A 15-day tree fair and tree plantation campaign in Khulna division is gaining momentum at Khulna Circuit House ground. A large number of tree lovers thronged the tree fair on Wednesday with the nursery owners turning the fair ground into a fiesta of different local and foreign varieties. Short varieties of plants, especially early fruiting saplings are the most desirable by the urban planters and gardeners as those are suitable for gardening.

Being an overpopulated country, Bangladesh is facing an acute shortage of agricultural lands due to construction of dwelling houses, setting up of industries and unplanned urbanization. Acreage of forest lands is also showing a declining trend every year. Obviously, the importance of forest resources of a country is immense for maintaining the balance of nature, environment, ecology and biodiversity. It is worrying to note that forests cover only seven per cent of the total lands of the country. For the sake of environment forest areas should be 30 per cent of the total lands of a country. Unfortunately, we do not have that. And the trees that protect environment are being cut down mindlessly.    

The past few years witnessed agonizingly a spree of looting valuable trees in the country through forming a nexus of dishonest forest officials and employees, members of the law enforcement agencies and timber traders.   Scores of saw mills have sprung up in different places of the country without valid documents. The illegal timber traders and their cohorts made quick bucks dealing a serious blow to the environment.  Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world that the country can take pride in, has also fallen prey to the vicious claws of the timber bandits.  

Trees are also being burnt in brick kilns indiscriminately for burning bricks despite the ban on the use of the same. A section of owners of brick fields are engaged in this malpractice. If the present trend of widespread destruction of trees goes on in the country, it will leave a serious impact on the environment, ecology and biodiversity of the country. Concerted efforts of all to augment afforestation in the country are the need of the hour.  

There is no alternative to tree plantation for our survival. Students of schools, colleges and universities should be involved in tree plantation in a massive way. Organising tree fair from the district town to the upazila level can create awareness among people about tree plantation. Department of Agriculture Extension can play a vital role in this regard.