Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS)

The BEDS (Bangladesh Environment and Development Society) is a leading community-based, non-profit, environment and development-focused non-government organization committed to maintaining ecological balance and harmony between humans and nature. BEDS was established to solve complex environmental and social problems in Bangladesh together with local people through respecting local knowledge and culture.  They have been working with local people to identify and solve complex environmental and social problems of Bangladesh for the past ten years. The grass-roots initiatives are focused on mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change; addressing the unsustainable use of natural resources; monitoring the interaction between humans and the mangrove ecosystem; and tackling the lack of electricity, drinking water crisis, and issues of gender inequity and human rights violations. They do this through research, communication education participation and awareness raising (CEPA) programs, and physical activities in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Vision of the organization is to promote ecological balance and create harmony between human and nature and The Mission of the organization is to build the capacity of the most vulnerable communities in the region to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, provide eco-friendly means of living, reduce the adverse effects of climate change, and improve their socio-economic condition while maintaining ecological balance.

Awards:

BEDS has received the following international and national prestigious awards due to its outstanding contribution on environmental sectors

BEDS has been selected as one of the 50 finalists of Equator Prize 2021

• Energy Globe National Award in 2018;
• Annual Balipara Foundation Award in 2018;
• Divisional Environmental Award in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015;
• Top20 District Development Award in 2018.
• BEDS’ implemented projects “Eco Village in Bangladesh” has been selected to be showcased at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Best Practice Program.

SECTORS OF INTEREST

Bangladesh is composed of diverse climate zones and has been subject to various impact of climate change in last few decades. The increase of the human population continues to put pressure on food production and tests the resilience of our ecosystems. The most threatened areas are the coastal grassland ecosystems of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. The Sundarbans is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, and it has continuously been threatened by unsustainable resource harvesting practices and climate change. The availability of freshwater is also highly seasonal in this region, and water supplies have been threatened by higher temperatures, changes in river regimes, and greater incidences of coastal flooding. Major environmental issues here are the loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution, drinking water scarcity, land degradation and natural disasters. BEDS has been working to address these thematic areas to better protect nature and the local population.  BEDS highly respect the indigenous and local knowledge and culture for all of our intervention. With this in mind, BEDS works to consistently respect, promote, document, and conserve the local culture and knowledge.

BEDS is a leading Environmental Conservation NGO in Bangladesh. So, they have been working with local people on the following sectors since 2010;

• Environment and Ecosystem
• Livelihoods
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
• Clean/Solar Energy
• Water and Sanitation
• Women and Child Rights
• Relief and Rehabilitation

Environment and Ecosystem

• Community Based Ecological mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) in Sundarbans region of Bangladesh
• Social Afforestation
• CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness-raising) Program
• River Ecosystem conservation
• Urban Biodiversity Conservation Program
• Waste Management Program
• Wildlife Conservation and Protection 

Livelihoods for All Genders 

Reducing poverty in the marginal communities of Bangladesh is one of the prime priorities of BEDS. BEDS has been to improve livelihoods in the coastal communities of Bangladesh since 2011. The organization has been trying to introduce Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) businesses (through honey, pickle, nipa molasses etc.) by ensuring natural resource management. The organization also working on agro-ecology (environment-friendly agriculture, fishing and livestock), eco-tourism, natural experience programming, homestead gardening, crab fattening, and sewing activities for poor coastal communities. Apart from this, BEDS is also working on sixth sector industrialization by improving the capacity of the rural producers in the region.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country due to its geological location. Natural disasters are common incidents in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh and BEDS is invested in reducing the disaster risks for the coastal people and assisting them in adapting to global climate change. In regards to disaster risk reduction, BEDS has established a multipurpose Cyclone Shelter and Training Center in the Sundarbans. BEDS has also created an Emergency Disaster Fund, formed the Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC), prepared a training manual on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR), developed skills workshops for the VDMC members on disaster preparedness, introduced an early warning system, provided safety materials to the villagers, protected embankments through mangrove plantation and traditional fencing techniques, improved the skills of  target villagers on approaching climate-friendly livelihoods, and supported  vulnerable villagers with duck, sheep and agricultural seeds.

Relief and Rehabilitation

Relief and rehabilitation is one of the focal thematic areas of BEDS and the organization has been focused on this work since 2013 in emergency situations like natural disasters or pandemics. So far, BEDS has supported the Rohingya refugee community, the Cyclone-Amphan affected community, and has supported the people of Bangladesh through COVID-19.  

Clean/Solar Energy

Promoting renewable energy is one of the major working areas of BEDS. BEDS has been working to promote renewable energy in the Sundarbans coastal region since 2013. BEDS has supported more than 3000 coastal families with solar home systems, solar lamps, solar generators, and solar batteries. Apart from this, BEDS has established 4 solar stations for the betterment of local villagers of living in non-electricity accessible area. Moreover, BEDS provides multimedia support to one elementary school of the Sundarbans region with the help of solar energy. Safe drinking water service of BEDS has also been provided with the help of solar energy. BEDS has also been supporting 40 local farmers through solar-based irrigation systems. As a result of BEDS’s renewable energy services, there exists the first ever solar union of Bangladesh.

Water and Sanitation

BEDS has been trying to solve the existing drinking water crisis where people have been suffering from a lack drinking water since 2015. Around 73 percent of the people living in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh are deprived of drinking water due to the increasing of salinity of both ground and surface water. So far, BEDS has provided more than 9,000 villagers in 11 villages with safe drinking water through the re-excavation of ponds, the establishment of solar-based pond sand and filters system as well as Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems with Water ATMs and water well installations. BEDS has also been conducting education programs for students and villagers on water and sanitation.

Women and Child Rights

BEDS believed firmly in the provision of equal rights for men and women. However, many times in Bangladesh, especially in the Sundarbans coastal region, this is not realized. Here, it is common for women to subject and obey the direction of male-dominant households. Most of the women are unable to take part in any decision-making for the family and are forced to work inside the home. They are not permitted to raise their voices even when they are tortured physically or mentally.  BEDS is committed to protecting and empowering these women in its advocacy for equal human rights for all genders. Beside this BEDS has been supporting local children and schooling with student education kits, health services, and the workshops on the environment and biodiversity for a better life and sustainable ecosystem since 2013.