Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society (LEDARS), is a non-profit and non-political organization that has been working for social, economical and environmental development of the poor and marginal people of the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh since 1996. When unplanned shrimp cultivation, river erosion and various natural disasters compelled the coastal people to be migrated in the urban areas during the early 1990s, the organization emerged from a local club to a development organization to stand beside the vulnerable people to support their livelihood security and establish their rights. LEDARS registered under the Social Welfare Department in 1999 to confirm its legal status. As defined, the organization works with landless, unemployed male & female, coastal fishermen and the Sundarbans resource users groups in general. To protect the coastal environment and mangrove biodiversity, LEDARS initiated a CBO network and involved Union Parishad to create a movement in 2001. The organization first highlighted the widows of the tiger killed males in the Sundarbans, who are the most vulnerable community in the Sundarbans impact zones. In order to create a wider constituency to address the whole coastal issues, LEDARS tries to build alliances with the like minded and similar organizations.

To motivate people for environmentally and human rights sound practices in their livelihood activities and to devise innovative methods for optimum utilization of natural and cultural resources.

1. To aware the people about adverse effect of environmental damages and natural disasters.2. To Conserve the Bio-Diversity of the Sundarbans Mangrove forest.3. To organize marginal people of Southwest Coastal area to conserve coastal Eco-system and Nature.4. To provide all kinds of support to coastal women to develop alternative livelihood options.5. To provide skill development training to ensure alternative income source of marginalized people.6. To organize a common platform with local CBOs & NGOs to create social movement for coastal environment preservation.7. Capacity building of the CBOs and local NGOs on coastal environment conservation and human rights.8. To conduct advocacy in respect of ensuring human rights.9. Alliance building with like minded local, regional, national and international NGOs and other institution.