A Luxembourg investment nominated for a prestigious environmental award has enabled towns and villages in Bangladesh to survive regular floods and save locals’ livelihood.
It all started around seven years ago when Patrick Losch, chairman of the board of directors of the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur (Help for Nature), visited southwestern Bangladesh alongside the founder of a local not-for-profit called Friendship.
Losch noticed large areas of bare land between a river which flows into the Bay of Bengal, and the clay embankments. And that is when he floated the idea of planting mangrove trees – often used to protect riverbanks. The trees’ dense roots act as a natural barrier against waves and floods.
Floods destroyed an embankment in 2020 © Photo credit: Friendship
The project has been named as one of three finalists in the Fix Our Climate category of the Earthshot Prize, which was founded by the British royal Prince William and is one of the most influential environment awards in the world.
It is one of 15 finalists out of 2,500 projects put forward for the prize and the shortlist was selected by an international committee of over 100 experts in conservation, science, technology, economics, finance, academia and politics.
After speaking to locals, Losch discovered that goats had been allowed to graze on mangrove trees and he knew he not only had to plant new trees but also find another source of income for goat farmers.
A meeting with the local authorities © Photo credit: Noémie Losch
The Bangladesh Forest Department validated the concept and local authorities gave the green light.
Friendship Luxembourg – of which Losch was a board of director – ensured the project was financed via funding by the Environment Ministry.
It has now been seven years after the project received the funding, the riverbanks are sturdy and locals’ houses and livelihood are protected.
“In other areas, houses were destroyed,” said local resident Molina Mondol. “The wind blew so much away, the trees collapsed, but here after we planted the trees nothing bad has happened. We’re doing really well.
“The homes we have by the riverside along with all our wood and fuel for our stoves were all safe. The trees acted as an embankment and protected us. The ponds we use for farming fish were also saved from damage. Back in the day, we would lose all our livestock and all our grain.”
Banque Raiffeisen made further donations and in June, the Environment Ministry funded a further five-year project in a bid to develop the plan.
Mangrove trees protecting the riverbank © Photo credit: Friendship
The winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize will be announced by Prince William on 5 November at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.