The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

The Department of Forest has taken up a development programme for optimum use of marginal and fallow land through participatory social forestry.

Official sources said raising of seedlings for distribution to local people and planting timber, fruit and economically important trees are the main thrust of the project.

Besides, creating alternative income generating sources to support poverty alleviation and supply raw materials to 'lakkha' and 'khair' producing cottage industries and protect those from extinction are the related objectives.

The five-year project titled "Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Alleviation in Greater Rajshahi and Kushtia Districts" will be implemented in 44 upazilas in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Kushtia, Meherpur and Chuadanga districts at a cost of Taka 13.20 crore.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abul Basher Mian told BSS that planting trees in marginal, fellow, private and char lands efficiently with participatory management approach is the main component of the programme.

The project has a provision for plantation of three lakh host trees of 'lakkha' and 'khoir' on 10 acres of land for creating eco-tourism and improving socio-economic condition of local people by engaging them in the production of 'lakkha' and 'khoir'.

Different types of birds and animals are still living in different parts of the region and they are starving and immediate food supply is needed for their survival and sources of food should be created through plantation of fruit-bearing trees.

For conservation of animals and birds, the project will plant 8.3 lakh saplings of forest, fruit bearing and timber on marginal lands, homesteads and graveyards.

Mango plantation would be extended to marginal and private lands involving local people under the programme as the existing mango plantation has been playing an important role in the local economy. Around two lakh mango saplings would be planted.

In the project-covering districts, he said there is a huge area of charlands. So, charland plantation is another component that might improve biodiversity, environment and economy of the local people side by side with stabilizing charland. At the preliminary stage, 480 hectares of charlands would be brought under plantation.

Apart from this, there exists some natural scenic and historic spots like Sona Masjid in Chapainawabganj, Paharpur in Naogaon, Shelaidaha and Lalanshah Mazar in Kushtia and Mujibnagar in Meherpur, which are frequently visited by a huge number of people every year.

The programme has been designed to turn those spots into eco-tourism by building some recreational facilities along with more plantations.

Strip plantation on 1120 kilometers, gullies plantation on 200 kilometers and cane plantation on 10 kilometers would be implemented for local and migratory birds and for development of cottage industries.

On successful implementation of the project by June 2013, DFO Basher Mian said, it would help create alternative income generating sources to assist poverty alleviation side by side with biodiversity conservation.