Sabuj Andolon says the invasion of foreign trees has reduced the number of native tree species. According to the organisation, Bangladesh once had 5,000 species of native trees, but the figure has now fallen to 3,828. One of the main reasons is the import of foreign trees and unplanned greening.

The environmental organisation put these recommendations to the government on 1 September at a discussion titled "Extinction of native tree species due to the invasion of foreign species". The meeting was held at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club to mark the organisation's sixth founding anniversary.

Presiding over the meeting, Sabuj Andolon founder and chairman Bappi Sardar said green Bangladesh is under threat from the negative effects of climate change. On one hand developed countries emit excessive carbon; on the other, trees are being felled indiscriminately in Bangladesh in the name of development. After independence Bangladesh had 5,000 species of native trees, he said, but that has fallen to 3,828, mainly because of foreign tree imports and unplanned greening.

He said various fast-growing tree species are being imported from abroad. These trees help ease the fuel crisis, but they are steadily ruining the soil and the environment. Foreign species need a lot of space and absorb far more nutrients and water than native trees, so native species cannot survive near them. Sustainable planning is therefore needed to stop the invasion of foreign trees and increase the propagation of native species.

To that end, Sabuj Andolon made five proposals:

• Botanists should draw up a list of which foreign tree species may be imported, and the recommendations of several environmentalists should be taken before opening letters of credit, in line with Bangladesh Bank directives.
• All nurseries in the country should be required to conserve native plants, with training for nursery owners at the annual district and upazila tree fairs and loans on easy terms.
• Harmful foreign tree species should be felled across the country, and the Forest Department should distribute native trees free of charge.
• Research on seed production from mother trees of native fruit and forest species should be strengthened, and a national research council of plant and animal scientists should be set up.
• The government should launch native tree planting at central and district level with all environmental organisations, and carry out a project to plant two crore native trees over the next year.

The meeting was moderated by Sabuj Andolon director and actor Uday Khan and Sahin Ara Sultana, women and children affairs secretary of the executive council. Speakers included Md Jashim Uddin, professor of botany at Dhaka University; Adil Muhammad Khan, a Jahangirnagar University professor and urban planner; and Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, general secretary of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.

Also present as special guests were Sabuj Andolon adviser and Matribhumi Group managing director Engineer Md Main Uddin Mia; Sabuj Andolon adviser and economic analyst Mezbauddin Md Jibon Chowdhury; Sabuj Andolon secretary general Mohsin Sikder Pavel; finance director Nilufar Yasmin Rupa; director Principal Nadia Noor Tonu; and Enamul Haque Roni, among others.

After the meeting, honorary crests were handed to four people for their role in conserving wildlife and the environment.

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