Dhaka, Bangladesh – Environmental lawyer and adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that forests and natural resources are vital not just for the environment but also for the economy, biodiversity, and the safety of future generations.

Speaking at a workshop, she urged for inclusive management involving all stakeholders. “We must see forests not as carbon credits for trade, but as oxygen providers and biodiversity sanctuaries,” she said.

Rizwana criticized developed countries for focusing only on carbon trading rather than reducing emissions and called for realistic management plans, including reforestation and community-based conservation.