DHAKA, Feb 23, 2022 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister
Md Shahab Uddin today said despite having scarce resources, Bangladesh is
making utmost efforts for the protection, conservation and development of the
country's environment and biodiversity.

   "Bangladesh expects the cooperation and support from its all developing
partners, including the European Union, in all these areas," he said while
speaking at a meeting here.

   The bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Minister for Environment, Forest
and Climate Change Shahab Uddin and the European Union Ambassador to
Bangladesh Charles Whitley at the Secretariat, said a press release said.

   Shahab Uddin said at least US$ 800 billion needs to be allocated for the
implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, while 50
percent of the total allocation needs to be allocated for the conservation of
biodiversity in developing countries.

   He said the Constitution of Bangladesh has made the conservation of
biodiversity mandatory.

  Bangladesh has signed the Convention on Biological Diversity, the
Biodiversity Protocol and the Nagoya Protocol, the environment minister said,
adding "To this end, the government enacted the Biodiversity Act-2017 and the
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2016-21".

   He said 5.77 percent of the country has been declared as a natural reserve
area with 48 protected areas and 13 ecologically critical areas.

   In addition, Shahab Uddin said, about 6.20 percent of the total marine
area has been declared as the Marine Protected Area.

   Charles Whitley said the European Union would double its financing for
biodiversity conservation, while the EU cooperation in the areas of
technology transfer, renewable energy, clean energy, climate adaptation and
mitigation efforts would continue to grow exponentially.

   The meeting was attended, among others, by Environment, Forest and Climate
Change Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary (Administration) of
the ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Md
Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Environment) Md Moniruzzaman
and Additional Secretary (Development) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik.