Bangladesh is losing around 69,000 hectares of land every year posing a serious threat to ensuring the food security for an increasing population.
The forced migration of one million people from neighbouring Myanmar to Bangladesh has created an enormous threat to our land, life, environment, biodiversity, forest and ecosystems.
Environment minister Md. Shahab Uddin came up with the information at the ‘Round table 2, Land restoration: A path to sustainable post-pandemic recovery’ in the conference of the parties (COP-15) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held Tuesday night in Abidjan, Côte dIvoire.
One-third of the country lies in the coast exposed to tidal floodings which leads to increased salinity, he mentioned.
“The loss of soil, flora and fauna and ecosystems expand the risk of novel diseases like COVID-19 and Ebola. The north-western part of the country is under the threat of desertification,” the minister added.
“Land restoration is definitely a cost-effective strategy which can ensure green recovery. So, Bangladesh is encouraging and welcoming international cooperation and support through UNCCD secretariat as well as Global Mechanism,” he continued.
The environment minister said the government is trying its best to combat land degradation and desertification.
To this end, it has revised its National Environmental Policy giving special attention to combating land degradation and desertification.
Bangladesh has set voluntary targets to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030 as per SDG Target 15.3 and the decision of COP13, he added.
We have introduced best practices of SLM Technology for fast-growing crops, vegetables and fruits. Barind, a northwestern part of the country is the best example to be turned into a green area by introducing a sustainable mechanism.
