Ecology under threat in Jhalakathi

Planting trees only for wood, ignoring fruit and medicinal ones, is a great threat to the ecological system as the number of animals and birds is decreasing rapidly for want of food.  

More and more wood trees are being planted every year in the district while very few fruit trees are planted. People are interested in planting such trees due to the financial gain they will make when the trees are fully grown.

The reporter talked to at least 50 people who planted around 200 trees individually this year. Of them, only one planted five fruit trees.

“I planted only two hog plum plants while planting two hundred mahogany trees,” said Masud of Kaibortokhali in Rajapur.

“I never thought of planting fruit or medicinal trees, while I plant many wood trees every year, including rain tree, mahogany and chambol, which will bring cash after 30 years,” said Nurul Alam of Nalbunia under Nalchity.

“I sell around 3,000 mahogany plants on market day, but only 25 to 50 fruit trees and no medicine plants,” said Abus Salam of Bagri Bazar in Rajapur. 

“It is surprising to me that people of the area are cutting fruit trees for planting woody plants,” said Abu Bakar Siddik, deputy director of agriculture in Jhalakathi.

It takes 20 to 24 years for a wood tree to be ready for sale, while it takes two to three years to produce fruits after plantation. People plant such trees on roads, homesteads, and even agricultural land, he added.

“Mahogany trees are a threat to the ecological diversity of the area, affecting humans, birds and animals,” said Suvroto Kumar Das, chairman of the Department of Botany of Barisal University.

“About fifty species of fruit trees have disappeared from the areas in the last three decades due to mahogany trees. People should plant more fruit and medicine trees to keep the ecological balance,” he added.   

“Fish are also badly affected by the mahogany leaves that fall into the water and spoil it,” said Protish Kumar Mallik, deputy director of fisheries in Jhalakathi. 

“We have started planting fruit and medicinal plants on the roadsides,” said Sayeed Nazrul Islam, the district forest officer.