Staff Reporter :
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, emphasized the fundamental importance of tree planting during a recent address. She stated that embracing this practice is essential for fostering a healthy and beautiful life.
Highlighting the numerous benefits of trees-such as absorbing excess heat, purifying the air, and cooling the environment.
Syeda Rezwana urged the public to actively participate in planting and caring for trees. She concluded with a call to action, asserting that collective efforts can significantly restore our forests and improve the overall health of our environment.
Environment Advisor made these remarks as the chief guest during the closing ceremony of the National Tree Fair 2024, held at the Forest Department Auditorium on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Additional Secretary (Administration), Chief Conservator of Forests, Deputy Chief Conservator, and representatives of stall owners also spoke at the event.
Addressing the officials of the Forest Department, Rizwana Hasan emphasized the need for afforestation, not commercial timber business.
She highlighted the importance of modernizing forest management and prioritizing sustainable forestry and livelihood development over one-time benefits from social forestry.
She also stressed the need for raising public awareness and engaging the youth in the conservation of forests, the environment, and biodiversity.
At the event, the Advisor distributed prizes among the winners of the tree identification, essay, and drawing competitions held during the fair, as well as among the stall owners.
This year’s National Tree Fair featured 120 stalls, where 3,185,993 saplings were sold, amounting to a total value of BDT 16,28,52,010. Ornamental saplings were the top sellers, followed by timber, fruit-bearing, medicinal, and endangered species saplings.
Earlier in the day, the Environment Advisor visited the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) under the Ministry. At a discussion event there, she called on the officials to play a responsible role in conserving forest resources.