The environment ministry will plant Sal trees on 750 acres of land this year and on 6,610 acres over the next three years aiming to restore the degraded Sal forests of Madhupur.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said this following a visit to the forest on Sunday, adding that the government is committed to restoring the degraded Sal forests of Madhupur.
Alongside Sal, companion trees are also being planted with the active involvement of the local communities, she said addressing as the chief guest a discussion held in Madhupur National Park, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity.
She said that boundary demarcation of the Sal forest is underway, and boundary pillars have already been erected in Rajabari area.
"Only Sal trees will be allowed in the Sal forest," she said, adding, "Out of every 100 trees, 70 will be Sal and 30 will be companion species-no foreign species will be allowed."
She further announced the withdrawal of 129 cases but clarified that cases involving forestland encroachment or assault on forest officials would not be withdrawn.
"No harassment of local communities will be tolerated," she said, directing forest officials accordingly. "This is not a promise-this is a declaration," she added.
Addressing the Garo community, she said, "You cannot cultivate pineapple or banana on hundreds of acres using harmful pesticides and hormones that damage the Sal forest."
She also stated, "No one-rich or poor-will receive forest land plots. Landless or river erosion-affected people will be rehabilitated on khas land, not in forest areas."
She launched the Sal Forest Restoration Programme through planting 1,000 Sal tree saplings by local students. She later inaugurated the project titled "Restoration of Madhupur Sal Forest through Community Participation" in Rajabari area and released peafowl and Koi fish in the Sal forest and nearby ponds.
Earlier in the day, she inaugurated the Land Fair and the campaign to plant 500,000 trees by releasing balloons on the premises of Tangail Deputy Commissioner's Office.
The event was chaired by Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury.
Renowned wildlife expert Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan attended it as the keynote speaker.
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