Mehdi Hasan

As Senior Program Officer at the Center for Natural Resource Studies, Mehdi Hasan manages several programs that target the most vulnerable populations in Bangladesh and provides trainings on land cultivation, climate change adaptation, and food security.

While in the U.S., Mehdi worked at the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development and the Sierra Club, where he gained a better understanding of U.S. environmental policy, climate change issues, biodiversity restoration, disaster resiliency and community engagement.

Upon returning to Bangladesh, Mehdi implemented his follow-on project aiming to increase resiliency to climate change in Faltala village by introducing farmers to saline tolerant rice varieties. By establishing five demonstration plots to introduce farmers to new techniques in rice cultivation, the project directly supported the livelihoods of these five farming households and reached an additional 45 farming households through stakeholder meetings, guided visits to the demonstration plots, and targeted outreach to farmers in the village. The plots yielded nearly 3000 kg/acre, and experts called it the first successful rice cultivation in the area in 20 years, attracting attention from local government officials and satellite news networks.