Govt to preserve forests for future

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that her government will preserve forests for the next generation at any cost.
“We have to preserve the forests for the future generation at any cost,” Hasina said inaugurating the three-month-long National Tree Plantation Movement and one-month-long Tree Fair 2010 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
She warned of tough and stern action against those who fell trees even if they belong to the ruling party. She directed the concerned officials to take prompt measurers in this regard.
“We did not spare anyone involved in cutting trees illegally. We never looked at their face before taking action,” Hasina said.
The premier said her government will demarcate the boundaries of all forests and declare all the proposed forests as 'Reserve Forest'.
She directed the authorities concerned to record all forests in the name of the Forest Department and take effective measures to preserve all forests and forestlands.
Hasina alleged that the previous government had destroyed the green belt of the coastal areas, which ultimately affected the country and its people.
Hasina said her government would create green belts on the embankments and on the riverbanks after completing the mega-dredging project.
The premier said trees are friends of mankind--part and parcel of their life. The role of trees is important for poverty alleviation, employment creation, economic development and environment preservation.
The government has taken a Tk 109 crore project for poverty alleviation through social forestation, she said.
She noted that the whole world is in a great danger due to the climate change but Bangladesh is the worst affected although it has an insignificant role for the climate change.
Hasina also mentioned that her government has allocated Tk 700 crore to create a Climate Change Trust Fund. “Tk 54 crore has been allocated from the Fund for four projects on forestation and social forestation,” she said.
The premier informed that to protect and develop the wild life, the present government has already set up 'Bangabanhu Safari Park' at a cost of Tk 64 crore at Shalban in Gazipur district.
She said her government has taken a programme, titled 'Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation', to save natural forests and for the first time a programme on 'Clean Development Management' for conservation of biodiversity, and its development.
Hasina asked the authorities concerned to increase the country's forest area to 25 percent, which is now a mere 10 percent.
She also urged the people's representatives to come forward for forestation across the country.
The theme for this year's Tree Plantation Movement is 'Green city, green country to change Bangladesh'.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina distributed 'Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation' among three recipients for their significant contributions in the conservation of wild life.
She also distributed the 'Prime Minister's National Award for Tree Plantation' among 16 recipients.
Forest Department of the Ministry of Forest and Environment organised both the programmes. State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud presided over the inaugural session where Forest and Environment Secretary Mihir Kanti Majumder also spoke.