A vast-deep forest is flourishing on the remote Char land (shoal) of Padma River under Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila under ‘Preservation of Bio-diversity and Poverty Alleviation’ project, undertaken by Social Forestry Department of Rajshahi.
The forest which includes more than 125,000 trees of at least 150 varieties is a unique example of man-made deep forest. Most of the trees planted in the forest have already surpassed the height of 30 feet on an average.
Due to the density of the trees most parts of the forest have already become inaccessible. The forest is supposed to play a vital role in preserving environmental balance of the Char areas surrounding the Padma River.
The work of developing the forest is being implemented by the joint venture of local beneficiary, owner of the land, district administration, department of forestry and the Tree Plantation Fund.
According to the Rajshahi Divisional Forest Official sources, the project of creating a deep forest covering 675 Bigha (90 hectors) of land on Char areas of Faradpur on Padma River was undertaken in 2010-2011 at a cost of Tk 10.6 million to retain environmental balance of the area.
Then, over 125,000 saplings of 150 indigenous varieties including Akashmoni, Shishu, Cotton wood, Jarul, Jamrul, Black berry, Eucalyptus, Mahogony, Mango, Arjun, Chikbashi, Acasia( babla), Date, Plum were planted there.
At the centre of the block, 7,000 catechu plants were planted to retain natural balance and biodiversity of the area. Moreover, there are 30,000 date palm trees in the forest to protect the area.
In addition to planting the saplings, about 250,000 saplings of various trees have been kept preserved in a nursery set on the Char land itself, which will be transplanted soon with the availability of fund.
Paying a visit to this newly emerging forest recently, this correspondent noticed a huge number of birds, wild animals including wild cat, fish eating tiger, squirrel, mongoose, jackal, wild dogs and various species of snakes including Python roaming freely inside the forest.
However, local farmers complained that taking the opportunity of the lack of sufficient forest guards, surveillance of the Department of Forestry, greedy miscreants are hunting down migratory birds from the forest. Besides, anti-social, gamblers and drug addicts take safe shelter at the forest during the night.
Allam Hossain, President of Faradpur Social Forestry Committee informed, seven volunteers are currently working to guard the forest. He himself spends most of his time inside the forest, he added.
Mentioning that it feels utterly insecure at night to stay inside such a vast forest that takes 4.5 hours to travel on feet, he demanded, the government to set up several solar panels at the forest guard’s cottage so that they can get light there.
Rajshahi Divisional Forest Official sources in this connection said, there are no permanent, trained staff to guard the forest but permanent staff will be appointed soon. The sources further said, the forest should be declared as a sanctuary for wild animals and birds by releasing wild animals there.
However, the newly developed forest is now faced with the threat of erosion. A kilometer long dyke across the river on both sides of the forest would ensure permanent survival of the forest, which is likely to draw a huge number of visitors soon.
During last monsoon, water level of the Padma crossing the danger line caused severe damage to many trees of the forest. Hopefully the loss caused due to flooding will be recovered within a year or two and this forest will be declared as an Eco Park by opening it for all, added Alam Hossain.
Alam also requested the concerned authorities of Water Development Board to conduct a survey on the dry river bed there and build a cross dam or dyke there to ensure survivability of the forest.