A university set among forests, wetlands and lakes has an unusual research subject on its doorstep. Published studies on Jahangirnagar's campus have examined vascular plant diversity and wildlife habitats, and they point to the ecological importance of the wetlands in particular.
Habitats that matter
The campus studies identify dense vegetation and the areas near water bodies as especially significant habitat. That is useful evidence for anyone deciding how to balance construction, landscaping and conservation, and it is one reason the university has a committee responsible for the maintenance of its water bodies and for biodiversity conservation management. The committee met to review its activities on 15 September 2024.
From campus to the whole country
JU researchers have also contributed to updating the Species Red List of Bangladesh and have worked on wildlife monitoring and conservation in protected areas. Documented examples include butterfly assessment, gharial conservation and wildlife monitoring in Kaptai National Park.
Faculty have developed BioTrack, an open-access database on biodiversity in Bangladesh's protected areas, so that ecological information is available for further research and for conservation decisions. They also worked on the "Fun and Learn" environmental education programme for schoolchildren living in and around protected areas, supported by GIZ, the Forest Department and the Arannayk Foundation.
Teaching it
The knowledge feeds back into the classroom through courses such as Biodiversity and Conservation in Botany and Biodiversity and Nature Conservation in Environmental Sciences. Environmental Sciences faculty also list bioinvasion among their research areas, which helps students understand the risks that introduced species can pose.
Recognition
On 20 June 2025 the university congratulated Professor Md. Monwar Hossain on his final nomination for the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025, in the individual category for wildlife education and research. It is a nomination rather than an award, but it reflects how his work is seen beyond the campus.