Massive tree plantation has become a need for the time to mitigate adverse impacts of climate change and for the ecology and biodiversity in order to build a safer planet.
The opinion came at a concluding ceremony of a fortnight-long ‘Divisional Wood, Fruit and Medicinal Tree Fair -2016’ organised by Rangpur district administration, Social Forestry Division and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Rangpur yesterday.
Officials and experts of the administration, DAE, Department of Forest (DoF), agriculture-related organizations, NGOs, nursery owners, students and farmers attended the ceremony held on Zila School ground in the city.
The concluding ceremony of the fair was arranged in advance today ahead of its schedule considering the 9-day public holidays commencing from today.
“However, the fair that began on June 19 last, will continue till July 4 next as per schedule,” Additional Deputy Director (Plant Protection) of the DAE Aftab Hossain told.
Fifty stalls have been set up in the fair by private sector nursery owners and entrepreneurs displaying saplings of many varieties of fruit, timber and medicinal plants.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) attended the concluding ceremony and distributed prizes as the chief guest.
With Divisional Forest Officer Shafikul Islam in the chair, Deputy Commissioner Rahat Anwar, Deputy Director of the DAE SM Ashraf Ali, Assistant Forest Conservator Dr Prantosh Chandra and President of City Nursery Owners’ Association Saiful Islam addressed as special guests.
SM Ashraf Ali narrated beneficial aspects of forests and trees in human life citing examples of the Sundarbans that saved millions of lives when the super cyclone SIDR hit the country’s coastal belts in 2007.
The Deputy Commissioner said tree plantation could protect the environment, ecology and biodiversity.
The chief guest Minu Sheel called for turning tree plantation into a social movement and asked everyone to plant at least three saplings around homesteads or on any open space to maintain natural balance.
Later, she distributed crests, certificates and prizes among owners of Nurseries.
