Disaster, Climate Change and Sustainable Environmental Resources Management

The Climate Change, Disaster, Humanitarian Response and Environmental Resource Management Program seeks to build resilient and sustainable communities by addressing climate change impacts, enhancing disaster preparedness, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting sustainable environmental resource management. Program focus areas include supporting communities to cope with climate impacts, strengthening disaster preparedness and response, initiating greenhouse gas reduction, providing humanitarian assistance to affected communities, enhancing local capacity to respond to crises, and promoting sustainable land and water conservation. Expected outcomes include developed community capacity to adapt to climate change, effectively organised disaster response, improved aid delivery, the implementation of sustainable environmental practices, increased awareness of environmental issues, and successful community mobilisation and advocacy.

Capacity Statement: Biodiversity Conservation, Mangrove & Agroforestry

Shushilan has over 30 years of experience in biodiversity conservation and the restoration of natural resources. The organization has adopted new approaches to conserve biodiversity by conducting biodiversity surveys and monitoring. Shushilan is actively involved in plantation efforts in the adjacent areas of Sunderbans Char lands as part of the KNCF project. Shushilan operates in five key program areas, with Disaster, Climate Change and sustainable environmental resource management being a primary component aimed at restoring and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems in the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).

Core focus areas of Shushilan include: (1) Conservation and Biodiversity Protection in the South-west coastal region of Bangladesh, achieved through conducting PRA exercises to determine endangered species and ecosystems, implementing conservation strategies for critical areas, and rehabilitating degraded habitats and promoting reforestation efforts; (2) Community Engagement and Empowerment, achieved through the formation and functioning of people's organizations, providing training in sustainable forestry practices to local communities, offering alternative livelihood opportunities to forest-dependent populations, and organizing awareness campaigns and educational programs on forest conservation; and (3) Policy Advocacy and Stakeholder Collaboration, achieved through engaging with government agencies and policymakers to influence forestry policies, collaborating with international organizations, NGOs, and local communities for collective impact, and participating in advocacy efforts for the protection of natural resources.

Ground Experience & Community Impact

We have gathered ground experiences to work for the betterment of community people living adjacent to the Sundarbans by transforming their livelihood patterns. They are now choosing alternative livelihood options to reduce dependency on the forests. We have supported local communities to initiate mangrove forestation in char land and riverine areas, participatory management of water, mangrove-shrimp culture, community enterprises and vertical gardening. These initiatives have been strengthening and promoting effective use of knowledge, community-based mangrove forestation, sensible use of natural resources and adaptation of eco-balanced livelihood options such as climate-adaptive aquaculture and agricultural practices.

We have reactivated the Village Conservation Forum (VCF) formed by the Department of Forest in the close areas of Sundarbans. The forum, directly and indirectly, works for the conservation and protection of forest biodiversity. We have also reactivated co-management (collaborative management) committees, which has been successful for good governance in natural resource management across ecosystems. The co-management seeks to incorporate resource users in decision-making processes, and increases accountability and responsibility sharing. The result is more equitable and sustainable resource conservation backed by resource users, management authorities and other relevant stakeholders. Sensitization of local communities and law enforcement agencies is crucial to encourage collective action of civil society for mangrove protection, which we have done through different projects. It is well-proven that this work for community ownership plays a vital role in strengthening the process of biodiversity conservation. In our project areas, community people are now aware of forest and biodiversity conservation, and with the realization that these forests play a crucial role in protecting them from natural disasters, community people are now working to protect forests.

Key Projects & Achievements

Shushilan is currently implementing more than 32 development projects across the country, with a specific focus on the local context of the coastal region in Bangladesh. These projects involve dedicated and experienced expert teams, including specialists in biodiversity/forestry, capacity building and community mobilization, as well as livelihood specialists. They are actively engaged in the restoration and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in the Sundarbans buffering and sanctuary area.

Shushilan has initiated several noteworthy projects, including: "Resilience through Economic Empowerment and Climate Adaptation, Leadership, Learning (REECALL)," funded by Oxfam GB; "Road to Resilience in Shyamnagar," funded by IUCN; and "Sundarbans Development & Alternative Resource Management Integration (SUNDARI)," funded by Concern Worldwide, alongside "Mangrove Forest, Climate Change and Livelihoods," funded by Landesa.

Our major achievements include the following:

• Achieved a 3-time National Award for tree plantation
• Successfully completed 60 km of road-side plantation in Satkhira district
• Planted over ten lac trees, contributing to the restoration of 100 hectares of coastal char for forest cover in the south-west coastal region of Bangladesh
• Identified forestry species and delivered benefits from them to local communities
• Trained more than 1,000 communities in sustainable forestry practices, positively impacting the livelihoods of 100,000 households through homestead gardening
• Successfully advocated at the local and regional level, resulting in improved forest protection measures

Mangrove Conservation and Restoration

Mangrove conservation is a core pillar of Shushilan's biodiversity and climate adaptation portfolio, particularly in the Sundarbans and adjacent coastal landscapes. Drawing on over three decades of experience, Shushilan has implemented large-scale mangrove afforestation, nursery development, and restoration in char lands, shrimp gher embankments, and riverine zones. The organisation has contributed to the plantation of over ten lakh trees and restoration of more than 100 hectares of degraded coastal land, while executing community-based mangrove rehabilitation under projects funded by Landesa, IUCN, KNCF, Oxfam, and Concern Worldwide, among others. These interventions enhance coastal protection, carbon sequestration, fisheries productivity, and biodiversity conservation. Shushilan also strengthens co-management mechanisms such as Village Conservation Forums and collaborative forest governance structures, ensuring community ownership, reduced dependency on forest extraction, and long-term ecosystem sustainability.

Agroforestry and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)

Shushilan has extensive experience in promoting agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture as integrated solutions to enhance livelihood resilience and restore degraded ecosystems in Bangladesh's climate-vulnerable coastal and saline-affected regions. Through participatory rural appraisal, biodiversity surveys, and community-based extension services, the organisation has supported the adoption of agroforestry systems combining timber, fruit trees, saline-tolerant crops, homestead gardening, and integrated farming practices. These interventions improve soil health, diversify income sources, and reduce climate risks such as salinity intrusion, cyclones, and waterlogging. Shushilan has trained over 1,000 communities in sustainable forestry and climate-adaptive agricultural practices, benefiting more than 100,000 households through improved food security, nutrition, and income stability. Climate-smart innovations such as vertical agriculture, floating vegetable cultivation, integrated fish–crop systems, and drought- and salinity-tolerant horticulture are systematically promoted to ensure sustainable production while conserving natural resources.