The "Plant Red List of Bangladesh," released on Monday, has revealed the regional extinction of seven plant species, while five others are now classified as critically endangered.
Highlighting the urgent need for conservation, the report has added about 1,000 plant species to the Red List for more effective management of Bangladesh’s biodiversity, according to Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
The report details that 271 species are minimally threatened, 395 are vulnerable, 127 are endangered, and 263 are near threatened, with another 70 in the near-threatened category. Additionally, 256 species were listed as data deficient, indicating insufficient information for a full assessment.
Among the species now considered extinct in Bangladesh are the fita champa (Magnolia griffithii), ironweed tree (Memecylon ovatum), jiringa (rchidendron jiringa), kathphal (Myrica nagi), thurma jam (Syzygium thumri), Syzygium venustum, and Drypetes venusta.
The Red List, developed under the Forest Department’s Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project and funded by the World Bank, includes management strategies for five protected forest areas to combat the impact of invasive plant species. Research identified 17 invasive species, including water hyacinth and Assam liana, which pose threats to the ecosystem.
Unveiling the Red List at the Bangladesh Secretariat, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted that this initiative enables precise assessments of endangered plant species, supporting the government’s biodiversity goals. She emphasized that the list will guide conservation priorities, aiding Bangladesh’s environmental stability and global biodiversity conservation efforts.
Hasan further noted that Bangladesh’s “Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna” documents 3,813 plant species, forming a foundation for future conservation planning. The Red List will be an essential resource for policymakers and researchers, helping allocate resources for effective conservation.
Additional Secretaries ASM Humayun Kabir, Fahmida Khanam, and Tapan Kumar Biswas; Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury; Senior Environmental Specialist of the World Bank Ishtiaq Sobhan; and IUCN representative Sarwar Alam were present at the event, underscoring the collaborative effort in addressing Bangladesh’s biodiversity crisis.