Friday, 9 June, 2023
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Forestation - fitting response to heat wave

Forestation - fitting response to heat wave

The country is reeling under an unbearable heat wave. Pabna’s Ishwardi recorded the highest temperature of the country with 43 degrees Celsius. A severe heat wave is now sweeping over Khulna division and the districts of Dhaka, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Rajshahi and Pabna. Such weather may continue till today, according to Met office. Gradual rise in temperature is being witnessed in almost all districts of the country. Global warming has made heat waves more severe. This is not only true for our country, but also for the entire world.

The phenomenon of increasing temperature adversely affects the environment. It is behind a rise in sea level, leading to the loss of coastal land, a change in precipitation patterns, increased risks of droughts and floods, and threats to biodiversity. At this period when global warming is making heat waves more severe, trees are stationary superheroes. They can lower air temperature especially in city neighbourhoods. They also reduce electricity demand for air conditioning, thereby helping avoid potentially catastrophic power failures during heat waves. Trees are, quite simply, the most effective strategy to guard against heat. They are important in both cities and rural areas.

Regrettably, hundreds of thousands of trees are being cut down in our country each year leading to colossal deforestation. At a time when environmentalists are calling for large-scale forest protection and reforestation to counter the impacts of global warming, the authorities remain unconcerned about indiscriminate felling of trees. It is mandatory to keep a third of a country’s total land area under forest and tree cover, but it is not being done by planting more trees. In most cases, plantations of harmful eucalyptus and other foreign trees are encouraged instead of planting indigenous and environment-friendly fruit-bearing trees. It results not only in loss of forest land but also intensifies global warming-induced heat waves. Allegations are widespread that those involved in deforestation and abuse of the forest areas belong to the powerful segment of society. Corruption of dishonest forest employees and officials is equally widespread. The government must go tough against them showing its determination to formulate an appropriate forestry policy.