DHAKA, March 21, 2022 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister
Md Shahab Uddin today said the country's green coverage is increasing
constantly due to various effective initiatives of the Forest Department
taken under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 
He said this while addressing a discussion, organised by the Forest
Department, at Ban Bhaban here, marking International Forest Day 2022.
 
The theme of the day was: "Forests and Sustainable Production and
Consumption".

Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said Bangladesh will be successful
in forest conservation and development if people from all strata work
together to ensure a sustainable environment.
 
To this end, he said, cooperation of public representatives, forest-dependent
people, small ethnic groups living in the forest, media personnel and all
concerned is absolutely necessary.
 
The forest minister said according to the Forest Survey 2015-2019, the amount
of the country's green coverage was 22.37 per cent of its total area, which
has already increased significantly.
 
He said more trees must be planted to meet the basic needs of the fauna. "In
addition to ensuring the conservation of the forests, we need to plant trees
in fallow land," he added.
 
Shahab Uddin said the degraded and marginalised land would have to be brought
under aforestation through social schemes by the Forest Department.
 
He directed the officials and employees of the Forest Department to work with
patriotism and dedication in forest protection.
 
The forest minister said necessary measures, including filling up of
vacancies, would be taken to increase the capacity of the department.
 
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar,
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, Additional
Secretary of the ministry Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Chairman of Prokriti O Jibon
Foundation Mukit Majumder Babu, among others, spoke at the function with
Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury in the chair.
 
Vice-Chancellor of Independent University Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan and Deputy
Chief Conservator of Forests and Project Director of SUFAL Project Gobinda
Roy made a presentation on the theme.
 
The minister distributed cheques of Taka 1.5 million among 10 beneficiaries
of social forestry.

He also visited the exhibition of photographs on wildlife at the event.