The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Wednesday recommended involving the indigenous community in conserving forests and biodiversity and combating climate change through utilizing their valuable experience and knowledge.

The 40th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its chairman Saber Hossain Chowdhury in the chair.

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At the meeting, detailed discussions were also held on the damages of biodiversity in the Sundarbans,  report on the ecosystem of the haor, air pollution, illegal sand extraction, illegal establishments on St. Martin’s island, according to a press release .

The committee also stressed the importance of implementing researcher Sirajul Hossain’s report on the loss of biodiversity in the Sundarbans and the ecosystem of haors.

In a bid to protect reserved forest areas, the meeting urged all concerned to adopt more stringent measures to stop illegal sand extraction.

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Directives were also given to take necessary precautions against environmental polluters, particularly within various types of hotels, motels, resorts, and other establishments on St. Martin's Island.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin, Deputy Ministers Habibun Nahar, Tanvir Shakil Joy, Md Rezaul Karim Bablu and Khodeja Nasrin Akhter Hossain, among others, attended the meeting.

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Secretaries of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, heads of various departments and agencies and concerned officials of the ministry and the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat were also present in the meeting.