Chief Guest, Md. Helal Mahmud Sharif, Divisional Commissioner, Khulna accentuated the government's crucial role in Sundarban's conservation and climate change adaptation. He also highlighted the necessity of community engagement. He commended UNDP for taking this timely initiative and uniting the key stakeholders to integrate both LLA and NbS to address the overlapped development challenges.     

Dr. Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, Professor and Head of Discipline Environmental Science at Khulna University, said bridging science and policy is essential for integrating climate and biodiversity actions. He also mentioned that academia and government should collaborate to ensure holistic and integrated development in the Sundarbans region. Dr. Chowdhury said that action research and a solid evidence base are key to promoting sustainability. 

Mr. Mihir Kumar Doe, Conservator of Forests, Divisional Chief, Forest Department, Khulna, mentioned the vital roles of the world's largest mangrove forest in the communities' lives and livelihoods. He stressed the importance of mangroves' carbon storage capacity, which is four to five times higher than other forests. He also mentioned the upward trend of some of the keystone species of the forest due to the government-imposed strict regulations. He expressed concerns about the climatic impact of the biodiversity and the communities in the Sundarbans region. 

Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain, UNDP's Project Coordination Specialist elaborated on the organization's existing regional programs and projects that address governance, human rights, inclusion, climate, and disaster-related development challenges. He mentioned UNDP's future plans to integrate solutions to diverse and emerging development challenges through an area-based programming approach. He reiterated UNDP's commitment to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in achieving sustainable development through community-led initiatives.