Eucalyptus plantation increasing alarmingly in Tangail

Our Correspondent

TANGAIL, Mar 24: Plantation of eucalyptus tree is increasing in all the 12 upazilas of the district.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Tangail sources said increasing the number of eucalyptus trees is harmful to the environment. The tree decreases the soil fertility.

A eucalyptus tree absorbs water about 15 to 20 per cent more than any other local tree. Planting the tree on a large scale will make cropland dry, sources said.

District assistant commissioner (Forests) Sajjad Hossain said in 1985, the Ministry of Environment And Forests in an office order asked the Forest Department to avoid eucalyptus trees from its all programme. The ministry also asked the department to arrange more programmes to make people aware about the bad impact of the trees.

Eucalyptus trees have a high demand across the country for its cheap timber and fuel wood. Saplings of the tree are available in almost every nursery of the district, sources said.

Md Ramjan Ali of Mamudpur village under Delduar upazila said he grows eucalyptus for more profit. He does not even know any negative impact of the tree.

The grower said eucalyptus cultivation is profitable than any other local trees. He grows the tree for wood.

Mirzapur upazila agri officer Md Moshiur Rahman says people grow the tree for money. The poor villagers do not even know the impact of the tree on the environment.

A good number of nursery traders said eucalyptus saplings have a high demand in the area.

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