The government has planted 22,268,000 trees across the country in the first six months in office, achieving around 43.25% of its annual target of 51,488,930 saplings.
A total of 11 government agencies, including the forest department and various ministries and divisions, carried out the plantation programme, according to government data.
The figures were compiled as part of the government’s assessment of its achievements during its first six months in office. The review also covers the implementation of pledges made in the election manifesto.
The BNP formed the government on 17 February. On 13 June, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the nationwide 25-crore-tree plantation programme by planting a garjan sapling in a reserved forest in Cox’s Bazar.
Earlier, on 16 March, he inaugurated a programme to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals and water bodies in Dinajpur. The programme also includes planting trees alongside canals.
At the time, he urged people to plant at least one tree wherever possible, saying this would help ensure that “your child can breathe freely in a beautiful environment”.
Forest dept leads plantation
The forest department planted the highest number of trees, 11,928,442 in the first six months, against an annual target of 3.5 crore trees. The local government division ranked second, planting 7,164,135 trees against an annual target of 10,259,760.
Other agencies planted 1,837,729 trees through the agriculture ministry; 375,375 through the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation; 288,067 through the Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry; and 285,994 through the road transport and highways division.
The disaster management ministry planted 271,121 trees, while the water resources ministry planted 29,557, the housing and public works ministry 74,411, the bridges division 9,403, and the railways ministry 3,766.
Mohammad Saimum Parvez, special assistant to the prime minister for environment, forests and climate change and head of the five-year programme to plant trees, told TBS that various government agencies had planted around 2.5 crore trees over the past six months.
However, this figure is inconsistent with the government’s agency-wise data, which totals 22,268,000 trees. According to NGO Affairs Bureau figures, around 40 lakh additional trees had been planted through NGO initiatives.
“Under a project, another 2 crore mangrove saplings will be planted by August-September,” he said.
Tree species tailored to local conditions
The government has selected tree species based on the geography, soil and environmental conditions of different regions.
For upper hill slopes in Chattogram, the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar, priority species include garjan, gamari, champa, chikrashi, teak, telsur, uriam, amloki, kanak, dharmara and bamboo.
Middle slopes and foothills will feature garjan, gamari, kalakoroi, chapalish, shilkoroi, teak, telsur, champa, shimul, chatian, jarul, dhakijam, pitraj, lohakath, haritaki, amloki, bael, arjun, bamboo and cane.
Low-lying hills and wetlands will be planted with putijam, dhepajam, kalajam, pitali, fig, shimul, kalakoroi, mandar, hijal, banyan, peepal, jiga, kanchan, bamboo, cane and kadam.
For newly emerged coastal chars and mangroves, selected species include keora, bain, kakra, garan and golpata. Elevated coastal chars will feature babla, jhau, sonbalai, sadakoroi, kalakoroi, jarul and rain tree.
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