Center for Sustainable Development (CSD)

23/09/2026

Excited to share Prof. Dr. Mahmood Hossain’s latest publication on A global evaluation establishing a reliability-screened database of mangrove biomass allometric models.

The study evaluated 1,676 global mangrove biomass models to establish a validated database of 920 reliable models across 34 species and 32 countries. Addressing key gaps in blue carbon accounting, this benchmark supports climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable management.

Find the full text here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266671932600350X?via%3Dihub

16/09/2026

Prof. Mahmood Hossain, PhD, Director of CSD, and Head of ESS, presented “Ecosystem Health Indexing (EHI) for the Sundarbans” at the National Workshop on Ecological Monitoring of the Sundarbans, held on 14 September 2026 at the Forest Department, Agargaon, Dhaka.

The presentation introduced an integrated approach to assessing the ecological health of the Sundarbans by bringing together key ecosystem dimensions, including vegetation and regeneration, soil, water, and aquatic resources. The proposed EHI framework aims to transform long-term ecological monitoring data into scientifically meaningful, readily interpretable information to support ecosystem-health assessment, early detection of ecological change, and evidence-based management of the Sundarbans.

The workshop also brought scientists, conservation practitioners, forest managers, and national-level policymakers onto a common platform, strengthening the connection between ecological science and environmental decision-making. The Chief Guest was Mr Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Dr Fahmida Khanam, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended as the Special Guest. Mr Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Department, along with senior officials of the Ministry and Forest Department, also participated.

The national workshop was organized under the Sundarbans Protection Project, with the involvement of the Bangladesh Forest Department, Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services - CEGIS, and Arannayk Foundation.

20/08/2026

We are proud to share a new publication by the Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), Haseeb M Irfanullah, published in ‘Crisis Response Journal’.

In this article, “Climate Finance: A Crisis Within A Crisis,” Dr Haseeb said, “International climate finance remains vital. But it is unlikely to meet the scale of future demand on its own. Bangladesh's experience suggests that recognising domestic investment may be just as important in building long-term resilience”.

Read the full article to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of climate finance.

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35606.92483

PDF | International climate finance remains vital, but it is unlikely to meet the scale of future demand on its own. Bangladesh's experience suggests... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

18/08/2026

On August 12, Center for Sustainable Development, ULAB participated in the launch of the Localisation toolkit under the Climate Action at Local Level (CALL) project.
The day was attended by more than 200 participants, including national and foreign diplomats, academics, researchers, government representatives, Local and National NGO leaders, young professionals, community representatives, and local participants.
It is designed to support organisations in systematically understanding the extent to which their policies, institutional practices, partnerships, and implementation approaches align with the principles and objectives of localisation, while also identifying areas for further progress towards more locally led and locally accountable development practice.
The event started with the presentation of Dr. Haseeb M Irfanullah, Senior Research Fellow at the Center explained the toolkit to the audience. The rest of the day featured diverse panel discussions with local and national NGO representatives, reflections on the experiences and challenges of community representatives, and discussions on the diplomats' contributions and expectations.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐭
https://lnkd.in/g83EB_SR




Diepak Elmer Shirin Lira Corinne THEVOZ Mohammed Zahidur Rahman Shameema Akhter Shimul Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah Md. Faisl Imran, Sawda Yeasmin, Sakhawat Hossain

17/08/2026

We are proud to highlight a new contribution, “A Call to Action to Support and Safeguard Ocean Defenders,” published in npj Ocean Sustainability. The paper calls for greater recognition, protection, and support for ocean defenders whose work is deeply connected to environmental justice, marine conservation, and sustainable ocean governance.

We are especially proud to see Tahura Farbin and Professor Samiya Selim from the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) among the contributing authors.
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00233-x



https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-026-00233-x

Coastal communities worldwide face growing environmental and human rights burdens from the expanding ocean economy. Yet ocean defenders who mobilize to defend the marine environment, their territories, and their rights often experience repression, intimidation, and violence. Society has a moral and....

12/08/2026

We are pleased to share the publication of “Qualitative accounts of community health workers providing and shaping mental health support in climate-vulnerable communities in Bangladesh” in Scientific Reports.

The study explores how community health workers support mental wellbeing in climate-vulnerable communities, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive approaches, trust-building, and community-based care.

We are especially proud to highlight Professor Samiya Selim as one of the authors of this important research.

Despite a clear need for mental health services in Bangladesh, there is limited access and provision, especially in areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Community health workers (CHWs) are commonplace primary care givers in rural communities and promise to deliver more culturally sensi...

11/08/2026

We are pleased to share the publication of “From offender to defender? Rehabilitation and governance legitimacy in Madhupur Sal Forest co-management” in Ecology and Society.

The study examines forest co-management in Bangladesh’s Madhupur Sal Forest and highlights how justice, accountability, recognition, and community trust are crucial to building effective and legitimate conservation governance.

We are especially proud to highlight Professor Mahmood Hossain, Head of the department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), ULAB, as one of the authors of this important research, alongside Mohammad R H Siddique, A. Z. M. Manzoor Rashid, and Sanjoy Saha.

In Bangladesh’s Madhupur Sal Forest, the Forest Department implemented a co-management initiative (2009–2014) that converted convicted forest offenders—primarily illegal loggers and land encroachers—into paid Community Forest Workers responsible for forest patrolling and protection. Framed a...

10/08/2026

We are pleased to share a new publication by Tahura Farbin, Lecturer-cum-Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), ULAB, co-authored with Ummay Habiba, Asraful Islam, Haseeb M Irfanullah, and Samiya Selim.

The article, “Conservation, tenure and politics of access: a political ecology analysis of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest in Bangladesh,” examines how conservation policies, permit systems, enforcement practices, climate disruptions, and local power relations shape access to the Sundarbans and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

The study highlights the importance of tenure security, meaningful participation, local ecological knowledge, equitable benefit sharing, and inclusive co-management for advancing both social justice and effective conservation.

📖 Environmental Sociology | 2026
DOI: 10.1080/23251042.2026.2711278

This study examines how conservation governance and livelihood vulnerability intersect in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest of Bangladesh through a political ecology lens. The political ecology lens i...

04/08/2026

The opinion piece “Women Are Included, But Are They Empowered? Experts Question Bangladesh’s Climate Adaptation Model” by Nusrat Jahan Esha, Research Assistant, Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), has been published in Bangladesh News.

Written under the Climate Change Adaptation, Dispossession and Displacement (CiCADD) project, the article examines how women’s participation in Bangladesh’s climate adaptation initiatives often falls short of meaningful empowerment. It argues that achieving climate justice requires moving beyond inclusion to ensuring women have genuine decision-making power, leadership opportunities, and influence in shaping adaptation policies and practices.

Read the full article:

https://bangladeshnews.live/bangladesh/news/women-are-included-but-are-they-empowered-experts-question-bangladesh%E2%80%99s-climate-adaptation-model

Women are included, but are they empowered? Experts question Bangladesh’s climate adaptation model.

27/07/2026

Experiential learning is an essential part of sustainability education.

Students from ULAB Department of Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS) visited CSD's ENGAGE4Sundarbans project site in Pratapnagar, where they explored environmental degradation and community-led climate adaptation initiatives and engaged directly with local stakeholders through field observations and focus group discussions.

The visit offered practical insights into coastal climate vulnerability, disaster recovery, community resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, reinforcing the importance of bridging academic learning with real-world practice.

Our sincere appreciation goes to the ENGAGE for Sundarbans team, community members, and all those who contributed to making this field experience a success.