FE REPORT
Speakers at a workshop on Tuesday called for an urgent and integrated master plan to safeguard the Saint Martin's Island.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DoE) and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised the consultation workshop in the capital.
The key objective of the workshop titled 'the Saint Martin's Island Master Plan: Integrating Grassroots Evidence with National Strategy' was to review and strengthen the draft master plan by bringing together evidence from local communities with national policy priorities.
The consultation aimed to ensure that future interventions for the Saint Martin's Island are practical, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of the island's residents, while safeguarding its globally significant ecosystem.
Participants, including senior government officials, local authorities, development partners, researchers, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, and community leaders, took part in the discussion.
According to a statement, the workshop provided a structured platform to identify gaps, validate proposed actions, and align conservation goals with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The Saint Martin's Island, declared an ecologically critical area (ECA) in 1999, continues to face mounting pressures from unregulated tourism, biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use, and climate-induced risks.
Against this backdrop, the master plan has been designed as a long-term strategic framework to balance environmental protection with socio-economic resilience, it added.
Speaking as the chief guest, MoEFCC Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan underscored the urgency of coordinated actions to protect the island's fragile ecosystem.
She said, "Protecting the Saint Martin's Island requires urgent and coordinated actions, grounded in evidence-based planning. Meaningful engagement with local communities and strong cross-sector coordination will be critical to ensure that the master plan delivers lasting environmental protection and sustainable development."
MoEFCC Secretary Farhina Ahmed called on all stakeholders to actively participate in implementation of the plan, so that together they can secure a sustainable future for the island.
Sonali Dayaratne, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, mentioned that the master plan presents a vital opportunity to protect biodiversity while strengthening community livelihoods, but through collective actions.
The workshop featured thematic breakout sessions on ecology and conservation, infrastructure and waste management, tourism and governance, and livelihoods and social development. The participants shared challenges, identified priority actions, and proposed recommendations to improve the plan.
The Saint Martin's Island Master Plan is expected to be completed in early 2026. It will guide long-term efforts to protect the island's ecological integrity while supporting sustainable local development.
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