Strengthening Coastal Resilience: JICA Partners with Bangladesh for Technology-Based Forest Management

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a Record of Discussion (R/D) with Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division (ERD), the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) for a project titled “Project for Enhancing Coastal Resilience through Technology-Based Forest Management.”

Under this technical cooperation agreement, JICA will assist BFD in implementing advanced technology-based forest management across Bangladesh’s coastal regions. The project will span four years, from May 2025 to April 2029, with Japanese experts working closely with BFD personnel at both headquarters and field levels. The signing ceremony was held on January 8 at the ERD conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The agreement was signed by Miura Mari, Senior Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office; Dr. A. K. M. Shahabuddin, Additional Secretary of ERD; Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests at BFD; and Fatima Tuz Zohra, Joint Secretary of MoEFCC.

The project aims to enhance BFD’s capacity to restore the geomorphic characteristics of coastal forests through technology-based planning and monitoring. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Bangladesh’s coastal areas are among the most vulnerable regions globally due to climate change, frequently suffering from cyclones and storm surges. These factors exacerbate coastal degradation, severely impacting mangrove ecosystems. To address these risks, BFD has undertaken several afforestation initiatives in coastal regions. Building on these efforts, the project will identify and adopt advanced forest planning and monitoring methods to ensure effective coastal forest expansion, which will aid in combating the effects of climate change.

At the signing ceremony, Miura Mari lauded the collaborative efforts of ERD, MoEFCC, and BFD in developing this significant project. She stated, “This technical cooperation project marks the first initiative in the forest sector between JICA and Bangladesh, aiming to reduce disaster risks, improve local livelihoods, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Drawing on Japan’s experience in forest conservation, this project emphasizes the need for collective efforts to achieve success.”

Dr. A. K. M. Shahabuddin, Additional Secretary of ERD, expressed gratitude to JICA, MoEFCC, and BFD for their roles in the project. He urged MoEFCC and BFD to expedite the implementation process to ensure timely success.

Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests at BFD, remarked, “Bangladesh is a densely populated country, with only 14% of its land covered by forests. Forest planning and monitoring face significant challenges, including the lack of modern technology for conservation. This project will benefit BFD immensely, and we are pleased to be part of JICA’s first collaborative initiative in Bangladesh’s forest sector.”

Fatima Tuz Zohra, Joint Secretary of MoEFCC, highlighted, “Bangladesh faces severe natural disasters, where afforestation plays a vital role in mitigation. The impacts of climate change, particularly rising sea levels and salinity, have created critical challenges in coastal regions. This project, using modern technology, will support forest conservation while enhancing the capacity of BFD officials. The Ministry looks forward to further collaborative projects with JICA.”