The environment, forest and climate change ministry is going to declare nine degraded forests as Ecologically Critical Areas, according to environment minister Abdul Awal Mintoo.

The country currently has 13 ECAs.

Replying to a starred question from Nilphamari-1 lawmaker Abdus Sattar in the parliament on Tuesday, the minister said his ministry would facilitate the planting of 6.25 crore saplings in hilly regions, including Chattogram, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, and denuded Sal forests.

According to Mintoo’s written answer, reserved forest coverage would be expanded to 200 hectares in the short term, 600 hectares in the medium term, and another 600 hectares in the long term.

He said that around 2,200 faunal and marine species, including newly identified ones, would be assessed for inclusion in the IUCN Red List.

Tk 70.21 crore in fines had been realised from 3,684 polluting industries and individuals between August 2024 and February 2026, he added.

Responding to a supplementary question from Dinajpur-4 lawmaker Akhtaruzzaman Mia, the minister said that the government would remain strict against unnecessary dredging and topsoil extraction.