Key Activities

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) work at different levels - 

Local and Grass-roots Level

At the local level, BCAS works with communities through eco-specific participatory management processes. BCAS has established eco-specific research centres in different parts of country such as the Wetlands Research and Training Centre (WRTC) in Chanda Beel in the Modhumati Floodplain to develop natural resource management capability with active participation of local communities, initiated diffusion of renewable energy technology (solar photovoltaic) among the islands dwellers in the River Meghna, integrated local level Water Resources Management Study Centre in Tangail, fisheries resource enhancement through community husbandry in Maulavibazar, Gazipur, and Sherpur, providing Environmental Education to non-formal schools in Dhaka, Gazipur and Chanda Beel areas.

National Level

At the national level, BCAS has spearheaded and initiated numerous activities, along with others, including the National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP), Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP), National Conservation Strategy (NCS), New Fisheries Management Programmes, different aspects of Social Forestry, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Strategy, New Fisheries Management Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation of Third Fisheries Project of the Government of Bangladesh, Fourth Fisheries Project, and Bangladesh State of Environment Report 2001. It has also carried out several national level studies on climate change issues including Vulnerability Assessment for Bangladesh to Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, Bangladesh Climate Change Study under USCCS, Asia Least-cost Greenhouse Gases Abatement Strategy (ALGAS). It also works closely and carried out numerous studies and advisory inputs for the government of Bangladesh, particularly with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Department of Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Local Government and Engineering Department. Along with these BCAS has also been involved in a number of collaborative research and initiatives with leading Bangladeshi NGOs including BRAC, Grameen Bank, Grameen Shakti, Proshika etc.

Regional Level

At the regional level, BCAS is the secretariat for the Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) working on Climate Change related issues. BCAS publishes CANSA’s Newsletter “Clime Asia”. BCAS is also working as the secretariat of the South Asia Sustainable Livelihood Forum. BCAS is the international wing of Centre for Environment Education (CEE), it is also a member of Regional and International Networking Group (RING) in South Asia. BCAS has undertaken a number of collaborative research and policy advocacy on sustainable livelihoods, trade and environment, climate change, civil society initiatives on sustainable development and community action, and environmental, socially responsible public-private partnership and intergovernmental input in World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

International Level

At the international level, BCAS is involved in a number of collaborative research, policy analysis and advocacy including North South Dialogue (NSD) on Climate Change, Global Compact Initiative under aegis of UN as RING member. BCAS participated in all the preparatory meetings of UNCED in Rio and WSSD in Johannesburg as a NGO representative, where it also played a key role in giving advice to the government delegations. BCAS provides secretarial support to Global Forum on Environment and Poverty (GFEP) originated during the Earth Summit in Rio. As a centre of excellence from the south, BCAS has been involved in the process of formulation and reporting on all Global Environment Outlook (GEO) Reports of UNEP. Scientists of BCAS are actively involved in promoting science for sustainable development under the auspices of Pugwash and other movements.