Extensive tree plantation can reduce carbon emission

Massive tree plantation can help reduce carbon emission at a substantial level and that is very important to protect ecological balance, speakers at a discussion said here Saturday.
They viewed that there is no alternative to creating more forest area to address the adverse impacts of climate change caused by global warming.
They were addressing the closing session of a fortnight-long Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair-2014 held at the Green Plaza of City Bhaban in Rajshahi.
Social Forestry Division (SFD) and Office of the Deputy Commissioner jointly organized the campaign with a call to make the tree plantation campaign a social movement.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed addressed the session as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury in the chair.
In his welcome speech, Divisional Forest Officer Azit Kumar Rudra gave an overview of the tree fair and revealed the achievements of forestry activities in the region.
Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Nurul Amin, Chief Engineer of Rajshahi City Corporation Ashraful Haque, Divisional Wildlife Management Officer Rejaul Karim Mollah and Director of Forestry and Technology Institute Subedar Islam also spoke.
The speakers said optimum afforestation could help stop degradation of environment and biodiversity making the country a safe habitat for all.
Expanding the country’s forest area by up to 25 percent of the total landscape will protect Bangladesh from the possible alarming consequences of the ongoing climate changes, they added.
All people irrespective of age, sex, creed and cast to plant at least three saplings 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 natural catastrophe.
The state minister said there is no alternative to planting more saplings to protect the ecological balance, after facing the adverse effect of Farakka barrage in the region. He asked all concerned to put in their best efforts to make the region green by increasing the forest area.
Different government and non-government organizations and individuals including nursery owners and local entrepreneurs had set up 50 stalls on the fair ground displaying saplings of over 100 varieties, including 40 indigenous plants of fruit-bearing timber and medicinal trees.
The speakers expressed the satisfaction over sale proceeds worth Taka 12 lakh in the fair.