There is no alternative to improving the degrading environment following climate change impacts to ensure global food security for the growing population through producing more crops, speakers said here yesterday, reports BSS from Panchagarh. They put special emphasis on creating mass public awareness to prevent environmental degradation that continues due to adverse impacts of climate change for saving the planet from unthinkable natural and manmade catastrophes. They were addressing a post-rally discussion organised by the district administration at Shilpokola Academy auditorium here in observance of the World Environmental Day-2015 with theme “Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care”.
Panchagarh unit of RDRS Bangladesh assisted in observing the day under the Improving Food Security Governance in South & Southeast Asia through Strengthened Participation of Organisations of Marginalised Farmers Regional Project. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salah Uddin led a colorful rally to begin observance of the day as the chief guest and also launched the tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling in the sub-Himalayan district town. Later, the government and NGO officials, executives and activists, environmentalists, public representatives, students and teachers, professionals, civil society members, socio-cultural activists and elite participated in the rally that paraded the local streets.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Shamsul Azam addressed the post-rally discussion as the chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mahmudul Hassan in the chair. Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Laila Muntejari Deena, Programme Manager (Filed Coordination) of RDRS Bangladesh for Panchagarh Hasina Parveen and its Agriculture Officer of the Food Security Governance Project Masud Parvez addressed as special guests.
The speakers expressed concern over environmental degradation and stressed for massive tree plantation, stopping indiscriminate tree felling and reducing emission of green house gases for improving environment to ensure a safer planet.
There is no alternative to taking necessary steps without further delay, especially by the responsible industrially developed nations, to adapt with the adverse impacts of climate change to save the environment, agriculture, ecology and bio-diversity, they said.
They said environmental degradation has created severe threat to the civilisation and urged for creating awareness among all citizens and going for massive tree plantation to improve the situation for saving the planet and habitation.