Bangladesh government notification issued banning eucalyptus and acacia trees
The government of Bangladesh has banned the production, planting, and sale of eucalyptus and acacia saplings. From this year, saplings of these two types of trees will not be planted in government and private-level tree plantation programs.
The notification was issued recently by the Forest-1 branch of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Bangladesh. The notification announces a ban on the production, planting, and sale of saplings for these two tree species to protect the environment, habitat, and biodiversity, and to meet national and international commitments.
Research has shown that these trees have an excessive water absorption capacity and make the soil rough. To protect biodiversity, it has been decided to plant indigenous fruit, forest, and medicinal tree saplings instead of the two invasive species.
Kamal Hossain, a professor at Chittagong University’s Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science, has extensively studied eucalyptus and acacia trees and authored the book ‘Eucalyptus Dilemma in Bangladesh’. He said the directive on afforestation by prioritizing native species is a good initiative.
According to Professor Kamal Hossain, in 1921, eucalyptus was first brought from Australia to beautify the tea gardens of Sylhet. In the early 1960s, a number arrived in the country. Akashmani was also brought to Bangladesh around 1977-1978.
The Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) tested the usefulness of the two species in Satkania, Hathazari, Madhupur, and Dinajpur. As a result, these two species spread rapidly throughout Bangladesh.
Research shows that eucalyptus absorbs more water because its growth is high. This tree spreads a lot of seeds. As a result, other species of trees do not have the opportunity to grow around this species.
Experts suggest testing eucalyptus and Akashmani species for planting in degraded and infertile soil, as they can thrive in such conditions.
