15/09/2026
The Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), is pleased to share that Prof. Mahmood Hossain, PhD, Head of ESS and Director of Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), also a mangrove ecologist, presented “Ecosystem Health Indexing (EHI) for the Sundarbans” at the National Workshop on Ecological Monitoring of the Sundarbans, held on 14th September 2026 at the Forest Department, Agargaon, Dhaka.
The presentation introduced an integrated approach to assessing the ecological health of the Sundarbans by bringing together key ecosystem dimensions, including vegetation and regeneration, soil, water, and aquatic resources. The proposed EHI framework aims to transform long-term ecological monitoring data into scientifically meaningful, readily interpretable information to support ecosystem-health assessment, early detection of ecological change, and evidence-based management of the Sundarbans.
The workshop also brought scientists, conservation practitioners, forest managers, and national-level policymakers onto a common platform, strengthening the connection between ecological science and environmental decision-making. The Chief Guest was Mr Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Dr Fahmida Khanam, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended as the Special Guest. Mr Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Department, along with senior officials of the Ministry and Forest Department, also participated.
The national workshop was organized under the Sundarbans Protection Project, with support from the Bangladesh Forest Department, CEGIS, and Arannayk Foundation.
ESS, ULAB's participation in this national dialogue reflects the Department's commitment to connecting scientific research, higher education, environmental policy, and practical conservation. Developing robust approaches to understand changes in the Sundarbans and translating scientific evidence into management action is critical to safeguarding this globally important mangrove ecosystem.
