Bangladesh stands among the world’s biodiversity-rich nations, boasting five primary ecosystem categories: coastal and marine, inland freshwater, terrestrial forests, hilly, and man-made homestead ecosystems. The Haor wetlands, particularly the expansive Hakaluki Haor, represent a significant natural ecosystem, renowned for its abundant biodiversity and serving as a crucial hub for inland fisheries.

Covering approximately 12% of Bangladesh’s land area, the hilly ecosystems contribute to the country’s ecological diversity. Bangladesh showcases extensive genetic diversity in both wild and cultivated flora and fauna, with its diverse agro-ecosystems harboring rich genetic resources of plants and animals. Notably, the nation has documented around 6,000 varieties of rice, highlighting its agricultural diversity.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	46.14	173	N/A
Land Management	38	164	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	15	162	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	100	1	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	10	178	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	25	49	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	33	179	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	63	13	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	25	99	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	61	97	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	88	77	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	49	98	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	58	159	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	98	35	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	10	147	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	52	11	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	10	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure
Capacity and Governance	52	159	N/A
Total Management Cost	100	1	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	23	164	N/A
Conservation Legislation	27	146	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	30	124	N/A
Control of Corruption	30	141	N/A
Government Effectiveness	34	134	N/A
Future Trends	33	136	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	33	36	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

As of 2022, Bangladesh takes pride in its 51 protected areas, which span various ecosystems and habitats, covering 10.72% of the nation’s forested land. These areas are pivotal for conserving biodiversity, comprising national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, game reserves, botanical gardens, eco parks, and marine protected zones. Each category serves a distinct purpose, from safeguarding endangered species to preserving unique natural scenery. Managed by the Bangladesh Forest Department, ongoing efforts focus on evaluating their effectiveness in meeting conservation objectives. A recent 2023 study raised concerns regarding the level of protection provided to certain forested regions.

Threats to Biodiversity

Bangladesh’s diverse wildlife is under severe threat, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and human activities. Deforestation and land encroachments have significantly reduced natural habitats, pushing many species towards extinction. Climate change-induced alterations in temperature and rainfall patterns pose additional challenges, disrupting wildlife habitats and life cycles. Human intervention through hunting, poaching, and illegal wildlife trade further exacerbates the situation, putting immense pressure on vulnerable species. The combined impact of these threats jeopardizes the survival of numerous animal species in Bangladesh.

Capacity and Governance

The Forest Policy of 1994 sets forth a target to increase protected areas by conserving 10% of reserve forest land by 2015. To establish a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological and genetic resources, along with associated indigenous and local knowledge, Bangladesh has enacted the Biological Diversity Act.

Various measures have been implemented, including the conservation of vital biodiversity hotspots in the Cittagong Hill Tracts, Rampahar, and Sitapahar in the Chittagong Region, as well as the denuded hill areas of Ramgarh Shitakunda. Tanguar Hoar has been designated as a Ramsar site and is protected as a fish sanctuary, along with Hakaluki Haor and Hail Hoar, which are crucial for migratory and resident birds. St. Martin’s Island, the sole coral-bearing island in Bangladesh, is safeguarded as a marine park. Additionally, several mudflats like Nijhum Dweep and Sonadia Island are protected as shorebird sites. The Ministry of Environment and Forest has initiated efforts to expand the protected area system, while the Department of Environment (DoE) has identified nine areas deemed significant for biological diversity as Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) within the country.

Future Trends

The conservation initiatives led by the Bangladesh Forest Department are instrumental in safeguarding the nation’s biodiversity. Through extensive tree-planting campaigns, the department endeavors to revive and enlarge natural habitats, offering sanctuary to endangered plant species. Moreover, the significance of national herbariums in safeguarding vulnerable plant species is duly acknowledged by the department.

National herbariums function as repositories for plant specimens, facilitating scientific study and documentation of Bangladesh’s flora. These repositories serve as invaluable reservoirs for biodiversity research, conservation endeavors, and educational pursuits. By meticulously preserving plant specimens, national herbariums contribute substantially to the ongoing endeavors of the Bangladesh Forest Department aimed at the protection and preservation of indigenous plant species.

Biodiversity

Bangladesh is a country of remarkable biodiversity, owing to its diverse ecosystems, including mangrove forests, freshwater wetlands, tropical and subtropical forests, and coastal areas. The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key feature of Bangladesh’s natural heritage. This unique ecosystem is home to the iconic Bengal tiger and other wildlife such as the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, and various species of deer. The Sundarbans also support various bird species, including the lesser adjutant stork, masked finfoot, and numerous migratory birds.

The freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, known locally as haors, baors, and beels, are vital for the country’s biodiversity. These wetlands provide habitat for a wide range of aquatic plants and animals, including freshwater fish like the hilsa, which is also the national fish of Bangladesh. The wetlands are also crucial for migratory birds, supporting species such as the waterfowl and waders during the winter months. The tropical and subtropical forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and other regions harbor a variety of flora and fauna, including the Asian elephant, hoolock gibbon, and a diversity of orchid species.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Bangladesh only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	152 (#77)	37	24.3%
Birds	603 (#54)	36	6.0%	1	0.2%
Reptiles	148 (#66)	23	15.5%
Amphibians	43 (#66)	1	2.3%	2	4.7%
Fishes	582 (#99)	37	6.4%	17	2.9%
Plants	4,822 (#70)	23	0.5%	8	0.2%