About BEDS
History of the organization Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) is a unique organization that exists to help save the endangered coastal region and to develop an atmosphere of cooperation and partnership among stakeholders with different perspectives. Established in 2010, BEDS is a non-profit, non-government, research and implementation organization. BEDS was formed to focus on a variety of interrelated problem, including global warming, natural disaster, accelerated human population growth, species/wildlife extinctions/biodiversity de- structions, habitat loss, food crises, farming, fisheries, education, health, nutrition, and unemployment etc.
Vision: Preserve the local ecological balance and to improve socio-economic conditions for the poor
Mission: Establish sustainable environmental protection, wildlife / biodiversity conservation and to develop ex-situ conservation, education, health and nutrition through awareness, capacity building and research activities
Objectives: 1. Preserve natural treasures; 2. Conserve biodiversity; 3. Reduce or mitigate the impact of climate change and advance disaster risk reduction strategies; 4. Establish human rights through good governance; and 5. Expand women’s empowerment and equitable development for women.
Thematic areas: 1. Sustainable Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management 2. Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation 3. Climate Change and Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction 4. Human Rights and Good Governance 5. Gender and Development Legal Status: Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) was registered by NGO Affairs Bureau, Prime Minister Office, Government of Bangladesh and Department of Social Services, Government of Bangladesh. Working area: All over Bangladesh priority to coastal region
Contact Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) House No. 03, Road No 20 Nirala R/A, Khulna- 9100, Bangladesh Telephone: + 88 041 721123, Mob: + 88-01712 868004 email:
An Organization for Excellence Nature We are the initiator for promoting the Sundarbans Mangrove Education in Bangladesh
Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF) and Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) are implementing this project subsidy of “Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program” from Toyota Motor Corporation for acquiring sufficient knowledge and positive impression on Sundarbans biodiversity and to increase knowledge of teachers, students and parents for the Sundarbans Mangrove forest conservation.
Our prime concern: i. To develop a standerd education materials Our main strategy ii. To know the mangrove forest (Sundarbans) as a Is to incorporate this materials into part of world Heritages site. the curriculum as a Supplementary iii. Students are the future hope of any nation. So Reading Material (SRM). they should know the in-depth knowledge about Sundarbans as a part of ecological conservation.
The following education materials we have already being developed: Booklet for class three (Our Sundarbans in pictures) Booklet for class four (Our Sundarbans in rhymes) Booklet for class five (Our Sundarbans in stories) Sundarbans Education/Learning game cards (education game) Sundarbans Tour Ludo (Let’s travel Sundarbans by Chakka (super six) Teachers’ Teaching Manual Community mobilization video documentation
We are now piloting this education materials almost all over Bangladesh (80 schools)
We are very much thankful to those organizations who helped us a lot for promoting this inovative idea. Without their help we are not capable to implement this project in development sector such organizations are Khulna University, Department of Education, Department of Environment, IUCN, Bangladesh, 50 Sundarbans coastal primary schools and so many. This activities are going on------
This is the first inovative idea for Sundarbans education material in Bangladesh Mangrove field trip to know the miracle of nature
Education is the backbone of a nation. Students are future. Sundarbans is the world largest Education is the best medium to reach out to them, as it mangrove forest, and also listed as a disseminates knowledge, provides necessary skills, and World Heritage and Ramsar site. helps in forming attitudes. BEDS have involved these Sundarbans is mainly known for its communities to build up a mutual relation with education natural beauty, biodiversity, and as a and the mangrove areas. safeguard during the period of natural disaster. To know the endless The main objectives of this tour: potentiality of Sundarbans it is required • Encourage the teachers and students to be naturalists. for the experience of Sundarbans in • Involving the teachers and students for promoting first-hand. In that case BEDS reached Sundarbans tourism and development program. out there with the teachers and • Provide up-to-date information about the Sundarbans. students. Using posters, leaflets, flipcharts, video documentation, and other public media. To achieve the objectives above, BEDS started a study tour through Sundarbans. We have selected mainly two sites, Karamjal and Sundarban Information Centre (SIC). These two sites are well- equipped with various educational materials, and Karamjal has a crocodile breeding centre. There is no other option for the students to know the Sundarban in practical experience with a minimal level of costing. This sense BEDS is unique.
BEDS works for Knowledge hunter If you conserve the Mangrove,
Mangrove will Save you.
