Purbachal's reserved forest boundaries to be demarcated expeditiously: Adviser Rizwana
"This could be a forest that Dhaka residents feel is close to them, and they will come to see it,” she said
The boundaries of the Forest Department's reserved forest in Purbachal will be demarcated expeditiously, Environment and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (10 June).
"There is a relatively vibrant forest here in Purbachal. Now, the demarcation of this forest's boundaries is urgent and will be done quickly," she said in response to journalists' questions during her inspection of the Forest Department's reserved forest in Purbachal, Dhaka.
"This could be a forest that Dhaka residents feel is close to them, and they will come to see it," she added.
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The adviser further stated that due to misguided afforestation policies, urbanisation, and industrialisation, the Sal forest there was being destroyed.
"Rajuk had incorporated this forest into the second phase of Purbachal, but we fought hard and through legal battles, we were able to save this forest, which is about 144 acres," said the adviser.
She pledged to try to restore the forest primarily with Sal saplings. "The geological characteristic of this area is that it's an elevated region."
Rizwana also said, "We will try to naturally restore the Sal forest in the vacant areas here. Additionally, to prevent encroachment on these empty spaces, some Sal saplings will be planted in a natural setting. And, from the existing Sal trees, the forest should naturally become complete."
The adviser stated that this area was formally designated as a forest from the beginning. Now, it has been newly declared a special biodiversity area.
She emphasised that, apart from traditional forest dwellers, no one else has the right to reside within the forest area. Therefore, illegal occupants within the forest land must vacate the premises quickly.
