High value sapling selection needed to plant 25 crore trees

CHT Affairs Minister Sa Ching Prue Jerry on Friday distributed saplings among roof gardeners of Dhaka City at the National Press Club.

CHT Affairs Minister Sa Ching Prue Jerry on Friday underlined the need for selecting  high value plants under the plan for planting 25 crore trees in five years.

Addressing a discussion meeting on Greening of Dhaka to combat climate change, and distribution of saplings of fruit-bearing trees he urged all to work together for environment friendly development in Bangladesh.

Sa Ching Prue Jerry said at present saplings of less valuables trees are being planted in most cases. But there are trees which can fetch Taka one lakh each after some years, or annually produce fruits and make lucrative earnings.

The discussion meeting was organised by Dhakar Sekhor and GreenWatch Dhaka at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of Jatiya Press Club. Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor, GreenWatch Dhaka, Ayub Bhuiyan, General Secretary, National Press Club and Krishibid Dr. Mehedi Masud were special guests at the function presided over by Motaleb Mashreki, Trustee, Dhaka Shekhor and moderated by Rafiqul Islam Azad.

The  CHT Affairs Minister said the hill circles, roads and railway lines are good spaces that could be utilised to plant a large number of the trees that are to be planted in the next five years. Selection of tree species for plantation should be given importance.

He underlined the need for improving the environment of Dhaka city to make it liveable. As open space is scarce in the metropolis rooftops of buildings could be alternative places for planting trees.

Referring to the threat posed by climate change and sea level rise he said one-tenth of the country might go under water displacing 1.5 crore people by 2050.

Referring to migration of people from all corners of Bangladesh to the capital at an increasingly higher rate, the Minister stressed the need for getting jobs for them abroad. 

Mostafa Kamal Majumder welcomed the government’s initiatives for planting 25 crore trees, digging 20,000 kilometres of canals, and cleanliness campaign to eradicate the dengue menace and said the success of the government should be judged in terms of the availing of clean air to breathe, healthy food and water to take plus equitable distribution of national wealth. He urged the government to make use of the collective wisdom of the people in its strides towards progress and prosperity.

Dr. Mehedi Masud said roof gardeners should take proper care to plants and creepers to get optimum vegetable and fruit output on rooftops of buildings. He explained some techniques of improved roof gardening.

Minister Sa Ching Prue Jerry distributed saplings of fruit-bearing trees among roof gardeners.