The BNP government unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years as part of its election pledge. While the initiative reflects a commendable vision to expand the country’s tree cover and enhance associated environmental and social benefits, the onset of Bangladesh’s annual tree-planting season, which coincides with monsoon, should also remind us that success cannot be measured by the number of saplings alone. What we need is not merely larger plantation statistics, but better-planned and sustainable plantations that ensure long-term ecological benefits.
Bangladesh is already experiencing dramatic climatic changes. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, erratic rainfall, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are becoming part of our everyday lives. Although official statistics suggest that the country’s forest cover has remained relatively stable for some years and national tree cover has somewhat improved, future plantation efforts must be more strategic and scientifically planned.
For trees to thrive and deliver lasting benefits to both people and nature, three conditions are essential: the right tree, in the right place, for the right purpose. This means selecting species suitable for local ecological conditions, aligning plantation goals with community needs, and planning for both short-term utility and long-term environmental resilience. Successful plantation programmes also require community participation, proper maintenance, and the ability to generate multiple social, economic, and ecological benefits.
When implemented effectively, tree-planting can provide us with food, timber, shade, erosion control, watershed protection, carbon storage, and healthier ecosystems. Well-designed plantation programmes can also improve livelihoods and create employment opportunities, particularly through nursery businesses and community or social forestry initiatives.
Globally, many large-scale tree plantation campaigns have failed to achieve their intended outcomes because the planted saplings did not survive or because the programmes lacked proper planning and long-term management. The United Nations designated 2021-2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, encouraging countries worldwide to restore degraded forests and ecosystems. Bangladesh can certainly benefit from this global momentum, but restoration must go beyond ceremonial plantation drives.
Before planting new trees, we must first protect the trees and forests we already have. Unfortunately, many development projects in Bangladesh still involve the felling of mature trees and the destruction of natural habitats. One recent example is the expansion of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway line, which passed through several forested areas, including the Chunati and Fasiakhali forests. This development not only damaged fragile forest ecosystems but also contributed to increased deaths of endangered Asian elephants. Another growing concern is the rapid expansion of horticulture and cash-crop cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts on former forest lands. Similarly, remote coastal regions such as Sonadia Island are witnessing illegal mangrove clearing to facilitate salt cultivation and fisheries expansion. Such environmentally destructive activities must be strictly regulated and prevented.
The recent ban on Acacia and Eucalyptus during the interim government’s period also sparked debate and controversy. While the use of exotic species should generally be discouraged, these fast-growing species were widely introduced because they helped many rural households meet their timber and fuelwood needs. A blanket decision to remove such trees, without a realistic transition strategy, may not produce the desired environmental outcomes.
Our urban areas, including Dhaka, are witnessing an alarming decline in green cover. In cities, tree planting should be carried out in a planned and systematic manner along roadsides, in parks, around public institutions, and in other available open spaces, while the removal of old and mature trees must be strongly discouraged. In urban areas, and wherever possible, the promotion of native tree species is particularly important. A banyan tree, for instance, offers far greater ecological benefits than an ornamental tree. Native trees also support biodiversity, improve microclimates, and contribute more effectively to ecosystem stability.
Tree planting should also become part of environmental education for younger generations. Schools, colleges, and universities with available land could encourage students to participate in plantation activities and take responsibility for maintaining the saplings. Such initiatives can help foster environmental awareness, accountability, and a stronger sense of responsibility towards nature.
Finally, establishing a transparent national dashboard to monitor tree plantation numbers, locations, species diversity, survival rates, and community participation would make such an initiative more accountable, effective, and future-oriented. Bangladesh should also use this opportunity to align its mega plantation programme with global environmental commitments to secure long-term funding, technical expertise, and stronger institutional support. Tree planting must not be reduced to a political exercise focused solely on numerical targets; rather, it should be treated as a long-term national investment in ecological sustainability, climate resilience, and Bangladesh’s overall environmental security.
Dr Sharif Ahmed Mukul is associate professor of environment and development studies at United International University and senior research fellow at the Tropical Forests and People Research Centre of University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. He can be reached at [email protected].
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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