Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, announced that the Forest Department will no longer plant eucalyptus and acacia trees. She instructed the department to preserve other tree species except for eucalyptus and acacia planted for social forestry along roadsides.
The advisor stated that biodiversity rules and guidelines will be developed to protect biodiversity. She also emphasized involving students in wildlife and forest-related activities at the range office level.
She issued these directives during a special meeting held at the Forest Department office in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
The advisor highlighted the need to establish management committees for protected forests such as Lathitila, Chunati, Satchari, and Lawachara. She called for an end to eco-tourism and picnicking in these forests and emphasized stopping music and noise disturbances to maintain the natural environment of the forests.
She further added that illegal encroachments on forest land must be removed, and no lobbying would be tolerated. Conflicts with forest dwellers should be addressed, and harassment cases against the Garo community should be dropped.
The advisor directed relevant officials to implement a strategic plan, a gender policy, a grievance redress system, and ensure transparency in project information.
Additional Secretary of the Environment Ministry ASM Humayun Kabir, Additional Secretary Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Joint Secretary Shamima Begum, Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury, and other senior Forest Department officials were present at the meeting.
