Tree cutting must cease until 2030 to achieve 25pc forestation: Minister  

Illegal cutting of trees must be stopped completely by 2030 to meet the goal of becoming a country of forestation and greenery.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin issued this directive to the forest department officials and forest guards during the closing ceremony of the National Tree Fair 2022 on Sunday.

The minister said the current forestation is 14.2 percent and the country is working to meet the 25 percent forestation goal.

In order to achieve the goal of forestry in achieving the SDG targets, the mountains and forest trees cannot be cut until 2030.”

Chief Conservator of Forest of the Forest Department Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury chaired the event while Deputy Minister of the Ministry Habibun Nahar and Secretary Farhina Ahmed addressed the event among others.

More than 1.63 million saplings were sold at the National Tree Fair, held between June 4 to July 4,  at  Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Tree fairs are being organised in all divisions and districts of the country and in several upazilas.

Millions of trees were sold and planted at the nationwide tree fair.

Between 2009-2010 and 2020-21 financial year, 163,378 hectares of block garden with mangrove, 26 thousand 453 seedling km of strip gardens and 159 million saplings have been distributed and planted.

At the same time dividend has been distributed among 141,238 beneficiaries involved in social forestry. In the last 3 years, 4 thousand 729 hectares of forest land have been freed from encroachment and afforested by the Forest Department, data of the ministry said. 

On the occasion, the minister distributed the "Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation 2019 and 2020" and dividend checks of 3.7 million to the six beneficiaries of social forestry, selected stall owners and winners of the Essay and Painting Competition.

This year, saplings worth Tk 124.23 million were sold at the National Tree Fair which was the largest ever in any national tree fair.