Trishal getting greener

In Mymensingh's Trishal upazila it seems everybody's favourite colour is green. A tree-planting initiative has garnered broad local support and with its success arise hopes it can serve as a model for other parts of the country.

Under the Green Trishal initiative led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Jafar Ripon, which began last year, three lakh saplings have been distributed to the 290 primary to college level educational institutions in the upazila's twelve unions. The approximately 11,000 students involved were asked to plant and nurture the trees: a task they have embraced as readily as a duck takes to water.

“I was given four saplings,” says Farhana Yeasmin, a class-ten student of Islami Academy in Trishal. “I'm nursing them with care. I'm really happy to be taking part.”

“We are impressed with the children's excitement in tending their plants,” says Abul Hossain, father of class-seven student Aqib Faysal from the same academy. “We are doing what we can to support them in ensuring the trees prosper.”

After consultation with school and college administrators and relying on finances from the local government support fund, the environment programme was inaugurated last April, with 20,000 students initially involved. The initiative was expanded, with trees, including of timber, fruit and medicinal species, provided to all schools and colleges.

Uniquely, self-styled “What about your tree?” health cards have also been distributed, requiring students to report back on the latest condition of their saplings.

“The use of health cards is a first for the country,” says Ripon, understandably proud of the programme. “We are getting monthly reports to indicate around ninety percent of the trees are growing well.” An upazila administration team has been assigned to monitor progress.

The upazila administration also plans to award students for the best tree-nurturing results.

It is not the first time that Trishal's innovative upazila nirbahi officer has engaged in promoting the environment. “When I was posted in Netrakona's Barhatta I also ran tree plantation and cleanliness drives,” he says, “to make the upazila a better place to live.”

In recognition of the accompanying use of social media to foster support for the programme Ripon has been named best upazila nirbahi officer nationally by the Prime Minister's Office in the social media category. He was also awarded for innovation by the divisional innovation circle on 19 November last year and similarly the following month by the Department of Agriculture Extension.

“We have received a lot of inquiries about the programme from interested organisations, both government and non-government,” says Ripon. “Many are thinking to implement similar schemes in their areas.”

Perhaps most importantly, the Green Trishal programme has worked to engender in the students a sense of responsibility for the environment. “By planting trees right from childhood,” opines Ripon, “our children can develop an awareness of the need to care for the environment in order to enrich it with greenery and ultimately provide protection from natural disasters as well.”