This project is supported by Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), Japan
Sundarbans Mangrove flagship eco- system is the natural safeguard and live- lihood support for most climate vulner- able coastal communities of Bangla- desh. The Sundarbans is one of the single largest mangrove forests in the world, and is a preserve for the iconic Bengal Tiger. It is a UNESCO declared World Heritage (WH) site. Retaining the ecosystem health of the Sundarbans is of paramount importance for Bangla- desh, yet is challenging. Threats to the area include climate change and diverse human activities like unsustainable re- source harvesting, illegal hunting, and loss of species by the human-Wildlife conflicts.
Overview for the Project: • To protection of world largest mangrove ecosystem (Sundarbans). Bangladesh is a developing • Maintaining an eco balance between human and Nature. country; most of the people of • Poverty reduction through the basis on eco activities effectively utilizes Bangladesh are living below the natural resources. the poverty line. Maximum • Reducing the pressure of over and unplanned extraction of natural re- people who live in the costal sources. area they have no proper • Ensuring the sustainable eco balance and promoting the working op- education. They don’t know portunities for both male and female person in Sundarbans area. about the nature and how to conserve the biodiversity. What we have achieved: After understanding all this • 136 Sundarbans fishermen understanding about the mangrove and its facts BEDS has realized that important now increased without the participation of • Formed a multiple cooperative society including the fishermen in local communities the nature Mathurapur jelly Polly (Mathurapur Fishing village). and natural resources con- • We have already included 136 stakeholders from 75 households who servation of Sundarbans are directly dependent on their livelihood for Sundarbans resource. would never possible. In that • Under this project we are ensuring the women participation in this case BEDS is trying to in- region. Our total number of male participants is 65 and female is 71. crease the knowledge of local • We have collected all the stakeholders’ family background in formation communities and to reduce in a project profile and kept this information in BEDS resource cell. the poverty through capacity • For achieving our project target properly we have maintained an ex- build up by eco friendly liveli- cellent collaboration with Govt and NGOs. hood improvement activities. • We have also selected the area for mangrove plantation for reducing the river bank erosion and future mangrove based sustainable livelihood improvement
This activities are going on......
This is a grassroots levels work that is basically doing for nature conservation and sustainable resource management including the local communities of Sundarbans area. 200 W Community ChestofKorea cooperated withWorldVisionBangladeshfordistributing Bangladesh of region coastal Sundarbans Project siteisin This is little initiative for reduceing CO To takeaninitiateforgreendevelopment To reducethepovertyofpoorfamilies night. To reducetheriskofnaturaldisasterandtigerattackat families To Fulfillthelightdemandofnonelectrifiedpoor To makepeoplefreefromanxietyaboutbuyingfuel. using thekerosene(oil). To stopthecausingofrespiratorydiseasewhoare social workforfacilitatedcoastalfamiliesatnight. To createopportunitiesforlivelihood,homesteadand studying duringnighttime. To createopportunitiesforthepoorchildrenwhoare Objectives: e havedistributed tribal poorfamiliessupportedby penditure forkeroseneis month. Itisallmostnear about 15%ofafamily Generally maximum families monthlyex- 750 BDTor$10per old man. families, (differently able), disable person victim dren families,Tiger school goingchil- 4000 taka/$54. not higherthan monthly incomeis poor families.Their priority basison beneficiaries togive We selectedour 700 income. T SolarLampsamong Development Environmental-friendly Sustainable his isagrassrootinitiative during2013to2015. for Korea GreenFoundation(KGF) ------Some usesofsolarlamp Now wearefreefrom We areensuringourelectricitybyusingthisdreamlight poor ultra Dream lightextendsoureyesite,it’sjustlikeamiracle! the for hope new a communities brings light Dream Comments ofthesupportedfamilies for ourfamily Today dreamlight/solarlanternseemsitisthebestfriend at nightbyusingthesolarlamp Today ourchildrenarefeelinginterestandhappytoread We arenowabletosave750-800taka/$10-11permonth 700
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- This activities are going on------Asia Solar Lamp project in Bangladesh - This project is supported by Green Asia Grant of Korea Green Foundation (KGF)
Empowerment of the underprivileged Women through Eco Enterprise
Women are the half of total population in Bangladesh. Implementation of any project or development work, without women participation its actually not possible. In that case BEDS has taken this initiative for empowering the underprivileged women through society based Eco-friendly livelihood activities.
Why BEDS takes this initiative:
• Promote the women empowerment. • Reduction of poverty • Ensure an alternative livelihoods as a part of small enterprise development. • Ensure the family safety for providing the working opportunities in homestead areas. • Improve the consciousness about women rights and Sundarbans conservation.
What we have achieved: The stakeholders are now able to make their own product (eco-bag) without any organizational support. We have also established a relation between local market for selling their products.
