Stop mindless decimation of forests, hills

Pro-development people often look upon pro-environment activists as anti-development. But one need not be an environmentalist to be concerned about destruction of forests, filling up of wetlands, flattening of hills and grabbing of all open spaces for building roads or houses. And without being environmentalists, our forefathers conserved forests and planted trees, excavated ponds, protected wetlands and conserved biodiversity through balanced exploitation of natural resources. But nowadays, members of the public have to be motivated to be responsible about their natural environment. A recently published report in the media says that in the last 25 years, half of Nijhum Dwip (island of silence)'s forestland has been decimated. The small island is situated at the mouth of Meghna river in the Bay Bengal only about 2 km in the south of Hatiya upazila in the Noakhali district. The conserved forests on the small island is home to a variety of wildlife including spotted deer, migratory birds and many other animals.

Close to 40,400 acres of forestland in Jahajmara Union of Hatiya upazila including 9,550 acres of forestland on Nijhum Dwip was declared a National Park by the government in 2001. Evidently, the government's aim was to create a buffer zone in the shape of a forestland that would protect the coastal population against natural calamities from the sea. But the forestland has been shrinking, thanks to the loggers with political patronage, who are clearing the forestland, creating crop fields and building settlements. The forest robbers who were mostly local government representatives (Nijhum Dwip became a Union Parsishad in 2013) were so powerful during the previous regime that no pro-environment activist dared to question, far less challenge them about their criminal activities. But now time has changed. So, it is time the interim government, especially its Department of Environment (DoE) and the pro-environment organisations acted before it is too late. The adviser for environment, forest and climate change of the incumbent interim government herself being a pro-environment crusader, there should be no problem taking required steps to protect what is still left of the Nijhum Dwip's forestland from further decimation. At the same time, arrangements should be made to educate the local population about the importance of the forestland in their life and the need to protect it. Of course, incentives should be there so that local people might consider the forestland as their own and have the urge to protect it. Since the interim government does not have much time in hand, it should act fast to save Nijhum Dwip. But there are also other places like Chattogram city whose hills are being systematically destroyed mainly to create housing projects. The people mindlessly flattening hills seem to be unaware of how hills serve to protect environment by conserving soil and supplying freshwater from their springs. A report informs, according to data provided by the DoE, some 30 housing projects levelledd hills of Chattogram city over the past 50 years. In the process, the hilly port city has lost 120 hills out of some 200 it was proud of in the past. According to another report, a study done in this connection says that in 1976, hills covered 32.37 square kilometres of Chattogram city. Sad to say, by 2008, the city was left with only around 14 square kilometres of hilly area. Small wonder that in three decades since 1990, the green top cover of Chattogram city has dropped from 68.34 per cent to 36.51 per cent in 2020. The government should put its foot down to protect Chattogram hills from the depredations of thoughtless humans.

In truth, those engaged in such reckless acts of clearing Nijhum Dwip's forestland and flattening hills of Chattogram are nothing but self-destructing human beings.

[email protected]