Innovations and Actions on Adaptation to Climate Change and Conservation of Biodiversity through Traditional Knowledge and Customary Sustainable Use Lightning Presentation - RCE Sundarbans 12th Asia-Pacific Regional RCE Meeting 4-6 June, 2019, Hangzhou, China

1. Innovations and actions on adaptation to climate change and conservation of
biodiversity through traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use
RCE Sundarbans, Bangladesh
Issues/challenges: The Sundarbans, a globally important ecosystem, is now vulnerable
due to anthropogenic pressures (e.g. over-harvesting, pollution, coastal development,
destructive fishing and habitat degradation, climate change, intense and frequent
natural disasters) amidst fragile institutions and ineffective command-driven
governance system.
RCE Strategy and Response: A first initiative in Bangladesh involving a partnership of
premier public and private universities and leading think-tanks, collaborating with local
schools as well as non-formal and informal education stakeholders, with direct
involvement of different communities organised as Cooperatives of traditional resource
users (TRUs) to undertake innovation and actions on adaptation to climate and
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through promotion of traditional
knowledge and customary sustainable use.