France funds major conservation push to protect Bangladesh’s Sundarbans
€3 million French-backed CRIS project aims to boost climate resilience, restore mangroves and support coastal communities in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — France has announced new financing to strengthen climate resilience and biodiversity protection in the Sundarbans, launching a major conservation partnership with Bangladesh to safeguard the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The Conservation and Restoration Initiatives in the Sundarbans Region (CRIS) project was formally inaugurated on Monday.
According to the United News of Bangladesh (UNB), the initiative is being led by the Bangladesh Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with implementation by IUCN Bangladesh — the country office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global environmental network known for its Red List of threatened species.
Financial support comes from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which signed cooperation agreements with both the Bangladesh Forest Department and IUCN at the launch.
AFD’s Deputy Country Director in Bangladesh, Cecilia Cortese, said the €3 million grant reflects France’s long-term commitment to climate action, biodiversity protection, and resilient coastal communities. The funding represents AFD’s first direct investment in biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh and establishes the basis for a broader environmental partnership.
The Sundarbans, home to exceptional wildlife including the endangered Bengal tiger, acts as a natural shield against cyclones and storm surges for more than six million people. Scientists warn that the ecosystem is under increasing stress from climate change, salinity intrusion, and human activity.
The CRIS project will conduct climate-risk assessments, hydrological studies, faunal surveys, socioeconomic research, and community-based ecological restoration. Officials said the integrated, science-driven approach aims to strengthen conservation while supporting sustainable livelihoods in the Sundarbans impact zone.
Planned outcomes include new risk-informed conservation and restoration plans, improved biodiversity management through updated faunal inventories, enhanced ecological resilience, and stronger collaboration among government agencies, researchers, and local communities.
Bangladesh’s Chief Conservator of Forests, Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury, said the government remains committed to protecting the Sundarbans in line with national and international environmental goals.
IUCN Bangladesh Country Representative Bipasha Hossain added that stronger coordination and science-based action are essential to securing the future of the mangrove ecosystem.
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