Promoting cooperation to protect the Sundarbans mangrove forests

Context

The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forests in the world. They stretch across Bangladesh and India in the coastal delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. Some eight million people are directly dependent on this cross-border ecosystem.

Objective

Governmental and non-governmental coordination between India and Bangladesh to protect the Sundarbans has been expanded.

Approach

The project aims to ensure the long-term conservation of the ecosystem services provided by the Sundarbans mangrove forest. The forests offer natural resources such as fish and building materials, and provide protection from storm surges. Protecting the Sundarbans also improves the situation of those who live there, especially women. Rare species, such as tigers and river dolphins, also benefit from regionally coordinated conservation measures.

The project:

• Supports regional dialogue between India and Bangladesh on good practices to conserve biodiversity and use it an environmentally sustainable manner.
• Provides training for forestry authority officials from both countries, for example on monitoring and species protection.
• Improves the income and environmental awareness of local communities, especially women and young people, through communication, for example between women-led initiatives.
• Examines innovative, long-term financing arrangements to protect the ecosystem.

Last update: March 2025