Enhancing the Ecology in Bangladesh's Sundarbans

The Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 – stretch across Bangladesh and India. This unique ecosystem is not only home to endangered species such as the Bengal tiger but also plays a vital role in global climate protection: mangroves store vast amounts of CO₂, protect coastal areas from storms and flooding, and secure the livelihoods of millions of people in the Sundarbans Impact Zone (SIZ) through fishing, agriculture, honey collection, and ecotourism.

But the fragile balance of the Sundarbans is under acute threat. In addition to the effects of climate change, growing plastic and polyethylene pollution poses a serious danger. Packaging, bottles, and plastic bags flow freely into canals and rivers, accumulate in the forest, and damage water quality, soils, and biodiversity. With no functioning waste management system in place, the problem continues to spread unchecked – with severe consequences for both nature and people.

To address this, Helvetas and the Bangladeshi organization Rupantar, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), have launched a broad-based project. Developed in close cooperation with communities, local authorities, and professional groups, the approach is firmly rooted in the realities of local life.

At its heart is the youth: 530 young women and men from five districts of the Sundarbans Impact Zone are organized into groups, trained, and networked. As “Change Agents,” they take the lead in organizing clean-up campaigns, raising awareness about alternatives to plastic, and representing the interests of resource users to policymakers and authorities. In this way, a lasting youth network for environmental protection is being created – one that spreads knowledge, promotes active engagement, and strengthens civil society in the long term.

The project also reaches the wider population. Through campaigns, training, and creative educational activities – from comics for schoolchildren to workshops for fishers and tourism operators – awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution is growing. Governmental, civil society, and private actors are brought together to develop sustainable waste management solutions and strengthen existing recycling initiatives.

By linking grassroots engagement with institutional change, the project lays the foundation for lasting impact. It demonstrates how environmental protection, youth participation, and social justice can go hand in hand – and offers a model for other endangered ecosystems worldwide.

The result: protection of a unique natural heritage, strengthened livelihoods for millions of people – and a valuable contribution to the global Sustainable Development Goals SDG 14 “Life Below Water” and SDG 15 “Life on Land.”