21 March is World Forest Day. To keep the environment in balance, at least 25 per cent of a country's total land should be forest, yet Bangladesh's forest cover currently stands at only 14.1 per cent. As forests are cleared day by day, the risk from climate change is rising and biodiversity is shrinking. Several students shared their thoughts on what needs to be done for forest conservation, environmental awareness and sustainable development. Compiled by Tanjid Shubhro.

Abdur Rashid, student, Department of Management, Sylhet Government College

To keep the environment in balance, 25 per cent of a country's total land needs to be forest, and Bangladesh's forest cover falls short of what is needed. Sadly, there is a real lack of initiative to increase forest land in this country. All around us we are cutting down trees indiscriminately. We all know more or less how important trees are, yet we do not stop felling them, for reasons good or bad. We are gradually heading towards an inevitable outcome. Tree felling is destroying forests, and so the environment of lush, fertile Bangladesh is under threat. With nature thrown out of balance, rainfall falls below what is needed, and every year Bangladesh is battered by flash floods, tidal surges and cyclones.

There is no alternative to planting trees to escape the inevitable consequences of felling them. Before cutting one tree, we should plant at least four saplings in its place and look after them. Human society survives on Earth today because trees exist. Although tree planting is a national task, it is hard for it to succeed through the government's efforts alone, so ordinary people must come forward alongside government initiatives, and people living in villages have an especially important role. If trees are not properly cared for after planting, they may die early. In the government's tree planting and afforestation work under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, it must be borne in mind that simply spending more money will not properly achieve the goals of expanding and conserving forests. People must be encouraged, their awareness raised, and everyone brought on board.

Tanjina Akter, student, Department of Bangla, Chattogram Government Women's College

International Day of Forests has been observed every year on 21 March for the past decade to raise awareness about conserving forests, forest products, wildlife and the environment. Deforestation is increasing global warming, which is changing the climate and harming agriculture. As a result, agricultural countries like Bangladesh are the hardest hit.

Forest conservation means protecting forest resources and using them in a controlled way. Besides planting trees and stopping deforestation, conservation requires protecting forests from man-made fires, stopping excessive grazing of livestock, protecting trees from harmful pests, not applying too much pesticide on cropland, and doing more to conserve endangered plants. Research on these plants may lead to the discovery of life-saving medicines in future. They could also bring an industrial revolution in agriculture and medicine and open great possibilities for reducing poverty. Planned rooftop gardens can also help. The law must be strictly enforced to stop hills being cut and forests wiped out for urbanisation and industrialisation. We must remember that if forests are destroyed, animals will lose their habitats, which threatens biodiversity. We will conserve forests, if not for ourselves, then at least for future generations.

Rikma Akter, student, Department of Botany, Muminunnisa Government Women's College, Mymensingh

Trees and forests are an essential part of our lives; animal life is unthinkable without plants. The UN General Assembly declared the forest day in 2012, with the aim of raising public awareness about forests and trees and encouraging people to plant forests. From trees we get the oxygen we need, along with water, food and shelter. Forests are called the lungs of the Earth, and their role in reducing the effects of climate change and absorbing carbon is undeniable. But with growing urbanisation and daily needs, people are constantly destroying forests, which threatens the Earth's near future. Trees are not being planted at the rate forests are being destroyed. Some 1.6 billion people in the world depend on forests. We are indebted to nature for preventing soil erosion and natural disasters and for supplying food, medicine and many daily needs. So we must expand forests, and everyone needs to speak up for afforestation. Public awareness can be raised through social and local tree planting programmes and through planting by government and private initiatives.

Naima Khatun, student, Department of Botany, Muminunnisa Government Women's College, Mymensingh

With climate change, biodiversity faces threats on many fronts, and this disaster is being accelerated by the continual destruction of forests. Green forests do not just keep the environment in balance; they absorb harmful carbon dioxide, release breathable oxygen and create conditions favourable for living things.

Forests are made up of woody plants, herbs, shrubs, grasses and climbers. Various wild animals, birds and small insects shelter and survive in them, and these creatures depend on forests directly and indirectly for food and habitat.

Where a country needs 25 per cent of its total land under forest, Bangladesh's total forest cover is 14.1 per cent. With continuing population growth and the need to meet people's basic demands, the forest area is shrinking day by day. If this continues, biodiversity will be badly harmed and endangered species will face a threat to their existence. There is no alternative to protecting forests and creating new ones to keep the overall balance of the environment.

Kazi Maliha Akter, student, Department of Botany, Chattogram College

Forest conservation lies at the root of environmental awareness, because green plants can make the environment fit for life. The chlorophyll in them allows them to produce food and oxygen, which nothing else can do. So to ensure the sustainable development of the environment, forests must first be conserved. To do this, needless felling of trees in forest areas must stop, new saplings must be planted, and efforts made to plant fast-growing species. Measures must be taken to control plant diseases and decay in forests, forest soil fertility must be kept up through proper care, and steps taken to increase the number of endangered plants. Forest plants must be protected from harmful insects, and care taken that forests do not catch fire, because wildfires cause huge losses of forest resources. Canals should be dug and ridges built so that rainwater easily soaks into the soil of forest areas. Entry by outsiders into forests must be strictly controlled.

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