Authorities must stop deforestation for the sake of our existence

The rate of deforestation in Bangladesh is higher than the global average, with 2.6 per cent of forests being destroyed in the country compared to the global rate of 1.4 per cent from 2000 to 2015. Approximately 2,600 hectares of forestland vanish annually in Bangladesh, including protected forests like the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans, a well-known reserve forest, has experienced a significant decline in both its area and density. Over the past two decades, the number of trees and the density of the forest have decreased, leading to an increase in fallow land. The total forest area in Bangladesh has nearly halved since 1776.

A concerning trend in Bangladesh is the illegal appropriation of forestland by influential individuals and organisations. A report reveals that 160,566 powerful individuals and organisations have encroached upon 257,158 acres of forestland for various purposes such as construction, agriculture, and industrial activities. Protected forests have not been spared either, with people establishing permanent establishments and industries on 820 acres of reserved forest. Additionally, hill excavation continues in violation of environmental conservation laws, resulting in the destruction of hilly forests, loss of biodiversity, and environmental degradation.

The uncontrolled extraction of forest resources has further contributed to the damage to both the resources and biodiversity. The unsustainable practices of resource extraction disregard conservation and reproduction efforts. Overall, Bangladesh faces significant challenges in forest conservation, including high deforestation rates, illegal land grabbing, uncontrolled resource extraction, and the loss of biodiversity. The exploitation of forests for profit without considering sustainable practices poses a threat to the country’s natural resources and ecosystems. Plantation and restoration projects on a small scale may have a big impact on the environment.

Protecting forest and its biodiversity is, in fact, essential for the sake of our existence. People will survive, if forests survive. There is no alternative to forest conservation and protection for a balanced environment and a healthy, good life.