Water Ecosystems & SDGs

Overview

Water security cannot be achieved without healthy ecosystems. Salinity intrusion is degrading soils and freshwater ecosystems in the coastal region, reducing biodiversity and threatening fisheries. SDG 6 – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all – explicitly calls for protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems such as wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. Bangladesh has made progress on WASH access, yet only 42.6 % of the population had safely managed drinking water in 2019 and there are serious concerns about fecal sludge management and water quality. Achieving SDG 6 requires integrating ecosystem restoration with drinking-water and sanitation goals.

Sub-themes

1. Protecting water-related ecosystems and biodiversity

Highlight how sea-level rise and salinity intrusion threaten mangrove forests, wetlands and freshwater ponds. Discuss conservation and rehabilitation of the Sundarbans and coastal wetlands as natural buffers that improve water quality and provide livelihoods through fisheries and eco-tourism. Encourage mainstreaming ecosystem services valuation into water-management planning.

2. SDG 6 targets and national progress

Examine each target (6.1–6.6, 6.a, 6.b). Assess Bangladesh’s progress on universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, water quality improvement, efficient water use, integrated water resources management and ecosystem protection. Identify gaps, such as salinity monitoring and wastewater treatment, and recommend integrated programs linking WASH interventions with ecosystem restoration.

3. Sustainable water-quality and wastewater management

Explore technologies like pond sand filters, rainwater harvesting, managed aquifer recharge and community desalination. Discuss scaling up fecal sludge management and promoting circular economy approaches (e.g., wastewater reuse for agriculture) to meet target 6.3.

4. Integrated water resources management (IWRM) and multi-sectoral collaboration

Advocate for IWRM at all levels (target 6.5). Emphasize cross-sector links between water, health, agriculture and energy, and build partnerships with local governments, NGOs and the private sector to protect ecosystems.

5. Community engagement for ecosystem restoration

Encourage community stewardship of ponds, canals and wetlands, aligning with target 6.b on local participation. Share success stories where community-led mangrove planting or wetland conservation improved water availability and resilience.