<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the government is working committedly for climate adaptation actions by spending 3.5 billion dollars every year. But actually, 9 billion dollar is needed for adaptation activities.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said collaboration among Government, NGOs and international development partners are important in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said government will empower communities, particularly women, to overcome&nbsp; climate challenges and adapt to changing circumstances.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Environment Minister said these while launching UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'s the Nature-Based Adaptation Towards Prosperous &amp; Adept Lives &amp; Livelihoods in Bangladesh (NABAPALLAB) project at a national program held at Hotel Intercontinental, in the Capital.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Minister Chowdhury said two critically important ecological areas, namely the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and Hakaloki Haor, a vital breeding ground for birds and fish, will be worked on to be protected.&nbsp; Surrounding communities will be collaborated with to minimize disruptions to these habitats while providing training in income generation and natural disaster preparedness. communities will be involved in training in eco-friendly technologies, promoting sustainable resource management practices, and introducing solutions like saline-tolerant crops, renewable energy, and climate-resilient housing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sarah Cooke, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Additional Secretary (Environment) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khanom, Ramesh Singh, Regional Director of CARE Asia; Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, the Chief Conservator of Forests; Climate Expert Professor Dr Ainun Nishat and Selina Shelley Khan, Chief of Party, NABAPALLAB also spoke in the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Representatives of donor agencies, representatives of local communities, guests, and staffs working to protect Bangladesh's environment were also present in the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/R/fas</div>