Photo: Collected

 
COX'S BAZAR, April 22, 2025 (BSS) - To mark the "Earth Day 2025", the United 
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Bangladesh 
Forest Department and the Department of Environment under the Ministry of 
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has released 116 sea turtle 
hatchlings into the Bay of Bengal. 

The event underscored this year's Earth Day theme, "Our Power, Our Planet", 
by spotlighting how community-led efforts can protect biodiversity while 
supporting local livelihoods and promoting responsible tourism, a UNDP press 
release said here today. 
 
"Releasing sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean was a deeply moving 
experience-a reminder that when communities lead, nature heals," said Stefan 
Liller, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh.
 
"This initiative under the GEF Small Grants Programme is a powerful example 
of how local actions can restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity," he 
added. 

Dr. Mariam Akhter, assistant chief conservator of Forests and member of the 
SGP National Steering Committee, stressed the need to integrate biodiversity 
conservation into national development planning to tackle threats such as 
unsustainable tourism.

Echoing a call to action, Papia Sultana, assistant director of the Department 
of Environment and fellow SGP NSC member, advocated for adopting a whole-of-
society approach and proposed the creation of a national biodiversity fund to 
curb biodiversity loss and protect ecosystems for future generations.

As part of the Earth Day visit, the delegation observed two impactful 
community-driven initiatives: in Chakmapara village, Ukhia, the "Promotion of 
Community-Based Ecotourism and Climate-Resilient Innovative Agriculture" 
project-implemented by Pulse Bangladesh-engages ethnic minority communities 
to promote sustainable tourism, reduce forest dependency, and strengthen 
livelihoods while the "Ecosystem Awareness and Restoration Through Harmony 
(EARTH)" project at Inani Beach empowers local patrol groups, elephant and 
turtle response teams, and youth conservation units to protect both marine 
and forest ecosystems.

The visit was joined by Md. Nurul Islam, divisional forest officer in Cox's 
Bazar, Vardon Hoca, head of UNDP [Sub-Office] in Cox's Bazar, Arif Faisal, 
programme specialist of UNDP, representatives from the Tour Operators 
Association of Cox's Bazar and partners from Pulse Bangladesh and Arannayk 
Foundation.
Jointly, these initiatives reflect the transformative power of grassroots 
action and responsible tourism in protecting nature, uplifting communities, 
and building a more sustainable future.