Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo announced in Parliament that 1.5 crore tree saplings will be planted across the country during this monsoon to address environmental and climate change challenges. This initiative is part of the government's electoral manifesto focused on environmental, forest, and climate change issues.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mintoo stated that diverse varieties of saplings have already been prepared for plantation nationwide. The planting is scheduled to be completed in the early monsoon. This information was disclosed during a question-and-answer session in the House, where Mintoo responded to a starred question from opposition lawmaker Md Abdus Sattar from Nilphamari-1.
Preparations are underway for national tree plantation campaigns and fairs, with similar events planned at divisional and district levels to support the initiative. Over the next five years, 25 crore trees will be planted under various programs, including forest restoration, mangrove afforestation in coastal areas, and afforestation along roads, highways, embankments, and riverbanks. The effort is expected to create green employment opportunities.
The environment minister also mentioned the development of a 'Tree Monitoring App' for maintaining and observing the planted trees. Additionally, 50 percent of the mangrove plantations in coastal areas will be integrated into carbon trading activities.
To conserve natural resources, 4,800 hectares of encroached forest land will be reclaimed for afforestation. A 74-kilometer-long rope fence will be constructed along the Sundarbans border to protect local communities and mitigate human-tiger conflicts.
Efforts to prevent deforestation and damage to mangrove forests will involve smart patrolling using Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools (SMART) technology through Cyber Tracker in four ranges of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest Area. Furthermore, degraded forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and hilly regions in Chittagong and Sylhet will be re-established.