‘Adaptation measures taken to face climate change impact’

1327

RANGPUR, Feb 15, 2020 (BSS) – Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Minister Md. Shahab Uddin, MP, today said Bangladesh is taking adaptation
initiatives to combat negative impacts of climate change caused by global
warming.

“We are working to plant trees on more than 25 percent of the country’s
total land area. To attain the goal, we will not cut or sell any tree of the
Department of Forest till 2022,” he said.

The minister was addressing the launching function of the Regional Bamboo
Research and Training Centre (RBRTC) of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
(BFRI) at Domar upazila town in Nilphamari district as the chief guest.

The BFRI has built the four-storey RBRTC building with modern research
laboratory and training facilities spending Taka 18.53 crore aiming at
restoring the past glorious tradition of bamboo.

The minister said the newly launched RBRTC will largely contribute to
expand bamboo cultivation and increase use of eco-friendly bamboo-made
products in Rangpur region.

“The RBRTC will provide training to farmers and bamboo artisans to promote
cultivation of bamboo, increase quality of bamboo, preservation, production
and marketing of attractive bamboo-made products in a cost effective manner,”
he said.

Apart from this, the RBRTC will provide training on agronomic management
of bamboo clusters and use of chemical materials to enhance life expectancy
of bamboo-made products, wood and other goods.

“In the past, bamboo was largely used as necessary construction material
and tool for producing essential household works, including construction and
furnishings of houses,” he said.

“At present, timber and plastic materials have occupied the space of
bamboo destroying huge number of trees and balance in nature and the
environment,” he said, adding that pollution has taken a serious shape now
due to the widespread use of plastic goods.

“The rate of felling trees and use of plastic goods would be reduced
substantially if we can conduct proper research on bamboo and inspire farmers
in farming bamboo adopting latest technologies and expand the use of eco-
friendly bamboo-made products,” he said.

With Secretary for the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry
Ziaul Hasan in the chair, Aftab Uddin Sarkar, MP, Chief Forest Conservator
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Development) to the Ministry
Ahmad Shamim Al Razi, Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari Hafizur Rahman
Chowdhury, attended the function, among others.