New Chapter for Sundarbans Conservation Begins with the CRIS Project

The project seeks to address increasing environmental pressures facing the Sundarbans, including climate change, salinity intrusion, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable use of natural resources. Through science-based planning, ecosystem restoration, research, and stakeholder collaboration, CRIS aims to enhance the resilience of both the Sundarbans ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.

The inception workshop of the project was held on 20 May 2026 at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, bringing together government representatives, development partners, researchers, conservation practitioners, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders to discuss implementation priorities and opportunities for collaboration.

The workshop opened with remarks from Abdul Awal Mintoo, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), who highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative for one of the world's most significant mangrove ecosystems. “The CRIS Project is a timely and strategic intervention for the Sundarbans. It will strengthen ecological resilience, restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and improve livelihoods through inclusive and science-based approaches.”

IUCN Bangladesh

Local folk artists captivated participants through a traditional Poter Gaan performance

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest, provides critical habitat for globally significant biodiversity while protecting millions of people from cyclones, storm surges, and other climate-related hazards. However, the ecosystem is increasingly threatened by environmental and human-induced pressures that require coordinated and long-term responses.

Speaking at the workshop, Cecilia Cortese, Deputy Country Director of AFD Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of integrating conservation, restoration, and social inclusion. “Climate resilience and ecosystem restoration must go hand in hand with biodiversity conservation, social inclusion, gender equality, and community participation. CRIS represents an important step toward building long-term resilience in the Sundarbans.”

IUCN Bangladesh

Participants engage in discussions to shape a resilient future for the Sundarbans

The project is structured around four interconnected outcomes: developing risk-informed conservation and restoration plans for the Sundarbans region; strengthening biodiversity conservation through faunal inventories and management planning; enhancing ecological resilience through restoration and sustainable management interventions in the Sundarbans Impact Zone; and improving knowledge management and stakeholder collaboration.

To support these objectives, CRIS will undertake climate-risk assessments, hydrological studies, biodiversity surveys, socio-economic research, and community-based restoration initiatives. The project will also strengthen stakeholder engagement, promote knowledge sharing, and support collaborative approaches to conservation and restoration.

Bipasha S. Hossain, Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of partnership and evidence-based action in securing the future of the Sundarbans. “The future of the Sundarbans depends on our ability to connect science, policy, local knowledge, and community action. CRIS provides a unique opportunity to strengthen those connections and support informed, inclusive, and sustainable conservation efforts.”

The workshop also featured panel discussions on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and community engagement in the Sundarbans and its surrounding impact zone. Participants highlighted the importance of evidence-based conservation planning, stronger institutional coordination, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and meaningful participation of local communities in conservation efforts.

IUCN Bangladesh

The CRIS Project is fully aligned with Bangladesh's national priorities, including the National Conservation Strategy, National Adaptation Plan, Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, and the Bangladesh Climate Change and Gender Action Plan. It also contributes to global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The inception workshop marks the beginning of a five-year collaborative effort to strengthen conservation and restoration initiatives across the Sundarbans landscape. Through science-based planning, stakeholder collaboration, and community-centred approaches, the CRIS Project aims to contribute to a resilient, biodiversity-rich, and sustainably managed Sundarbans for present and future generations.