Dwindling forest cover

According to a Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report less than eight per cent of the country’s surface area is covered by forest which is one of the lowest in the world. Even more alarmingly even the current forest cover in Bangladesh is coming down at an alarming rate. We have reasons to believe that the country will run out of forests within the next few decades if deforestation continues at the current rate. Indiscriminate felling of trees combined with unenforced environmental legislations and pressures of a growing population results in the loss of 2,000 hectares of forest per year.  

This has led to predictable consequences with the country facing impending environmental disasters. The already fragile ecological balance will be further threatened if the phenomenon is not checked. The vulnerability of coastal areas in Bangladesh to cyclones and sea-level rise is also increasing. The forests play a key role in our battle in adapting to and mitigating climate change while also contributing to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the air. Bangladesh is also facing a shortage of water because rains are not that frequent as they were previously, and this is because of the rapid deforestation in the country. Deforestation has caused many floods resulting in the loss of human lives as well as properties and wildlife.

The time to act is now. There is urgent need to develop massive forestation programmes for restoring ecological balance and maintaining bio-diversity. Large scale tree plantation and social forestation can prevent soil erosion, act as windbreaks and stabilise the climate.  Both the GOs and NGOs should work together in the field. Some NGOs have shown remarkable success in the field but such isolated efforts can hardly be a substitute for a concentrated effort to check the menace of rapidly declining forest cover. We believe that the concerned departments are not doing enough in raising awareness about the issue. The media too is not giving the phenomenon the importance it deserves.

There is a need for revolutionary steps to increase the forest cover across the country. We hardly hear of people involved in the nefarious activities being brought to justice and given exemplary punishment. It goes without saying that planting trees is of little use if these are not protected. Protection and conservation of existing forest lands is of utmost importance. The local communities–with their indigenous knowledge about the flora–should be made partners in such activities as they are the major stake holders.

 

Dwindling forest cover

According to a Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report less than eight per cent of the countrys surface area is covered by forest which is one of the lowest in the world. Even more alarmingly even the current forest cover in Bangladesh is coming down at an alarming rate. We have reasons to believe that the country will run out of forests within the next few decades if deforestation continues at the current rate. Indiscriminate felling of trees combined with unenforced environmental legislations and pressures of a growing population results in the loss of 2,000 hectares of forest per year. This has led to predictable consequences with the country facing impending environmental disasters. The already fragile ecological balance will be further threatened if the phenomenon is not checked. The vulnerability of coastal areas in Bangladesh to cyclones and sea-level rise is also increasing. The forests play a key role in our battle in adapting to and mitigating climate change while also contributing to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the air. Bangladesh is also facing a shortage of water because rains are not that frequent as they were previously, and this is because of the rapid deforestation in the country. Deforestation has caused many floods resulting in the loss of human lives as well as properties and wildlife. The time to act is now. There is urgent need to develop massive forestation programmes for restoring ecological balance and maintaining bio-diversity. Large scale tree plantation and social forestation can prevent soil erosion, act as windbreaks and stabilise the climate. Both the GOs and NGOs should work together in the field. Some NGOs have shown remarkable success in the field but such isolated efforts can hardly be a substitute for a concentrated effort to check the menace of rapidly declining forest cover. We believe that the concerned departments are not doing enough in raising awareness about the issue. The media too is not giving the phenomenon the importance it deserves. There is a need for revolutionary steps to increase the forest cover across the country. We hardly hear of people involved in the nefarious activities being brought to justice and given exemplary punishment. It goes without saying that planting trees is of little use if these are not protected. Protection and conservation of existing forest lands is of utmost importance. The local communitieswith their indigenous knowledge about the florashould be made partners in such activities as they are the major stake holders.