Rizwana asks forest dept no longer to plant eucalyptus and acacia trees

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan today asked the forest department no longer to plant eucalyptus and acacia trees. 

She instructed the department to conserve all tree species, except eucalyptus and acacia, planted along roadsides under social forestry programme.
 
The environment adviser made the directives in a special meeting held at the Forest Department office in Agargaon, Dhaka.

 Stating that biodiversity rules and guidelines would be formulated to protect biodiversity, she said stressing on involving students in wildlife and forest-related activities at the range office level.

Rizwana underscored the need for establishing management committees for protected forests such as Lathitila, Chunati, Satchari and Lawachara. 
 
She called for an end to ecotourism and picnic in these forests and emphasised stopping music and noise disturbances to maintain the natural environment of the forests.
 
“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 Conflicts with forest dwellers should be addressed, and harassment cases against the Garo community should be withdrawn,” the adviser said.
 
She directed relevant officials to implement a strategic plan, a gender policy, a grievance redress system, and ensure transparency in project information.
 
Additional secretaries of the ministry ASM Humayun Kabir and Dr Fahmida Khanam, Joint Secretary Shamima Begum, Chief Conservator of forests Amir Hosain Chowdhury and senior officials of the forest department were present at the meeting.