Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Monday said the country's green coverage is increasing constantly due to various effective initiatives of the Forest Department taken under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said this while addressing a discussion organised by the Forest Department, at Ban Bhaban here, marking International Forest Day 2022.
The theme of the day was: "Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption". Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said Bangladesh will be successful in forest conservation and development if people from all strata work together to ensure a sustainable environment.
To this end, he said, cooperation of public representatives, forest-dependent people, small ethnic groups living in the forest, media personnel and all concerned is absolutely necessary. The forest minister said according to the Forest Survey 2015-2019, the amount of the country's green coverage was 22.37 per cent of its total area, which has already increased significantly.
He said more trees must be planted to meet the basic needs of the fauna. "In addition to ensuring the conservation of the forests, we need to plant trees in fallow land," he added. Shahab Uddin said the degraded and marginalised land would have to be brought under aforestation through social schemes by the Forest Department. He directed the officials and employees of the Forest Department to work with patriotism and dedication in forest protection.
The forest minister said necessary measures, including filling up of vacancies, would be taken to increase the capacity of the department.
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary of the ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Chairman of Prokriti O Jibon Foundation Mukit Majumder Babu, among others, spoke at the function with Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury in the chair.
Vice-Chancellor of Independent University Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan and Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests and Project Director of SUFAL Project Gobinda Roy made a presentation on the theme.
The minister distributed cheques of Taka 1.5 million among 10 beneficiaries of social forestry. He also visited the exhibition of photographs on wildlife at the event.