Nat'l biodiversity action plan likely in 3 months

The plan will have a complete list of the country's biological resources and the guidelines to use them in a sustainable way.

IUCN -- The world Conservation Union is preparing the plan with the logistics support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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Speaking at the workshop, Environment and Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj sought support from all to protect the country's biodiversity.

He also called for launching a mass campaign to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity.

Tanvir Hussain, secretary at the environment ministry, said the government will set up a cell to monitor the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issues so that the country gets benefits from international treaties.

As a party to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), Bangladesh is preparing the action plan to protect its biological resources.

Under the plan, the government would make a proper documentation of biological resources and take an initiative to raise awareness about biodiversity.

Pasupati Balakrisnan, chief of the biodiversity in Asia of the IUCN, shared the experience of others countries' action plan on biodiversity.

Prof. Ainun Nishat, country representative of the IUCN, said other countries have already done a lot to protect their biological resources whereas Bangladesh has only started the process.

He, however, said that Bangladesh has been doing better in policy level within a short time.

Larry Maramis, deputy resident representative of the UNDP, and Monowar Islam also spoke.