Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation: Two important ordinances related to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change were passed on Thursday (4 December 2025) to protect the country’s forests, biodiversity, and wildlife. In a meeting of the Advisory Council held at the office of the Chief Adviser in Tejgaon, Dhaka, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Forest and Tree Conservation Ordinance, 2025 and the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Ordinance, 2025 were approved.

The Forest Act, 1927, which has been in effect for almost 100 years, is no longer adequate considering the current environmental realities and the impacts of climate change. To tackle various challenges, including population growth, urbanization pressure, illegal encroachment, and deforestation, the new Forest and Tree Conservation Ordinance, 2025 has been formulated. The ordinance includes provisions for protecting natural forests, preserving forest land records and boundaries, safeguarding the rights of small ethnic communities, preventing illegal occupation through advanced technology-based monitoring, restoring degraded forests, controlling invasive species, and updating the list of permissible and prohibited tree species for felling.

On the other hand, due to implementation challenges of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 at the field level and changes in international policies, the new Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Ordinance, 2025 has been introduced. The new ordinance prohibits and penalizes the destruction of wildlife habitats, hunting, trafficking, killing, and commercial exploitation of wildlife. It includes special measures to protect endangered biodiversity, as well as provisions for wildlife rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, research, training, awareness building, and ensuring harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife through the establishment of a “Wildlife Trust Fund.” It also ensures the involvement of experts, local communities, educational institutions, and volunteer organizations in conservation activities.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that the passage of these two new ordinances marks a historic step for the country in conserving forest resources, wildlife, and biodiversity. These measures will strengthen environmental security and contribute to protecting nature for future generations.