Eco-restoration
What is a
pre-requisite
for a successful eco-project is that – its
importance will have to be
comprehended
by the local
populace
collectively
to the core
The department of social forestry is implementing an Eco-restoration project under the banner Eco-Restoration of the Northern Region of Bangladesh covering all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Though, the projects main thrust is to prevent desertification in the countrys northwest region besides conserving biodiversity and surrounding environment through massive tree-sapling transplantation, but it is also designed to promote uses of surface water in order to reduce mounting pressure on groundwater through excavating and re-excavating of derelict ponds and other water bodies.
The world have evolved into a global village where pollution, disasters, diseases have spread to a maximum range. In the midst of a growing chaos, it is more than necessary to preserve the earth and living things that consists our natural environment. However, the major concern our country is facing today can be directly related to cutting down huge number of trees indiscriminately, exhausting natural water reserves to maximum exploitation of natural resources etc. The only way to deal with environmental repercussions is through implementing more and more Eco-projects of various sizes throughout the entire country.
Recycling in this regard, can also be a meaningful activity through which instead of dumping more waste, the used material can be reused over and over again. Recycling is also a smart and efficient way of using resources.
Nevertheless, the Rajshahi Eco-scheme includes a provision to increase tree coverage for biodiversity conservation while restoring wildlife habitat. The beneficial afforestation activities will encourage many people in planting enough saplings of wood, medicinal and fruit- bearing plants at homesteads, roadsides, office premises, embankments, forest areas, religious institutions premises and other places. Moreover such big-scale tree-sapling project is likely to create sustainable employment opportunities for poor women, destitute and unemployed segments of the society.
What is a pre-requisite for a successful eco-project is that its importance will have to be comprehended by the local populace collectively to the core - having said that, millions of saplings planted will have to be nurtured properly - in order to attain the long term goal of the project. One of the main reasons our forestation programmes fail is because saplings are rarely monitored and taken care of after being planted. Most of them are uprooted for quick and small monetary gains. This detrimental trend will have to be stopped. Moreover, the scheme will economically impact, only if greater number of small and marginal farmers attains economic emancipation through a participatory engagement.
