A new initiative to strengthen scientific evidence on the Sundarbans’ carbon stocks to support conservation, sustainable management and climate action
Agrilife24.com:The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Bangladesh Forest Department, has launched a new initiative to assess the carbon stock in the Sundarbans and generate evidence to support climate action, forest conservation and restoration, sustainable management of forests and carbon trading.
The Blue Carbon for the Future (BCF): Enhancing the Role of Sundarbans Ecosystem Services and Conservation of Carbon Stocks, is being implemented under the Bangladesh Climate Change Mitigation (CCM) Component of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Phase II Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
An inception workshop held at Khulna University on 22 August 2026, brought together representatives from the Bangladesh Forest Department; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); universities and research institutions, development partners; civil society organizations; and other stakeholders.
Honorable Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister, MoEFCC, attended the programme as Chief Guest, while Mr Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests, Khulna Circle, chaired the event. Mr Dia Sanou, Deputy FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Professor Dr Md Golam Hossain, Dean, Life Science School, Khulna University attended as special guests.
“This is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to understand the soil carbon stock beneath the Sundarbans mangrove forest which will strengthen our position at the climate negotiation table to realize the carbon sequestration benefits and make us unique across the globe,” said the Honorable Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister, MoEFCC.
The workshop featured technical presentations on carbon stock assessment, ecosystem valuation and the implementation plan of the BCF initiative. An expert panel discussed the contribution of the Sundarbans to livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate action.
Under this project, soil samples will be collected from 173 sample plots across the Sundarbans. Soil carbon assessment will extend to depths of up to five metres, helping build a more complete scientific picture of the carbon stored below the forest floor. The new measurements will be combined with existing National Forest Inventory information to improve estimates of carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potential in the Sundarbans.
The data gathered can also contribute to Bangladesh’s national greenhouse gas accounting and climate reporting, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), as well as reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. More robust carbon data can also strengthen the evidence base for pursuing relevant international climate-finance and results-based financing opportunities.
The project will also examine pressures arising from unsustainable use of forest and aquatic resources and identify more sustainable alternatives. It will promote sustainable non-timber forest products and climate-resilient fisheries practices, while strengthening awareness and technical capacity among institutions and stakeholders involved in the management of the Sundarbans.
“Today’s workshop is more than a project launch. It marks the beginning of a journey from data to knowledge, from knowledge to decisions, from decisions to action and from action to impact,” said Mr Dia Sanou, Deputy FAO Representative in Bangladesh.
“The real measure will be whether this knowledge helps us make better management decisions, reduce pressure on the ecosystem, strengthen community resilience, protect biodiversity and maintain the Sundarbans as a powerful natural climate solution,” he added.
The Sundarbans are a vital natural climate asset, biodiversity stronghold, and source of livelihoods. By improving how its resources, ecosystem services and carbon are measured, valued and managed, Bangladesh is strengthening the scientific foundation needed to protect the Sundarbans and sustain its benefits for generations to come.
About the BOBLME project
Blue Carbon for the Future (BCF): Enhancing the Role of Sundarbans Ecosystem Services and Conservation of Carbon Stocks is implemented under the Bangladesh Climate Change Mitigation Component of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Phase II Project. Funded by the GEF, the initiative aims to strengthen scientific understanding of the ecosystem services and carbon stocks of the Sundarbans and generate evidence to support sustainable management, conservation and climate action, including carbon finance.
