RAJSHAHI: Researchers and development activists stressed the need for protecting eco-friendly trees to conserve biodiversity in the vast Barind tract as they addressed a human chain here, reports BSS.

They called for proper and effective enforcement of the ‘ancient and traditional tree conservation law 2016’ in this regard, adding immediate steps should be taken to stop any transplantation of trees like Eucalyptus and Akashmoni which is harmful for environment.

Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), a collective initiative for participatory research, policy advocacy and campaign, organized the programme at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in the city recently.

Leaders and members of various volunteer organisations like Youth Action for Social Change (YASC), Barind Education and Cultural Diversity Protection Centre (BECDPC) and Save the Nature joined the

function.

Among others, BARCIK Regional Coordinator Shahidul Islam, BECDPC President Jawad Ahmed, YASC President Shamiul Alim and Chairman of Save the Nature Mijanur Rahman addressed.

During the concept paper presentation, Shahidul Islam said students should be provided with proper knowledge about biodiversity, natural resource conservation and climate change issues so that they can contribute in this field.

In the wake of abnormal declining of natural resources like native crop seeds, fish and birds species and other wildlife, conservation of natural resources has become indispensable for facing the adverse impacts of climate change, he said.

Importance should be given to capacity building to address climate change in the region with special reference to conservation of drought tolerant species, he added.