The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at the closing ceremony of a fortnight-long tree fair here said massive tree plantation could help stop desertification in the vast tract of Barind area, besides maintaining a sound environment and bio-diversity. Raising of more forests through tree plantation to expand the forests area up to 25 percent of the total land will protect the country from any possible ill-effects of climate change, they said.

Jointly organised by Rajshahi District Adminis-tration, Social Forestry Division (SFD) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at the historic Madrasha maidan, the fair was arranged as part of the ongoing National Tree Plantation Campaign. Government and non-government organisations, nursery owners and local entrepreneurs set up 50 stalls on the fair ground displaying saplings of over 150 varieties. The saplings included fruit-bearing trees, timber and medicinal trees. Saplings of different varieties worth around Taka 13 lakh were sold during the fair.

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Ibrahim Khalil, Divisional Forest Officer of SFD Delwar Hossain, Deputy Director of DAE Braja Haridas, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abdul Barik and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development) Satyandra Kumar Sarker addressed the function. The speakers urged the people from all walks of life to plant more trees to maintain ecological balance.

They called upon the city dwellers to plant more saplings to maintain ecological balance.

They said all concerned should put in their best efforts to make the region green by increasing forest area. The speakers termed tree plantation as an investment and said many people have now been changing their lots through setting up nurseries and developing fruits garden.

They urged all to plant at least three saplings each in their respective homesteads or on any open space to help maintain environmental and ecological balance to save the country from any future catastrophe.