"I hope that ministries concerned would take initiatives to make each village into a biodiversity conservation area or an eco-village involving the local government institutions," he said at a workshop.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organised the workshop to share opinion in formulating the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in the auditorium of BIAM here.

The national plan will be formulated by March 2004.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is providing funds for formulation of the strategy. The government has given responsibility to IUCN to draw up the plan, which would provide future course of action for conservation of biodiversity in the country.

IUCN has so far held six workshops on the issue at all the divisional headquarters to take opinions and sharing of experiences from a cross section of people including the environmentalists.

The discussions have covered the areas of conservation of species, ecosystem management, legal and regulatory and policy issues, education training and awareness raising, and institutional issues.

Population pressure and poverty coupled with lack of awareness have been identified as the major threats to biodiversity in Bangladesh.

Over exploitation of natural resources especially forest and water bodies, unplanned development, inadequate legislative measures and weak institutional capacities are other threats to biodiversity, sources said.

"Biodiversity protection is one of the major agenda of the present government," Bhuiyan said adding that steps have been taken for massive afforestation across the country.

The local government bodies and the Gram Sarkars would be involved in the process to make the programme a success, he added.

State Minister for Environment Jafrul Islam Chowdhury expressed his concern over the depleting fish resources including the delicious Hilsha in the country.

He underscored the need for adopting an integrated plan of action to check the degradation.

Chaired by Environment Secretary Sabihuddin Ahmed, the function was also addressed by IUCN Country Representative Dr. Ainun Nishat and Project Director of the NBSAP Monowar Islam.