A new initiative to enhance afforestation is underway around Kutubdia Island. This initiative aims to protect the ecological balance and counter the effects of climate change. This reforestation effort will further green the island, thereby playing a crucial role in preserving local biodiversity.
The environmental advisor shared this plan at a special conference organized by the Bangladesh Environmental Movement (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) on Friday at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Auditorium. The two-day conference featured open discussions on rivers and water management.
When asked about the government’s plans to protect the isolated Kutubdia Island from environmental degradation, mainly through reforestation and dredging of the Pilotkata Canal, BAPA’s General Secretary of Kutubdia, journalist Abul Kashem, sought clarity.
Syeda Rezwana Hasan, the Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Water Resources adviser, responded by promising to implement a coordinated effort involving local communities, environmentalists, and the government. This initiative is expected to conserve the island’s natural resources and create new economic opportunities for the local population.
BAPA’s General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar, Kalim Ullah Kalim, emphasized the importance of afforestation and creating coastal green belts in disaster-prone areas like Kutubdia, contributing to long-term sustainable development.
Every year, Kutubdia Island experiences a breach in its embankments, leading to the loss of homes and livelihoods. Seawater from the rising tides crashes against the embankments, causing them to collapse.
The island’s residents are calling for immediate afforestation efforts around the embankments to prevent further damage and protect their homes from the increasing threat of natural disasters.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report/Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
