Each year, a different city is chosen as the principal venue for the global celebration of World Environment Day. The host government and/or city, in cooperation with UNEP, set the tone for the event. A theme, slogan and logo are selected to be the focus for all WED information materials and promotional activities worldwide.

The theme of this year's observance of World Environment Day, "Don't Desert Dry lands!", reminds us all, in the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, of the importance of caring for the world's vast areas of arid and semiarid land. Algeria is the host of the central international program this year. The logo or theme picture of WED 2006 is given below.

Dry lands, found in all regions, cover more than 40 per cent of the Earth and are home to nearly 2 billion people -one-third of the world's population. For most dry land dwellers, life is hard and the future often precarious. They live on the ecological, economic and social margins. It is essential that we do not neglect them or the fragile habitats on which they depend. Across the planet, poverty, unsustainable land management and climate change are turning dry lands into deserts, and desertification in turn exacerbates and leads to poverty.

Interest in WED is growing each year, as evidenced by the number of countries which lend their support to this important United Nations Day, by the expanding list of municipalities, businesses and communities that participate, and by the hundreds of thousands of individuals who visit UNEP's WED web site.

Relevance to Bangladesh
Is Bangladesh a dry land? The answer would be a clear 'no' because everybody knows that most of Bangladesh is plain land having alluvial fertile soil receiving a good precipitation. But wait a bit! Bangladesh is located roughly between 20-26º north latitude and the Tropic of Cancer (at 23.5º north latitude) runs over Kushtia, Dhaka and Comilla, i.e., along the very middle of the country. It may be mentioned here that along both the Tropics (of Cancer and of Capricorn), usually there lies a high pressure belt where most of the deserts of the world are situated.

Bangladesh is not a desert because we have the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean nearby and that creates the monsoon climate. Besides, we have the Himalayas on the north that block the clouds from flying to the north and, thus, cause relief rain here. The river water flow from the north via Bangladesh adds to our fortune.

But we should not be complacent that Bangladesh would never face desertification. We know that due to continued decreased water flow from upstream, the entire Rajshahi Division and the upper western part of Khulna Division are facing desertification. So the theme of WED 2006 is not irrelevant to our present situation and may be more relevant during the years to come.

Celebrating the event
The UNEP devised 77 ways of celebrating the WED. Tree plantation, street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, debates, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns, drawing environmental pictures etc. are among some very effective ways. As found in the UNEP website, Bangladesh will arrange a single event in Satkhira. The event is a students' community knowledge sharing workshop organized by the Amader Gram (Our Village) Project. The project will also arrange a painting competition among schools of remote villages. In addition, a poster will be published with the message of the day.

Many countries will celebrate the day more befittingly. India will arrange over 10 large events. West Bengal alone will organise at least three major events. These are- 1. A workshop on the theme 'Deserts and Desertification', as well as a film show on the environment to make the general public aware of environmental issues. A colourful rally and a sit and draw competition for school children will also be part of the program. These programs will be arranged by the Lokamata Rani Rashmoni Mission. 2. The Centre for Ecological Engineering will organize a series of lectures and slide shows for the school children. An eco-painting competition will be held on the same day. The slogan is "Green is our Future Color - Paint the World with Green". 3. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Foundation will organize an awareness camp at the city (Kolkata) centre salt lake to promote the World Environment Day theme. The slogan emphasizes the importance of protecting dry lands, which cover more than 40% of the planet's surface. Volunteers will distribute leaflets and badges to the people from all walks of life.

I don't think our benevolent government and especially the Department of Environment would not do something more. Perhaps the UNEP is yet to know our programs other than that to be arranged in Satkhira.

Planting the right kind of trees
Bangladesh government inaugurates the tree plantation season on the very first day of June every year. The tree fairs are arranged all over the country. So tree plantation is receiving due importance. But there is a major mistake in channelizing our efforts in selecting the best suited plants. We plant banyan saplings in road islands and make acacia jungles by the sides of national highways.

I underwent a tree plantation training for two weeks in 1987. Dr. Enamul Huq (who retired later as the DG of the Agricultural Extension) of Agricultural Extension trained us in various ways to identify, select and plant the best trees. Before that training I did not recognise plants like acacia, Babla, eucalyptus, Epil-epil, cedar, mahogany, redwood etc. though I knew the names of those. Dr. Huq took us to several places and showed the trees by the side of roads near Sonargaon. He also explained why Babla, Indian lilac (Jarul) and black berry could be planted on the rear low of the road sides, while jackfruit, teak, redwood etc. should be planted on the highest ebb. The reason lies in the fact that the former plants can withstand water and marshy situation, while the latter types cannot.

Besides the substrate, tree varieties should also be chosen based on the timber value, fruits and shades. The contribution to the ecosystem should also be considered. Eucalyptus looks very nice, but its timber is worthless. Besides it takes in much water and makes the soil more arid. So this plant is suitable only for the water-logged areas. Acacia usually does not have a straight shoot and the quality of timber is also not good. Better timber trees are wood-oil tree (Gorjan), teak, mahogany, redwood, etc., while jackfruit, mango and black berry are good for both fruit and timber. Banyan etc. should be planted for shade as well as to provide shelters for birds and other animals.

Taking a case study of the Dhaka Eastern by-pass road, I wrote an article (Suitable trees for national highways) that was published on August 12 2005 in DS. But as ill luck would have it, the Forest Department has created an acacia jungle by the sides; besides the plantation seems unplanned and only one/two rows of trees have been planted, though there was scope of planting at least three rows on the either side. The concerned authorities should bear in mind that we can't afford unplanned plantation; instead we must make the best use of our land that is scanty.

Abdus Sattar Molla is a Specialist, National Curriculum & Textbook Board, Dhaka.