ACCORDING to the World Bank, forests in Bangladesh covered only 10.95 per cent of its total area in the year 2016, which was 10.98 per cent in the previous year.
Fast-paced infrastructural development and urbanisation are taking its toll on the country's forest area. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation, the country had lost 840,000 hectares of forest area between 1990 and 2010 and the rate of loss had been 42,000 hectares every year. As the city grows bigger, scope for tree plantation has been shrinking and we'll be in further trouble if we fail to restore the lost forestland. The government should pay more attention to this issue by raising awareness among people in general. There are alternatives to solving the problem of declining land area. Hydroponic system does not even need soil and therefore can be installed on the rooftops. The government should play the lead role to provide all types of assistance and training in this regard.
Again, different countries are also moving towards the idea of micro-gardening on rooftops and even inside the houses. Offices can also be turned into a source of fresh oxygen if people are properly trained. The government can provide encouragement to people by reducing the price of the required equipments and start promoting the positive aspects of tree plantation. Some strategic steps can also boost this process: reduction of taxes if there is a garden on the rooftops, special facilities for gardeners and easy access to seminars and workshops held in the cities and many other related incentives. If buildings can be turned into micro forests, we'll be able to increase our total forest area on this land.
SM Azharul Islam
East West University
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
