9,467 acres of land in Sonadia Island to be transferred to Forest Department from Beza
The land, previously allocated to Beza for the establishment of an eco-tourism park, will be declared as ‘protected area’
The government has taken the initiative to transfer 9,467 acres of land in Sonadia of Maheshkhali upazila in Cox's Bazar, to the Forest Department to protect the environment and biodiversity of the area.
The process of transferring the land, previously allocated to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) for the establishment of an eco-tourism park, to the Forest Department has begun, reads a press statement issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Shahin Akter Sumi, director (Investment Development and Monitoring-1) of Beza, requested the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar to take necessary steps in this regard yesterday (16 March).
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This initiative has been undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Illegal activities such as tree cutting and shrimp farming on the allocated land have caused severe damage to the island's environment and biodiversity. In light of this situation, the decision has been made to transfer the allocated land to the Forest Department. Various measures will be taken to restore the environment of the 9,467-acre forest area.
The initiatives include eviction of illegal encroachments, Removal of barriers at the mouths and branches of canals to facilitate tidal water flow; restoration of sand dunes and beach conservation; reforestation with various mangrove and non-mangrove species such as kaw, keya, nishinda, coconut, palm, and gotivanga along connecting roads, Rehabilitation of degraded mangrove forests.
Additionally, the 9,467-acre forest area will be declared a protected area with public participation.
This will ensure biodiversity conservation, halt illegal activities, and bring positive changes in tackling natural disasters.
