Dhaka seeks Turkish expertise in forest restoration

Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan has expressed a strong interest in leveraging Turkish expertise for forest restoration, especially in areas impacted by human-wildlife conflict.

During a meeting with Ramis SEN, Ambassador of Turkiye, at her office in Dhaka on Tuesday, Adviser Rizwana Hasan highlighted the need for restoring forest ecosystems in Bangladesh, says a statement.

Referring to a recent tragic incident involving elephant deaths due to habitat loss and food scarcity, she underscored the importance of targeted restoration efforts.

The meeting focused on exploring areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly in environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and development initiatives.

Rizwana Hasan stressed the need for technical support in planting suitable tree species and developing nature-centric tourism strategies. She shared her vision for establishing eco-tourism destinations, including a master plan for the picturesque Sylhet region, designed to minimise ecological disruption.

Ambassador Sen acknowledged Bangladesh's conservation priorities and emphasised the proactive role of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), which operates an office in Dhaka.

He expressed TIKA's readiness to support medium-scale collaborative projects across various sectors.

Both sides discussed the potential for developing sustainable tourism in Bangladesh, drawing on Turkey's rich experience in nature-based tourism.

The ambassador said that he would facilitate communication between TIKA and the Adviser's office to identify concrete project opportunities and connect her with relevant Turkish departments for further dialogue.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fast-track meaningful collaboration in forest restoration and eco-tourism, ensuring swift and impactful implementation of joint initiatives.