In the ongoing heatwave that has made life unbearable, trees can absorb heat and bring relief. But nature and environment experts are urging people to be careful in choosing which trees to plant. The heatwave ran through the whole of April and May. Such heat may be normal in summer, but experts believe people themselves are responsible for life becoming so unbearable.

Trees differ by nature and by region. Planting trees without understanding the balance of nature is bringing us the opposite result, as the current heatwave makes clear. Those involved are calling for planned tree planting that protects the balance of the environment. We have already filled the whole country with foreign species such as akashmoni (acacia), eucalyptus, mahogany, rain tree, shishu, ipil-ipil, chambal, konokchura and lambu.

The country's biodiversity - animals, birds, insects and butterflies - does not depend on foreign trees at all. So, in the country's wider interest and for sustainable biodiversity, heat control and tackling climate change, those involved say it is time to avoid these foreign species and plant native ones.

Agriculture and environment experts say now is the time to plant native trees to control heatwaves, sustain biodiversity and tackle climate change. Many native trees - neem, arjun, bot (banyan), pakur, dumur (fig), barun, bohera, amloki, horitoki, hijal, koras, kathbadam, kadam, krishnachura, mango, jackfruit, jam, amra, kamranga, deowa, gamari, radhachura, sonalu and others - are now on the list of rare species. Medicinal trees not only cool nature but also support the ecosystem. Biodiversity - animals, birds, insects, butterflies - depends on native trees.

With native trees, this biodiversity will survive. Since creation, humans have depended on the environment, and there is no way to survive without it. In other words, "back to nature": we must all return to nature. People have to go back - and going back means returning to our origin, nature and a habitat surrounded by trees, creepers and leaves.

A mature tree absorbs hundreds of tonnes of carbon, checking air pollution, and at midday in a heatwave releases about 100 gallons of water into the air through transpiration, keeping the surroundings cool. Trees form an effective noise barrier, produce oxygen, act as a carbon sink, clean the air, give shade and coolness, work as windbreaks, fight soil erosion and raise property values.

Let us plant trees after choosing the right species with care to save the lives of living beings, and protect people from unwanted disasters.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.