India and Bangladesh have planned a first of its kind joint initiative for conservation of the Sunderbans' ecosystem, according to the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh.

The India-Bangladesh Sunderbans is expected to be formed by September this year, he added. The decision was announced after he met the Dr Hasan Mahmud, Minister for Environment, Government of Bangladesh.

Mr. Ramesh said that the International cooperation is the key in climate change issues. The theme for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit to be held in the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu has been decided to be Climate Change.

The Forum will include non-governmental organisations and civil society from the two countries and will oversee initiatives such as afforestation and conservation of the tiger. The minister further said that a joint tiger study may also be launched.

"We have to recognize that the entire Sunderbans region is one ecosystem - 40 per cent of which is in India and the remaining 60 per cent in Bangladesh, and we must share our experiences and working plans for conservation," said Mr. Ramesh.

The minister announced that the centre has approved the Integrated Coastal Zone Management project worth Rs. 1,156 crore which will see spending of up to Rs. 300 crore in the state of West Bengal with most of it going in Sunderbans. The project is funded by the World Bank and will be for a period of five years.

The project aims at preventing soil erosion in the islands, construction of storm shelters, and promotion of eco-tourism, creation of employment for local inhabitants and electrification of Sagar Island.

Additionally the13th Finance Commission has also agreed for a grant of Rs. 450 crore for the purpose of strengthening edges of the Sunderbans.