Nearly 70% of govt tree plantation target met in first seven months

The government has met nearly 70% of its yearly tree plantation target in only seven months of coming to power, officials said at a progress review meeting on Wednesday.

In the election pledge, the ruling BNP pledged to plant 25 crore trees in its five-year term, and plant 5.15 crore saplings each year.

To review implementation progress, the cell formed in this regard held its fifth meeting in the afternoon at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Wednesday.

Nazrul Islam Khan, political adviser to the prime minister and chairman of the Tree-Planting Cell, presided over the meeting.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Md Saimum Parvez attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the tree-planting program and discussed post-planting care, monitoring the survival rate of saplings, and plans for creating green employment opportunities.

In his address, Nazrul Islam Khan said tree planting is not merely a program but a social movement. He stressed the need to further increase public participation to make the movement successful.

He said the Prime Minister gives tree saplings as gifts alongside awards and honors and encourages everyone to participate in tree-planting activities. He called upon all concerned to work together to make the program successful.

He also warned that no irregularities or misconduct in the tree-planting program would be tolerated.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said some saplings would naturally die, and all ministries must take this into account when preparing their plans for the next four years.

He instructed the Forest Department to increase its nursery capacity. He also said tree species would be selected for planting based on their suitability to specific districts and their economic value.

State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam said the survival rate of planted trees could be increased by considering weather conditions and land characteristics when selecting tree species and planting sites.

Based on these considerations, he said 2 crore keora saplings would be planted in coastal areas during December and January.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Md Saimum Parvez said proper care and protection of planted saplings, necessary replanting, and ensuring their survival rates must be prioritized.

He said specific measures for post-planting management and monitoring should be incorporated into the action plan for the next four years. He also instructed all ministries to preserve information on the locations where trees are planted.

According to the progress report prepared for presentation at the meeting, approximately 3 crore 57 lakh saplings were planted between 17 February, the day the government assumed office, and 15 September.

Against the target of planting approximately 5 crore 15 lakh saplings this year, the progress stands at 69.36%.

According to information submitted in the prescribed format by 11 departments, approximately 3 crore 4 lakh saplings were planted through those departments, while another 52 lakh 93 thousand saplings were planted through other organizations.

Various government and private organizations are also planting trees through their own initiatives, and information on those activities is being collected as well.

The report noted that six departments have already achieved their respective tree-planting targets.

The Forest Department has also planned to plant another 2 crore mangrove saplings in coastal areas during December and January. If implemented, the initiative will make significant progress toward achieving the overall target for the current year.

To ensure regular monitoring of the program, the meeting decided that information would continue to be collected every 15 days from the relevant ministries, divisions, and agencies using a prescribed format.

The meeting also emphasized the need to collect information on tree-planting activities carried out by private development organizations, educational institutions, and industry associations under the same framework and prepare a consolidated record.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the “One Tree One Child” initiative aimed at involving students in tree planting.

Under the five-year plans of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, the respective targets are to plant 6 crore 15 lakh, 5 crore 4 lakh, and 2 crore 15 lakh saplings.