Rajshahi Correspondent
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP, said there is no alternative to more tree plantation to biodiversity conservation, resisting of adverse impact of climate change and protection of ecological balance in the region including its vast Barind tract.
Terming the tree plantation as the biggest investment he called for extensive afforestation for elevating socio-economic condition and to protect the high barind tract from desertification.
Massive tree plantation could be the effective means of reducing carbon emission at a substantial level and that is very important to protect ecological balance as there is no way but to creating more forest area to maintain an ecological balance, the state minister added.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a fortnight-long divisional level tree fair-2016 at Green Plaza of Rajshahi City Corporation today.
Social Forestry Division (SFD) and Office of the Deputy Commissioner jointly organized event with a call to make the tree plantation campaign a social movement as part of the current National Tree Plantation Drive.
With Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin in the chair, Commissioner of Rajshahi division Abdul Hannan, Chief Revenue Officer of RCC Khandaker Mahbubur Rahman and Divisional Forest Officer Imran Ahmed also spoke.
Chief Guest Shahriar Alam viewed that the optimum afforestation could help stop degradation of environment, ecology and biodiversity to make the country a safe habitat for all.
Creation of more forests through tree plantations to expand the country’s forest area up to 25 percent of the total landscape will protect Bangladesh from the possible alarming consequences of the ongoing climate changes.
He urged the people to plant at least three saplings each around their respective homesteads or on any open space to help maintain environmental and ecological balance and save the region from the wrath of any future natural catastrophe.
All concerned should put in their best effort to make the region green by enhancing forest area. Different government and non-government organizations and individuals including nursery owners and local entrepreneurs have set up 48 stalls on the fairground displaying saplings of over 100 varieties, including 40 indigenous plants of fruit-bearing trees, timber and medicinal trees.
