On 14 January 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and IUCN Bangladesh officially launched the project “Updating the Faunal Red List of Bangladesh,” marking a key step in strategic national conservation planning. This initiative aims to provide an up-to-date assessment of the conservation status of the country’s wildlife, supporting evidence-based policymaking and biodiversity protection efforts.
The Inception Workshop for the project was held on 29 January 2026 at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. Organized by the BFD under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with technical guidance from IUCN Bangladesh, the workshop initiated the process of updating the Faunal Red List in line with the latest IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Discussions during the workshop focused on assessment methodology, taxonomic scope, timelines, and coordination mechanisms across nine faunal groups.
The event was attended by high-level government officials, including Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to MoEFCC, Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of MoEFCC, and Mr. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that wildlife conservation goes beyond compiling lists, highlighting the importance of protecting habitats and promoting social tolerance toward wildlife. She noted that the Red List will guide strategic actions to help threatened species recover from critical risk categories.
Dr. Farhina Ahmed highlighted that this is the first fully government-funded update of the Faunal Red List, involving national experts with technical support from IUCN, strengthening both knowledge and long-term capacity for conservation planning. Mr. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber stressed the Red List’s role as a scientific reference for policymaking, including the first comprehensive assessment of marine fish species, and recognized efforts to regenerate species previously thought extinct.
Updating the national Red List is especially timely given evolving biodiversity pressures and advances in scientific knowledge. The updated assessment will serve as a critical tool for policy formulation, environmental impact assessments, and reporting against national and global biodiversity commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and CITES.
Mr. Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, noted that the updated Red List will provide a clear scientific picture of wildlife status over the past decade (2015–2025) and that the Wildlife Conservation and Security Ordinance 2026 will strengthen species-level protection and management nationwide.
IUCN Bangladesh, with prior experience in developing the National Faunal Red List (2015) and the National Floral Red List (2024), provides technical expertise and a strong foundation for ensuring that the updated Red List meets global standards. Bipasha S. Hossain, IUCN Bangladesh Country Representative, emphasized the Red List’s significance as a globally recognized reference supporting international biodiversity decision-making and funding mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
The project will review approximately 2,200 faunal species, including both previously assessed and newly evaluated species, ensuring a comprehensive national assessment. Key outputs include the publication of ten volumes of Faunal Red List books, upgraded digital databases for public access, and capacity building for over 200 professionals involved in the assessment and review process.
The inception workshop marks the start of a multi-year, collaborative effort involving government agencies, academic institutions, and conservation experts, ensuring that biodiversity conservation efforts in Bangladesh remain evidence-based, targeted, and effective.
