PM urges region-specific reforestation to combat climate shifts

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman has called for a strategic approach to reforestation, urging officials to prioritize tree species that are compatible with local soil quality and regional environmental conditions.

The Prime Minister issued these directives during a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Tejgaon on Saturday. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, the premier emphasized that because soil characteristics differ significantly across the country, a "one-size-fits-all" approach to planting is ineffective. Selecting region-specific species, he noted, will significantly boost sapling survival rates and better restore ecological equilibrium.

Highlighting the growing threat of climate change, the Prime Minister pointed to the disruption of traditional seasonal cycles. He observed that the reliable rainfall typically expected in June has become increasingly erratic in recent years, a shift he attributed largely to the depletion of forest cover and a shrinking tree population.

Protecting the environment through massive plantation efforts must be viewed as a top priority to mitigate climate-related disasters and safeguard the planet for future generations, the premier added.

The meeting focused on the operational details of the government’s ambitious goal to plant 250 million trees nationwide over the next five years. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to officially inaugurate this massive five-year environmental campaign on June 14 in Dulahazara, Cox’s Bazar.

The session was attended by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and other senior officials, including the Director General of the Department of Environment and the Chief Conservator of Forests.