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As many as 103,960 hectares of forestland have been restored, with notable improvements in the diversity of indigenous plant species across hill tracts, Sal forests, and coastal zones.
Adviser to the environment ministry Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared the development on Wednesday, calling it a landmark achievement of the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) Project.
The initiative is driving forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and improved community livelihoods across Bangladesh, she added.
Speaking as the chief guest at the wrap-up meeting of the World Bank Implementation Support Mission at the ministry, the adviser highlighted the successful rollout of the Site-Specific Planning (SSP) tool using an ODK-based dashboard.
This digital innovation has enabled the Forest Department to adopt data-driven approaches for restoration planning.
Rizwana Hasan also mentioned the completion of the Red List assessment for 1,000 plant species and the formulation of a strategic management plan to tackle invasive alien plant species in five protected areas.
Among the project’s other notable accomplishments were the approval of the National Conservation Strategy and the Plan of Action for Sharks and Rays, along with the development of Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) for four shark and ray species—a critical step toward ensuring sustainable wildlife trade.
The adviser emphasised the full operationalisation of the Community Operations Manual (COM) in 615 Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) institutions, directly benefiting over 41,000 forest-dependent individuals.
She further noted that environmental and social safeguards have been embedded across all field operations, including plantations and infrastructure development, while e-Government Procurement (e-GP) ensured transparency and accountability in all procurement processes.