Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Environmental, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser, has urged for worldwide collaboration to protect global rivers, forests, and wetlands.

On Tuesday, she spoke at the 8th IUCN Regional Conservation Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, emphasizing the importance of environmental and climate justice, arguing that governments should be held accountable for climate change and pollution and compensated.

Addressing the theme “Reimagining Conservation in Asia: A Nature-Positive Future,” Hasan stressed the importance of adopting a nature-centric approach to biodiversity conservation and highlighted the necessity of discussing the rights of nature.

The IUCN presented its 20-year vision and action plan during the conference.

She argued against the perceived conflict between development and environmental protection, asserting that realizing the IUCN’s vision would demonstrate that these goals can coexist harmoniously.

She proposed regular updates to the vision and underscored the need for youth involvement in conservation plans.

Rizwana will be joined by Iqbal Abdullah Harun, additional secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, to lead Bangladesh’s delegation to the conference, which runs from September 3 to 5.