In Dhaka, a single tree must support the oxygen needs of around 28 people - far below what is needed for a healthy, livable environment.
The loss of green spaces, combined with rapid urbanisation and climate change, is threatening both biodiversity and public health.
Experts at the four-day international conference and workshop on "Political Commitment in Agriculture and Food" painted a stark picture of Bangladesh's environmental reality.
They warned that without urgent action, the country risks not only ecological degradation but also a decline in its capacity to absorb carbon and combat climate change effectively.
Officials stressed that while afforestation and forest protection offer low-cost and high-impact solutions, rising fuel consumption, urban sprawl, and future industrialisation could intensify environmental pressures if left unchecked.
Md Jahidul Kabir, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, shared the concerning statistics during his keynote at the closing session of the conference, organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) at the Cotton Development Board auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday.
He explained that each person requires at least 550 litres of oxygen per day, which is supplied by three fully grown trees.
"In Dhaka, however, the ratio is drastically lower: one tree serves 28 people. We are living in a severe environmental crisis," Kabir said.
Human activity is taking a heavy toll on biodiversity and ecosystems. Forests and wildlife face ongoing threats from poaching, land grabbing, fires, illegal construction, destruction of mangroves, and uncontrolled boat traffic.
Climate change is further increasing forest vulnerability, experts warned.
Bangladesh's forests currently contain 394 million cubic feet of timber resources, while the country's total tree coverage, including forests and trees outside forests, stores 973 million tonnes of carbon.
Of this, 251 million tonnes are stored in forests alone, highlighting the critical role forests play in climate mitigation.
Kabir also highlighted forest expansion initiatives, noting that 0.419 million saplings have already been distributed free of charge.
"Encouraging people to plant trees will gradually increase the country's carbon-holding capacity and strengthen environmental resilience," he said.
Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury underscored that afforestation is the most effective and affordable natural solution to climate change.
He cautioned, however, that rising energy use, lifestyle-driven emissions, and industrialisation may increase carbon outputs in the future, even though Bangladesh is not yet among the world's top polluters.
Dr Abul Kalam Azad, a researcher at Dhaka University and special guest at the session, added that despite Bangladesh's fertile land and agricultural potential, progress is being slowed by political non-cooperation, weak leadership, moral decline, and ineffective distribution policies.
The session was chaired by BAJF President Sahanoware Said Shahin and moderated by General Secretary Abu Khalid, bringing together journalists, researchers, and policymakers to highlight the urgent need for political commitment and public action to safeguard the country's forests and environment.
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