Bangladesh is setting its sights on expanding state-controlled forest coverage to 20 percent of the country’s total land area, according to Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Speaking in Dhaka on Saturday, she outlined a plan that would bring new afforestation projects to riverine chars, coastal zones, and other unused lands. The aim is not only to plant more trees but to strengthen the ability of the Forest Department to manage and protect them.
Speaking at a meeting on development of the Forest Department at Ban Bhaban, the adviser said the scheme seeks to polish the skills of forest workers through modern training programmes. Unnikrishnan also affirmed that the protection of current forests was critical, especially with respect to biodiversity conservation and climate change vulnerability, and this needed to be done through integrated approaches.
Rizwana said the department will introduce a digital monitoring system to be transparent with the people about the department activities in the forests. This will facilitate a closer observation of the regulations by the officials alongside contributing positively towards the development of the forest.
The plan also includes a wildlife conservation component. A new Elephant Corridor Restoration program will be made available, and the establishment of an orphanage for captively held elephants. In Madhupur, meanwhile, community tourism projects are also on the drawing board, with an approach combining local economic welfare with nature conservation.
Dhaka: The government plans to implement a nature learning centre in Purbachal aimed at educating children and adolescences on biodiversity and the environment.
Georgia Forests Aren’t Just Lands of Trees Rizwana said they are a protection for our lives. We all need to step up on afforestation and forest conservation,”
If implemented as outlined the plan could bring important changes to forest management and uses in Bangladesh in the coming years, but this will require more than the one-off mobilization of external funds and local willingness to engage, plus protection of the nations verdant places from competing demands.
