Bangladesh Launches Third National Faunal Red List

Building on this milestone, the Inception Workshop of the project was held on 29 January 2026 at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka.The workshop was organised by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with technical support from IUCN Bangladesh, to formally initiate the national process of updating Bangladesh’s Faunal Red List in line with the latest IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The day-long programme featured an intensive technical session followed by a high-level inaugural session. Technical discussions were conducted across nine taxonomic groups, focusing on assessment scope, methodology, timelines, and coordination mechanisms.

The inaugural session was graced by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Adviser, MoEFCC, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as Chief Guest. Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, MoEFCC, and Mr. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, attended as Special Guests. The event was chaired by Mr. Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Department.

Speaking at the event, The Honourable Adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, highlighted that wildlife conservation extends beyond compiling lists, it requires protecting and restoring natural habitats while fostering social tolerance and positive values towards wildlife. She noted that the Red List aims to help species that are facing high threats to gradually move away from the ‘red zone’ through coordinated, strategic conservation actions.

Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed emphasised that, for the first time, Bangladesh is updating its national Faunal Red List through full government funding and active engagement of national experts, with IUCN providing technical guidance. She described the initiative as a valuable opportunity to strengthen national knowledge and build long-term capacity, supporting evidence-based conservation planning.

Secretary Mr. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber noted that the Red List will serve as a critical evidence-based reference for policymaking, including the first comprehensive, science-based assessment of marine fish species. He also emphasised the importance of recognising individuals or institutions that make important contributions to conservation, and highlighted examples of successful regeneration of fish species that were previously considered extinct.

In light of evolving pressures on biodiversity and advances in scientific knowledge, updating the national Red List is both timely and important for Bangladesh. The updated Faunal Red List will serve as a critical evidence base for biodiversity conservation, policy formulation, environmental impact assessment, and reporting against national and global biodiversity commitments. It will support Bangladesh in meeting its international biodiversity obligations, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and CITES, thereby reinforcing the country’s role in the global effort to safeguard biodiversity.

Mr. Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury stated that the updated Red List will provide a clear, scientific assessment of changes in the conservation status of wildlife over the past decade (2015–2025). He further noted that the Wildlife Conservation and Security Ordinance 2026 will strengthen species-level conservation actions, ensuring more effective protection and management of wildlife nationwide.

IUCN Bangladesh brings extensive experience to this assignment, having supported the development of the National Faunal Red List in 2015 and the National Floral Red List in 2024, alongside long-standing collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh on biodiversity conservation initiatives. This partnership provides a strong foundation for delivering a credible, nationally relevant update of the Faunal Red List in line with IUCN global standards.

Ms. Bipasha S. Hossain, Country Representative, IUCN Bangladesh, underscored the strategic significance of the IUCN's Red List as a globally recognised scientific reference, citing its critical role in international decision-making from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention to funding mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).

Through this initiative, the conservation status of approximately 2,200 faunal species, including previously assessed and newly evaluated species, will be reviewed to ensure a comprehensive and up-to-date national assessment of Bangladesh’s wildlife. 

Key outputs of the project will include the publication of 10 volumes of Faunal Red List books, upgraded digital databases to improve public access to species information, and capacity building for over 200 professionals involved in Red List assessment and review processes.

The inception workshop marks the beginning of a multi-year, collaborative process involving government agencies, academic institutions, and conservation experts, ensuring that biodiversity conservation efforts in Bangladesh remain informed, targeted, and effective.