Seven plant species now extinct in Bangladesh, Report finds
Bangladesh’s Plant Red List has declared seven plant species officially extinct in the country and five more critically endangered.
The Red List, funded by the World Bank and created by the Forest Department under the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project lists 1,000 plant species with their conservation status.
According to the list, 271 species are minimally threatened, while 395 are vulnerable, 127 are endangered, and 263 are near threatened.
This was presented at the Bangladesh Secretariat by Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan who said the list “will support prioritising plant conservation” and help with biodiversity goals in Bangladesh.
Rizwana Hasan noted that Bangladesh’s “Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna” has documented 3,813 plant species, which will need review for future conservation.
The Red List will guide policymakers and researchers, providing “essential data to guide conservation efforts and allocate resources effectively.”
She also added that Bangladesh is working to reduce the impact of 17 invasive plant species, including water hyacinth, which harm the environment.
