Editing Bangladesh (section)

=== Biodiversity ===
Bangladesh is situated within the '''Indomalayan realm''' and contains four major terrestrial ecoregions the '''Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests''', '''Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests''', '''Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests''', and '''Sundarbans mangroves'''. The country’s ecology is diverse, featuring a long coastline, countless rivers and tributaries, wetlands, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, hill forests, freshwater swamps, and fertile alluvial plains. Its lush vegetation includes groves of mango, jackfruit, bamboo, betel nut, coconut, and date palm trees. Bangladesh is home to around '''6,000 plant species''', including about '''5,000 flowering plants''', with water lilies and lotuses blooming beautifully during the monsoon. The country also has '''50 wildlife sanctuaries''', reflecting its rich natural heritage. A significant portion of Bangladesh’s biodiversity is concentrated in the '''Sundarbans''', the world’s largest '''mangrove forest''', covering '''6,000 km²''' in the southwest. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is divided into three protected zones  South, East, and West  and serves as a crucial habitat for many species. Other notable ecosystems include the '''haor wetlands''' in Sylhet, tropical and subtropical forests, the evergreen and semi-evergreen hills of Chittagong, and the plainland '''Sal forests''' of central Bangladesh. '''St. Martin’s Island''' hosts the country’s only coral reef.

Bangladesh supports abundant wildlife across its '''forests, wetlands, woodlands, and hills''', covering a habitat area of about '''150,000 km²'''. Iconic species in the Sundarbans include the '''Bengal tiger''', '''clouded leopard''', '''saltwater crocodile''', '''black panther''', and '''fishing cat'''. The northern and eastern regions provide habitats for the '''Asian elephant''', '''hoolock gibbon''', '''Asian black bear''', and '''oriental pied hornbill''', while '''chital deer''' are common in the southwest. Other notable species include black giant squirrels, capped langurs, Bengal foxes, sambar deer, king cobras, pythons, mongooses, pangolins, and water monitors. Bangladesh also has one of the '''largest populations of Irrawaddy and Ganges river dolphins'''. In total, the country is home to '''53 species of amphibians''', '''139 reptiles''', '''19 marine reptiles''', '''5 marine mammals''', and '''628 species of birds'''. Some species, such as the '''one-horned and two-horned rhinoceros''' and the '''common peafowl''', have become extinct in Bangladesh over the past century. While urbanization has concentrated human populations in cities, helping to limit some deforestation, '''rapid development has threatened many natural habitats'''. Environmental issues such as '''industrial river pollution''' notably in the Dhaleshwari River and '''shrimp farming in the Chakaria Sundarbans''' have been described as '''ecocides'''. In response, Bangladesh has introduced several conservation measures. The Bangladesh Environment '''Conservation Act of 1995''' and the designation of Ecologically Critical Areas aim to protect wetlands, forests, and rivers. The '''Sundarbans Tiger Project''' and the '''Bangladesh Bear Project''' are key wildlife protection initiatives. Bangladesh ratified the '''Rio Convention on Biological Diversity''' on '''3 May 1994''' and continues to update its '''National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan''' to strengthen conservation efforts.