India-Bangladesh Discuss Sundarbans Conservation, Bengal Tiger Monitoring at UNCCD COP17

Ulaanbaatar, August 25, 2026: India and Bangladesh discussed strengthening cooperation on Sundarbans conservation, land degradation and cross-border monitoring of the Bengal tiger during a meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The meeting was held with Abdul Awal Mintoo, Bangladesh’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Discussions focused particularly on conserving the Sundarbans mangrove forest, addressing land degradation and enhancing cross-border monitoring of the Bengal tiger, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts to protect the shared ecosystem and biodiversity.

The two sides also discussed existing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between India and Bangladesh, with particular attention to initiatives related to greening and environmental conservation.

They explored ways to ensure more effective implementation of the existing agreements and initiatives in the future, with an emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation on environmental protection and sustainable development.

The discussions underscored the importance of continued India-Bangladesh cooperation in protecting the Sundarbans, one of the world’s most significant mangrove ecosystems, and its rich biodiversity.