DHAKA, June 4, 2023 (BSS) - The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry will launch three-month-long 'National Tree Plantation Campaign' tomorrow as part of the World Environment Day programme.

"Prime Minister will inaugurate the programme by planting saplings at Ganabhaban here at 9:30 am tomorrow," said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin in a the press conference held at the conference room of the Bangladesh Secretariat today marking the World Environment Day and the Environment Fair 2023 and the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign' and the Tree Fair 2023.

"The Tree Fair 2023 will continue from June 5 to June 26 and July 1 to July 12 next," he added.

The theme of this year's 'National Tree Plantation Campaign' and the Tree Fair is 'Gach lagiye Jotno Kori, Sushtho Projonmoer Desh Gori. 

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages wishing the success of the 'National Tree Plantation Campaign' and 'Tree Fair 2023'.

In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said the government is working tirelessly to develop the country's forest resources, preserve forests and increase tree.

Along with conservation of existing forests under government initiatives, forest expansion and its development initiatives have been undertaken in the country and defunct forests are being restored, the head of the state added. 

The President highly appreciated the Environment Ministry for taking steps to distribute 'Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2022 and 2021' and 'Prime Minister's National Award for Tree Plantation 2021'. He congratulated those who got these two awards. 

He hoped their achievements will encourage others to come forward in forestation and plantation.

He also urged the people of the country to plant more trees and create a healthy and clean environment for the future generations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, congratulated those who got 'Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2022 and 'Prime Minister's National Award for Tree Plantation 2021. 

She said the role of tree is undeniable in fulfilling the fundamental demands of the people and ecological balance.

The Awami League-led government is conducting social forestation in marginal lands including government forest lands and coastal forestry in newly emerging char in coastal areas to increase the green coverage of the country with the aim of sustainable forest management and reestablishing degraded forests.

The government is working to ensure afforestation of indigenous species along with conservation, development and expansion of forests, she added.

In this way, she believed that the country's green coverage can be increased to 25 percent by 2030.

"The 'Bangladesh the National REDD+ Strategy' has been adopted by our government to prevent deforestation and degradation, conserve biodiversity and remove carbon from the atmosphere and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the forest sector," she added.

"Let us all plant at least one fruit-bearing and medicinal tree sapling to build the lifelong dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a safe habitable habitat for the future generations," she said.

Both the president and the premier wished 'National Tree Plantation Campaign', 'Tree Fair 2023' a success.