Staff Correspondent

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu, MP, has called for the active involvement of local communities in safeguarding rangelands and ensuring sustainable land management.

He made the call on Wednesday during a ministerial-level dialogue titled "Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities" at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He also emphasized securing khas (government-owned) and community lands while boosting the economic capacity of rural populations.

Noting that Bangladesh is not traditionally a country of vast rangelands, the Minister stated that the livestock sector nevertheless plays a crucial role in the rural economy and livelihoods. Post-harvest agricultural lands, fallow lands, river chars, wetlands, and roadside areas are utilized for animal grazing. The livestock sector contributes nearly 2 percent to the country's GDP and supports the livelihoods of millions.

He pointed out that population pressure and competing land uses are shrinking grazing spaces, with rangelands experiencing a significant decline particularly in coastal regions. Consequently, identifying and mapping community and khas rangelands, strengthening cooperation between local administrations and communities, and establishing simple, effective mechanisms for resolving land-use disputes have become imperative.

Citing the example of Tanguar Haor, he noted that community-based management has yielded positive results in preserving biodiversity and natural resources.

The Minister shared that Bangladesh will further integrate sustainable rangeland and common land management into its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Adaptation Plan, and the national roadmap for combating land degradation, drought, and desertification.

Ministers, deputy ministers, and delegation heads from various countries participated in the ministerial dialogue.