Staff Correspondent
Chattogram aims to plant nearly 15 million trees over the next five years as part of a nationwide afforestation programme to combat climate change and environmental degradation, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian said on Saturday.
The target forms part of the government’s initiative to plant 250 million trees across the country over the next five years.
Speaking at the launch of a tree plantation programme along the Karnaphuli embankment in Karnaphuli upazila, the DC said tree planting was essential to protecting the environment, but stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on proper maintenance of the saplings.
“We have already begun planting 70,000 trees. Around 2.5 million saplings will be planted across Chattogram this year, and nearly 15 million over the next five years,” he said.
The programme was inaugurated with the planting of a Sonalu sapling at the Chadgaon section of the embankment.
A total of 1,200 saplings of 19 species were planted on about 1.5 acres of land under the initiative. The species include Sonalu, Jarul, Krishnachura, Radhachura, Bokul, Palash, Mahua, Arjun, Amloki, Olive, Hijal, Bahera, and Mahogany.
Zahidul Islam said environmental degradation caused by human activities had increased the urgency of large-scale afforestation efforts.
“Earth is the only habitable planet for humanity. The trees we plant today can significantly reduce environmental risks in the future if they are properly cared for,” he said.
According to the district administration, nearly 1.8 million of the 2.5 million saplings planned for this year will be planted under different forest divisions. The Chattogram North Forest Division will plant 750,000 saplings, the South Forest Division 834,500, and the Coastal Forest Division 232,500.
The Chattogram Botanical Garden will plant another 15,289 saplings.
In addition, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and the Forest Department will jointly plant around 16,000 trees along both sides of the Karnaphuli embankment road.
The DC said all saplings selected for the programme were at least five feet tall, and measures would be taken to protect them from damage by grazing animals.
Recalling the Covid-19 pandemic, he urged residents to take ownership of the initiative.
“We realised the value of oxygen during the pandemic. Every citizen should care for these trees as if they were their own,” he said.
Among those present were Divisional Forest Officer of Chattogram North Forest Division Mohammad Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer of Chattogram South Forest Division Mohammad Sohel Rana, Divisional Forest Officer of the Coastal Forest Division M A Hasan, and CDA Executive Engineer and Project Director Rajib Das.
