Steps against tree robbers

The official figure of forest land in Bangladesh is about eight per cent, but the actual figure may be much lower. Even the official figure is inadequate. Environmentalists may come up with all kinds of explanation for the worsening of conditions in this sphere such as the burgeoning population of the country creating pressures on limited trees and vegetation. But the fact is that the reckless deforestation has a lot to do also with the laxity in law enforcement, which now allows the cutting down of trees from even the reserved forest areas in a most carefree manner. Rows of trees on both sides of the Teknaf road were earlier reported by the media to have been cut-down by gangs. Similar reckless cutting down of trees were reported frequently in different parts of the country in recent years. But no action is being taken against such culprits. If the government really means business, then it must stop such wanton cutting down of trees. The cutting down of privately owned trees can be responded by nothing more than publicity and moral persuasion. But it is duly expected from the government to protect the trees or forest resources directly under its control. There can be absolutely no scope for admitting any slack in this vital area of concern for the country's environment. Successive governments have been encouraging and materially promoting tree plantation. But there is much worry about the ultimate gains to accrue from the aforestation measures, in the absence of actions against deforestation activities as well; the rate of deforestation seems to be significantly higher than the rate of aforestation. The factors which are contributing the most to such deforestation will have to be addressed by various policy measures and their enforcement by the government. But the most immediate action should be to crackdown on the illegal felling of trees on public land. Aisha Dilruba Chowdhury New Eskaton, Dhaka