Questioning the Efficacy of Arbitrary Afforestation in Bangladesh
Is Bangladesh doing afforestation in the right way?
Though the term afforestation implies the method of planting trees in the areas previously devoid of tree cover or on the land not formerly used for forestry purposes, the process doesn’t discriminate between the species of the trees planted; meaning whether it’s done by planting indigenous species or foreign species is of little value.
Certainly, afforestation is a must in the 21st century as the rapid growth of population has led to clearing of forests in order to support the huge number of people, which has resulted in the decrease of forest areas to such extent that the total forest area of Bangladesh is only about 11.2% of her total area (The Daily Star, 2016). But the present large extent afforestation policy undertaken by the Bangladesh Government is unsuitable and outdated as it is the implementation of the British Afforestation Policy of 1873. According to Professor Kazi Zaker Husain (2008), plantation is being done in the name of afforestation and foreign species of plants are being planted replacing the native species across the country.
Exotic species of trees such as Mahogany, Epil Epil and Acacia are being planted in the hilly areas of Madhavcharya covering an area of around 70 hectares (The Daily Star, 2009). According to Daily Sun (2017), rubber plantation was started replacing Shal trees in 1986 in Madhupur which continues till today. Along the highways of Bogra-Tetulia and Gazipur districts, rows of Eucalyptus, a foreign species of plants are being planted as a part of afforestation project. According to Banglapedia, at the Central and Northwestern part of Bangladesh, Shal trees are being replaced by fast growing exotic species.
The adverse effects of such unplanned, unorganized & neo-liberal afforestation programs on the local biodiversity and ecology are already being evident across the country. The Madhavcharya hilly area, which was once rich in plant varieties and wildlife species is now home to very few numbers of monkeys and wild birds with snakes and other wild animals being extremely rare. Rubber cultivation in Madhupur has resulted in the destruction of the local forests, depletion of soil nutrients, significant reduction in carbon biomass, acceleration of soil erosion, desiccation of the region’s water system, reduced groundwater level and increased landslides. The huge number of Eucalyptus trees planted along the highways and around agricultural lands is drying up nearby lands and farms and accelerating desertification. The mass plantation of Mahogany trees has resulted in biodiversity dead zone in various parts of the country. The hundreds of local species of herbs and shrubs that grew along the hill tracts and wetlands in our country have all been replaced by exotic invading species. The lack of plant diversities has in turn given rise to lack of food and shelter of the wild animals and therefore, wild deer, the rare Hoolock Gibbon, elephants, large number of local bird species, small mammals and reptiles have reduced greatly in number.
Nature is being destroyed in the name of afforestation and focus is placed on increasing the number of trees, not on the negative impact it is having on the local species. If this situation continues, the entire biodiversity of Bangladesh would be affected so severely that it would endanger the ecological balance to such extent that it would be beyond saving.
Therefore, in order to overcome the situation, first of all, Bangladesh needs to review its outdated afforestation policy. Mono-culture plantation needs to be stopped and replaced with poly-culture which will ensure various species of plants in the same forest. Since the prime culprit is the invasion of exotic species, about 80% of which are imported from the foreign countries (The Daily Star, 2008), emphasis should be given on fast growing, eco friendly native species of trees such as bamboo, banana, blackberry, jackfruit, mango etc. Seeds and saplings of native species are to be supplied to the local farmers free of cost instead of foreign species and they are to be encouraged to plant these in their unused lands. Initiatives should be taken to properly train and equip those who are involved in afforestation programs with latest and in-depth knowledge. Opinions of the expert environmentalists regarding the creation of artificial forests should be followed. An area can be fixed and only eco-friendly exotic species are to be cultivated in that area which grows fast and can provide wood and foliage. The natural forests should be declared as protected areas and the local trees should be allowed to grow normally. The Forest Department and the Government need to come forward in educating the locals regarding the adverse effects of foreign species plantation. Through these systematic processes, the plantation of alien species of plants should be limited and in course of time, should be gotten rid of.
In order to prevent the ecological imbalance and conserve the biodiversity, an afforestation policy which prioritizes the plantation of native indigenous species suitable for the local environment should be undertaken.
There’s a Chinese saying that goes,
“The best time to plant a tree was 20
years ago.”
Let’s change the proverb a bit, in order to make it suitable for the current generation,
“The best time to plant a tree, a native tree, is now.”
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1. 1. The Daily Star (2009). Mindless afforestation by
removing native trees from natural forest. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-119016
2. 2. Daily Sun (2019). Afforestation Projects of
Bangladesh: Curse or Blessings? Available at:
https://www.daily-sun.com/post/261504/2017/10/15/Afforestation-Projects-of-Bangladesh:-Curse-or-Blessings
3. 3. The Daily Star (2008). Afforestation policy endangers
wildlife. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-19883
4. 4. The Daily Star (2014). Afforestation in coastal areas
failing to generate benefits. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/afforestation-in-coastal-areas-failing-to-generate-benefits-11278
5. 5. Banglapedia (2015). Afforestation. Available at:
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Afforestation
6. 6. The Daily Star (2013). Massive afforestation drive in
CHT planned. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/massive-afforestation-drive-in-cht-planned
7. 7. The Daily Star (2016). Afforestation on unused land.
Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/country/afforestation-unused-land-1314385
8. 8. The Daily Star (2016). Bangladesh among Asian
countries with less forest areas. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/bangladesh-among-asian-countries-less-forest-area-1310851
9. 9. The Daily Star (2009). Planting the right kind of
trees. Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-103493
10 10. Wikipedia (2019). Afforestation. Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afforestation
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