Environment and Climate Change

Projects have primary focus on NRM (forests, wetlands, coastal zones, etc.), biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, critical habitats creation for biodiversity, making water availability for human and nature, waste management etc. fall under this theme. Usually NRM projects have components on livelihoods, climate change, DRR, etc. Such as, PROKRITI is an NRM project but has components on livelihoods, governance as cross cutting theme.

Key Highlights of NRM and Biodiversity Conservation

  • Ecosystems based management and biodiversity conservation in 700,000 ha areas under 7 forest PAs and 4 wetlands PAs including ecologically critical areas and Ramsar site with the support of USAID/ Chemonics.
  • Freshwater swamp forest restoration in 2,000 ha areas and planted 2 million swamp species trees with the support of UNDP.
  • Mangrove restoration in 1,000 ha areas with the support of USAID.
  • Increased 20% biodiversity in selected areas in and around Kutupalong Rohingya Mega Refugee Camps with the support of UNHCR.
  • Developed Kutupalong Rohingya Mega Refugee Camps Restoration Plan with the support of UNHCR.
  • Biodiversity for Resilient Livelihoods covers 1891 square kilometers in 3 biodiversity hotspots with the support of Swedish government.
  • Covered 47.72-hectares of land by diverse plantation in Rohingya Camps and Host communities.
  • Along the Kalam Chhara – a sub stream of Madhur Chhara – a 2 K.M. long walkway has been constructed, which improved access and the communication system for Rohingya refugees
  • One Silt trap has been constructed in Camp 4 Ext to collect sediment through the NbS system.
  • Stream Rehabilitation: 24 K.M.
  • Institutional plantation: 12,500 saplings; Homestead Plantation: 8750 saplings
  • 5,27,750 Slips to be grown, nurtured and prepared for slope protection in the vetiver nursery.
  • 88,200 Seedlings to be grown, nurtured and prepared for plantation in plant nursery.
  • Under B4CA project we planted 3,70,000 bamboo saplings with a target of 1 million by 2025 with the support of Switzerland government.
  • Conducted reconnaissance survey in Protected Areas (PA), namely the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, the Sheikh Jamal National Park and the Himchhari National Park to identify requirements to improve ecotourism facilities (three sites)
  • Identification and verification of human-elephant conflict areas and supporting the establishment of bio-fencing.
  • A total of 121 beel re-excavation schemes have been designed where 114 beel re-excavations have been completed.

Under the G4CR-II project, one canal was rehabilitated with the aim of storing rainwater in it for farming and crop diversification as well as to create the opportunity of capturing fish for the poor. Most importantly, it will help to achieve biodiversity conservation. This excavated canal will also lessen the flooding problem by storing rainwater, thus, reducing disaster risk (DRR) at local levels. The G4CR project also supported the project communities to suit court cases against the leaseholders for two canals. Several advocacy programs/events were organized in the forms of rally, human chain, hearing at the land office, supporting government initiative to evict canal grabbers, stakeholders’ meetings, and collectively submitting applications to district and sub-district authorities to cancel canal leasing and make them open for community use.

Relevant reports are available upon request at info@cnrs.org.bd

The constructed water reservoir for community use