Anisur Rahman Khan :
Experts have linked the depletion of forests and uncontrolled carbon emissions from industries and vehicles to acute climate change, resulting in severe heat waves and untimely rainfall across Bangladesh.
They further articulated that the expansion of industrial establishments and housing projects has contributed to the annual depletion of forests and trees, diminishing greenery in both urban and rural areas.
Concerned authorities have expressed anxiety over the adverse effects of climate change in Bangladesh, citing severe pollution from carbon emissions, increased salinity in southern regions, and the drying up of trans-boundary rivers and internal rivers and canals.
To address these challenges, they recommended planting more trees in cities and other areas and reducing carbon emissions immediately to mitigate the impacts of climate change, including heat waves and heavy rainfall.
In response, the Forests Department has initiated various measures nationwide, including in Dhaka, to promote afforestation and combat heatwaves, droughts, and other natural disasters.
According to departmental data, approximately 600,000 trees are cut down annually, posing a significant threat to forest sustainability. At this rate, forests could vanish within a decade.
In 2010, Bangladesh had 2.22 million hectares of natural forest, covering 16% of its land area. However, by 2023, it had lost 17.8 thousand hectares of natural forest.
According to the UN and FAO, approximately 11.1%, or about 1,442,000 hectares, of Bangladesh are forested, with 30.2% classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest.
Despite efforts to mitigate deforestation, Bangladesh remains a low-forested country, having experienced significant forest loss over the centuries, leaving only about 10% of its original forest cover intact.
Experts further stated that the establishment of protected areas has been considered a tool to battle in densely populated countries like Bangladesh. Since 2000, Bangladesh’s Forest Department has declared about 41 protected areas.
Protected areas have been recognised as a crucial tool to combat deforestation in densely populated countries like Bangladesh.
Since 2000, the Forest Department of Bangladesh has declared approximately 41 protected areas, aiming to preserve vital ecosystems and mitigate deforestation.
Deforestation, defined as the deliberate clearing of forested land, has historically been driven by various factors such as agriculture expansion, animal grazing, and the extraction of wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction.
This widespread practice has significantly altered landscapes worldwide.
In Bangladesh, the forest area was reported at 14.47% in 2021, according to data from the World Bank. Climate experts warn that by 2050, rising sea levels could submerge around 17% of the nation’s landmass, displacing approximately 20 million people.
Notably, the entire land area of Bangladesh is roughly equivalent to the size of Iowa.
The ‘National Action Plan for Combating Desertification’ (2005) identifies several causes of deforestation in Bangladesh, including logging, mining activities, increased salinity and erosion, and traditional jhum cultivation practices.
Green activists emphasise the importance of protected areas, such as national parks and wilderness preserves, as effective measures to prevent deforestation and preserve natural habitats.
The repercussions of deforestation and land degradation downstream in Bangladesh are severe, leading to frequent and heavy flooding and rapid siltation.
The devastating 1998 flood, covering two-thirds of the country with water, stands out as one of the worst in recorded history.
Former Additional Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE), Abdus Sobhan, highlighted the critical role of plants in sustaining life on Earth.
He emphasised and said, “Cutting trees threatens human survival as they serve as a vital source of water and fresh oxygen.
There is an urgent need for responsible action from us to address deforestation and protect the environment for future generations.”
Abdus Sobhan emphasised the issue of musclemen forcefully occupying Bangladesh’s forest areas, urging authorities to reclaim these areas for afforestation projects.
He stressed the necessity for the government to protect forest areas firmly and ensure that those responsible for destroying forests and occupying land are brought to justice.
“We have taken initiative regarding urban forestry, as we already talked with the mayors of Dhaka South and North City Corporations. We are already working in the Purbachal area to establish a park through aforestation.
Wetlands, including ponds in the capital city of Dhaka, won’t be allowed to fill up,” Ajit Kumar Rudra, Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests of the Forests Department, told The New Nation on Saturday.
The initiatives have been taken as per the directives of the higher authority following the ongoing countrywide heatwave, he said, adding that all the major city corporations will be under aforestation after completion in Dhaka as many people live in these cities.
Apart from that, an awareness programme will be launched across the country for aforestation in homes in rural areas too, he said in reply to a query.
He further said, “We are also taking projects for the North Bengal region to build parks and plant trees. We hope people will benefit after the completion the projects.”