We are seeking further collaboration for long term skill development training to ensure the quality of the products, construct a suitable working place, capital for more production and expert person in marketing sector.
This activities are going on......
This is initial stage for BADABON ECO PRODUCT (Mangrove eco product) Sustainable Livelihood Improvement Training Center (SLITC)
Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF) and Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) are working in the Sundarbans coastal region mangrove biodiversity conservation.
For promoting some training, discussion and livelihood technological support the communities needs a proper place to sit together bu there is no single place for arranging such type of programme in our working site. After realizing this JEEF and BEDS constructed a house called Sustainable Livelihood Improvement Training Center (SLITC).
Our constucted house can afforded at least 100 people. This Training Center is constructed by subsidy of DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
BEDS always believe to provide training for better skill development This project is also supported by the subsidy of AEON Environmental Founda on Tree saves our Univers like our Mother
BEDS is always committed to nature conservation. In that case tree plantation is one of the most important activities. During the year 2011 to 2014 BEDS has planted approx 21000 tress in Trees sheltered our 56 school grounds involving teachers’, students’ and their guardians’ cooperation with Foundation for Environmental univers like the care of Education (FEE), Japan and supported by the subsidy of mother. No life can AEON Environmental Foundation and Global Forest Fund, FEE, Denmark sustain in the
Before starting our plantation activities we are trying to motivate the biosphere without the teachers, students and their guardians about the necessity of tree existance of trees. plantation. To make a ecological balance and sustainable environmental condition one country should have atleast 25% forest Trees sorrounded the area. But compare to this ratio Bangladesh has only approx 16% of forest land. So it is beggar description the necessity of mass tree environment with plantation in our country. green shadow. Trees Main objectives of tree plantation: are maintaining the • Motivating the students for nature conservation. • Increasing the positive attitudes to afforestation and to ecological balance. It avoid deforestation among the teachers, students and reduce the air also their guardians. • To ensure the fellow land is using for plantation. pollution by supplying • To reduce the total amount of co2 from nature through tree plantation. pure oxegen. Tree • To take an initiative for green development. plantation is cost effective and easy to maintain.
Without nature conservation no life can sustain in the earth. For the natural conservation we need more trees to protect our ecosystem. BEDS is trying their best to promote a green world for upcoming generation.
Considering all this issues BEDS is suiting for tree plantation Study on River Atlas: Present and future relationship between life and Trans-boundary River
Bangladesh Environment and Development Societies (BEDS) working with IUCN for this Trans-boundary River study .
It’s basically a joint venture program between Bangladesh and India. The river morphological study, history and how the life way is changing depends on the nature of river are basically included in this study.
Main objectives of the program : • Create a narrative story with photographs about the river. • Collecting a brief history about the livelihoods, cul- tures, issues, and challenges of people and communi- ties living on the banks of the trans-boundary river.
We have already completed the study of 23 trans-boundary rivers among the total number of 57 rivers. This narrative atlas compiles a comprehensive description of these each river, from origin to end, supported by facts and information collected from publicly available scientific literature, reports, and maps. Each description will be complemented by GIS maps using information and data available in the public domain and also photographs of the rivers and the people and environment thriving on their banks.
One’s upon a time Bangladesh is called the land of River BEDS work for the Heritage back Wildlife Conservation and Research Photo Credit: Shumon Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation is one of the major thematic area of BEDS. Under this thematic area BEDS has been working on Wildlife Conserva- tion and Research project in Bangladesh specially in the Sundarbans region.
BEDS has been assisting to Project Batagur during 2010 and BEDS team firstly Photo Credit: Md. Maksudur Rahman recognized that Batagur baska still in the wild after 2000. After recognized BEDS team and Ms. Rupali Ghosh collected the Baska baby from the fishermen during 2013. BEDS team also supported to collect the baska from the captive in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh.
BEDS has been implementing a project on A study on calipee trade of Critically Photo Credit: Rupali Ghosh Endangered Pelochelys cantorii in Bangladesh cooperation with Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) 2014.
BEDS has been assisting to Sundarbans Finfoot Conservation and Research Project.
BEDS is now implementing a project on Dolphin and Turtle Conservation Education
among the Sundarbans fishermen of Bangladesh cooperation with Japan Photo Credit: Sayam U. Chowdhury Environmental Education Forum (JEEF), Japan supported by the AEON Environmental Foundation.
BEDS also has been assisting to Vulture Conservation project implementing by Forest Department and IUCN, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: Zahangir Alom
Photo Credit: Mebar Uddin Khan Everything in the natural world is connected. An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together.