The tree is our best friend. We survive by taking in oxygen made from plants. The beauty of flowers makes the mind happy. Fruits provide nutrition to people. The tree gives us shade. The useless tree also benefits people as fuel. Trees and their fruits are used as various components of industry. Despite the immense importance of trees, the condition of our forests today is depressing. The famous Sundarbans is our pride. But now the beauty of the Sundarbans is gone. Bhawal's Shal-Gazari forest is on the verge of destruction. The condition of the forests of Madhupur and Sylhet is also not good. The condition of forests in the hilly districts is not unknown to anyone. As a result of deforestation, landslides and river erosion are constantly happening, houses are being destroyed and people are losing their lives. In this way, Bangladesh has lost its traditional form.
In order to save the lives of millions of Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine state, they have taken refuge in Bangladesh, entered the hilly forests, destroyed forests and built houses. It is unimaginable how much they are cutting down trees for fuel and livelihood. So the condition of the hilly forest of Chittagong is also miserable. Climate experts say it is important for a country to have a quarter of its forest area in order to maintain its natural balance. We have only 12-15 percent forest land. In the current reality, its amount is also decreasing. For this reason, various natural disasters are our constant companions. Now the matter needs to be seriously considered. Otherwise, natural disasters may increase in the country at some point, which is a huge threat to our national life.
In this context, some steps should be taken to encourage people to plant trees. The tree planting movement can be fruitful if the Upazila Agriculture Department provides all technical assistance and guidance including soil pH, copying capacity, nitrogen supply capacity, moisture and drought tolerance, fire tolerance, salt tolerance, tree selection in regions, planting methods, care, diseases and remedies. The number of government nurseries in the country is less. Moreover, as the nurseries are district or upazila based, many seedlings are lost in transportation due to distance. Many people lost interest in collecting saplings. The desired afforestation in the country is not possible just by relying on government nurseries. Although seedlings are available in private nurseries, they are not within the purchasing power of the rural poor due to high prices. Therefore, government initiatives can be taken to introduce nursery programs at the union and school level to make the issue of sapling accessible. Although various ministries, forest departments, government and non-government organizations have been conducting tree planting campaigns for weeks, parties and months, what is the success of this in reality? How many seedlings are planted after handing over? What is the maintenance of the plants that are being planted?
Realizing the purpose and necessity of tree planting in the true sense of the word, the trees should be planted for one's own benefit and for the greater good of the nation. The government initiative to plant trees during the monsoon season should raise public awareness and build tree planting as an effective movement among all professional people including teachers and students. Only joint efforts, creation of science based socially advanced nurseries and sincerity of all can bring back our desired forest.