Bangladesh will launch a nationwide plantation drive in May, aiming to plant 25 crore trees in five years to expand forest cover and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
Bangladesh is preparing to launch a major nationwide tree plantation programme from May aimed at expanding forest cover and strengthening climate resilience, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said.
Speaking to journalists after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, the minister said the initiative is part of the commitments made in the manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Environmental experts say large-scale afforestation is increasingly important for Bangladesh as the country faces rising climate risks including floods, river erosion, cyclones and salinity intrusion. Expanding forest cover is seen as a key step toward protecting ecosystems, strengthening natural defenses and supporting long-term environmental sustainability.
“We want to significantly increase the country’s green coverage. Our plan is to plant around five crore saplings every year across Bangladesh,” he said.
He added that the programme will be implemented gradually as a national effort involving government institutions, local administrations and private nurseries.
“This commitment was included in our manifesto for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. We aim to plant about twenty-five crore trees within five years,” the minister said.
According to him, the first phase of the plantation drive is expected to begin in May, which is considered one of the most suitable periods for planting saplings in many parts of the country.
“We will start the plantation activities from May. Different ministries and local authorities will work together to ensure the programme reaches all regions,” he said.
The saplings will be collected from government forest nurseries, agricultural nurseries and private nurseries. Authorities plan to distribute them across districts based on environmental priorities and available land.
The minister said special attention will be given to vulnerable and environmentally important areas including riverbanks, embankments, char lands, coastal belts, mangrove zones, roadsides and hill tracts.
“We want to plant trees in areas where they can protect both nature and communities. Riverbanks and coastal areas are particularly important for climate resilience,” he said.
He also acknowledged that reaching the full annual target in the first year may be challenging.
“In the first year we may face some limitations, but we will scale up the programme quickly. Any shortfall will be addressed in the following years,” he concluded.
