6,538ha of land to be afforested at coast

The government has undertaken a plan to bring 6,538 hectares of land, and 621 kilometres of area in nine costal districts  under the social afforestation programme during the current fiscal year, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain told the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.

Replying to a question from treasury bench member Didarul Alam, he also said the government has undertaken 'Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project' financed by Bangladesh Climate Change Resilient Fund to ensure afforestation in the coastal region.

Of the land, 2,624 hectares would be brought under mangrove gardening, 2,305 hectares for buffer zone garden, 135 hectares for enrichment garden, 1,376 hectares for core zone garden, 98 hectares for non-mangrove garden, 304 kilometres for golpata garden, and 317 kilometres for strip garden, he said.

Anwar Hossain also said the social afforestation programme would contribute to the national economy, maintaining balance in the ecology, environment, and biodiversity, and reducing risks of natural calamities and desertification.