SS Report
Dhaka, Jan 6, 2026:
Speakers at a high-level consultation workshop on Tuesday stressed the need for urgent, coordinated action to safeguard the fragile ecosystem of Saint Martin’s Island through an integrated and evidence-based Master Plan.
The workshop, titled “Saint Martin’s Island Master Plan: Integrating Grassroots Evidence with National Strategy,” was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DoE), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at a hotel in Dhaka.
The consultation aimed to review and strengthen the draft Master Plan by incorporating local community experiences alongside national policy priorities, ensuring that future interventions are practical, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.
Participants included senior government officials, local authorities, development partners, researchers, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, and community leaders. Discussions focused on aligning conservation goals with sustainable livelihood opportunities for island residents.
Saint Martin’s Island, declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999, faces increasing threats from unregulated tourism, biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use, and climate change impacts. The proposed Master Plan is intended as a long-term framework to balance ecological protection with socio-economic resilience.
Chief Guest Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, emphasised the urgency of coordinated, evidence-based planning and meaningful community engagement.
MoEFCC Secretary Farhina Ahmed described Saint Martin’s Island as a unique global natural asset, calling on all stakeholders to ensure its responsible use and protection.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne highlighted the importance of collective action to turn the Master Plan into a model for sustainable island management.
The workshop featured thematic sessions on ecology, infrastructure, tourism, governance, and livelihoods. The final Master Plan is expected to be completed in early 2026.
