has recently drawn to a close.…
Blog | 03 May, 2017
Blog: Environment, Gender and Bangladesh
IUCN’s Environment and Gender Information (EGI) platform provides evidence and knowledge to guide action toward women’s empowerment and gender equality in environmental spheres. Based on recent EGI dataset (2015−2017), this article analyses gender mainstreaming in the environmental sector of…
Blog | 05 Apr, 2017
Blog: Tanguar Haor − The Beginning of a New Era
From 2006 to 2016, the Government of Bangladesh, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and IUCN, has managed Tanguar Haor, a Ramsar site, together with local communities. Just recently, the government has decided to continue to support the co-…
Story | 08 Nov, 2016
Video: Gender inclusion in water governance
Gender integration in water governance policies received a boost in the Lower Mekong Region through a recent workshop co-organised by Oxfam and IUCN.
Story | 19 Oct, 2016
Social Empowerment: Foundation for effective governance of natural resources
More than 400,000 people living near the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh depend on forests for their livelihoods. Unfortunately, the health, wellbeing and quality of life of these people are often affected by recurring cyclones and poorly managed natural resources.…