Let us plant trees

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IT cannot be denied that Bangladesh is fast acquiring desert conditions due to the wanton destruction of our trees. When we travel on the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highways the huge heaps of logs, piled near timber depot, to be moved elsewhere for sawing later, remind us how fast we are destroying the work of nature by cutting down trees for the service of man. No one takes care to plant trees to replace them. This is the very case with all other kinds of trees that are ruthlessly cut down to satisfy our economic and other needs.
The all important roles that trees play in controlling or protecting the climate, soil and other water resources and the disastrous effects of cutting them down are well known. Trees, whether they are timber trees in our majestic forests or shade and ornamental trees in our cities, highways and home-gardens, are a national asset.
Once any tree is destroyed there is no other force which could replace immediately the enormous damage that is caused. Even a tree which has taken a number of years to grow up to its full stature could be completely destroyed within a short period of time but the loss is irreparable.
Imagine a forest without trees -- what would happen to the flora and fauna that live under the cover of its trees. We must remember that more than half of the population of the endemic plants in Bangladesh will disappear for ever from the face of the earth, once their host trees are destroyed. In addition, we must also take every action to preserve the existing trees, be they large or small, of economic importance or not. Trees are like human beings.
Their environment affects their size, longevity, rate of growth and even their usefulness. In the human society we have psychologists to deal with those who go out of tune with their Environment. The problems we human beings face are creations by us but the numerous problems that trees and plants are faced with, are not their own creations. They have been created for them by man and animals. Thus as much as in the human personality there are aberrations in the plant world too.
Bangladesh has undergone a drastic climatic change during the last few years. We have cleared forests and destroyed them in regions where their presence would have been an asset to the well-being of the country. Due to the indiscriminate felling of trees, periodic drought conditions are becoming more and more severe, thus, affecting the economic and living conditions of all of us.
The elderly people of Bangladesh knew the value of trees and planted them by roadways and in forest reserves. This added to the natural beauty and the coolness of the environment. In those days' it was considered a great sin to cut down any live tree and those who did so were severely rebuked and criticised.
Forests play a great role in a nation's economy and climate and they contribute immensely towards its scenic grandeur. When trees are cut down, springs dry up, the soil gets eroded and the air becomes less humid. Thus, the entire balance of nature is upset. When we destroy forests, droughts, unfavourable climatic changes, soil erosion, lack of water resources and even disastrous floods are the results.
The protection of our trees is no folly and the public, specially the younger generation, must be made to realise the value and usefulness of trees which form a sound foundation for the economic, cultural and social development of the entire country.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
A Tourism Worker
Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com