Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to take necessary steps to stop deforestation and evict illegal forest occupants to protect the environment.

The directive was given at the first session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Wednesday.

He said the deputy commissioners will take necessary steps to stop the cutting of hills and cutting down of trees for the protection of environment.

“We have sought their cooperation in closing down illegal brickfields and so that no illegal occupants can occupy the forest,” he said.

The environment minister further said, “An official letter has already been issued to the deputy commissioners to recover the occupied forest land. There is full information about the amount of land occupied in any area.”

“The target is to use 100 percent blocks instead of bricks in government installations by 2025.I also told them about animal conservation and biodiversity. The DCs’ cooperation is needed in all cases.  So, we have sought their overall cooperation,” he said.      Regarding the directives given to the Deputy Commissioners to protect the forest land, the minister said, “Our target is to build 16 percent forest land by 2030.”

“To achieve SDG, we have to show 16 percent forest coverage. We have sought the cooperation of DCs for 16 percent afforestation. At present, 14.1 percent is forest. In the case of social forestry, we are above 22 percent,” he added.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change HabibunNahar, Secretary MdMostafa Kamal, Director General of Environment Department Md Ashraf Uddin and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir HossainChowdhury were present on the occasion.