Forests play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance and making the Earth habitable. They help preserve air quality, mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, prevent soil erosion and desertification, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity. Additionally, millions of people worldwide rely on forest-based livelihoods. However, deforestation and inadequate conservation efforts have put forest resources at risk in many countries, impacting food security and the overall environment.
Urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure development have led to a continuous decline in forested areas. Expanding agriculture and housing have further reduced forest coverage. Moreover, the encroachment and filling of rivers, canals, wetlands, and water bodies have caused severe ecological disruptions. To address this, it is essential to enforce forest and wildlife conservation laws effectively.
Recognizing the need for forest conservation and sustainable management, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012. Since 2013, Bangladesh, like other countries, has observed this day annually with a specific theme to highlight the significance of forests and promote awareness among policymakers, researchers, and the public.
The theme for the 2025 International Day of Forests, “Forests and Food ” is particularly relevant in the current global context. Forests are directly linked to food production and nutritional security. Many communities depend on forests for fruits, nuts, honey, medicinal plants, mushrooms, and vegetables. These forest resources are not only sources of nutrition but also integral to cultural traditions. Additionally, medicinal plants from forests contribute to both nutrition and herbal medicine. The loss of forests threatens food production and biodiversity.
Proper forest conservation helps maintain long-term food productivity and protects biodiversity. Spices, oils, resins, and medicinal plants obtained from forests are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The export of forest products can also generate foreign currency, benefiting the economy. Sustainable forest management is crucial for the long-term development of the food industry. To ensure sustainable food production and supply, forest conservation and reforestation must be prioritized.
In Bangladesh, forests cover 15.58% of the total land area, with tree-covered land making up 22.37%, which is insufficient. Major forests include the Sundarbans, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Madhupur Garh, and Sal forests. Growing population pressure, urbanization, industrialization, agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and climate change are causing forest degradation. Illegal timber harvesting, inadequate reforestation, encroachment, and habitat destruction have placed biodiversity at significant risk. The government has taken multiple initiatives to address these challenges.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change is implementing various policies and projects for forest conservation and expansion. The Social Forestry Program engages local communities in afforestation, helping both environmental conservation and poverty alleviation. Forest conservation laws provide a legal framework for protecting forests and wildlife. Additionally, sustainable forest management strategies incorporate green economy principles to ensure balanced use of forest resources.
Under the Forest Department, 14 development projects are currently being implemented to increase forest cover, restore degraded forests, conserve biodiversity, combat climate change, create coastal green belts, and provide alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the department aims to establish 3,530 hectares of block plantations, 866 km of strip plantations, 460 hectares of mangrove plantations, and distribute 1.98 million saplings. Efforts to reclaim encroached forest lands are also ongoing, with 33,082 acres recovered as of February 2025.
The National Forest Policy 2024 is in the approval process, alongside the Forest and Tree Conservation Act 2025 and Rural Forest Regulations 2025. To conserve and manage rare and endangered plant species, Bangladesh National Herbarium, in collaboration with IUCN, has assessed 1,000 plant species and published a Red List.
The Forest Department has also taken measures to halt the collection and plantation of exotic species like eucalyptus and acacia in nurseries, focusing instead on native biodiversity. To protect trees, an ongoing initiative is removing nails from their trunks. Additionally, 1,303 acres of reclaimed forest land have been reforested to reduce carbon emissions from the forest sector.
Under the special initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change’s Advisor, various forest lands allocated for government projects are being reclaimed. Notable actions include the transfer of 9,467 acres in Sonadia, Maheshkhali, from the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) to the Forest Department to protect its ecosystem. Additionally, the government has canceled land allocations, including 700 acres for the Public Administration Academy in Cox’s Bazar and 156 acres for a Multidisciplinary Academy. The cancellation of 20 acres reserved for the Bangladesh Football Federation’s ‘Technical Center’ in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, is another significant step in protecting forests. Several other similar cancellations are under review.
To ensure the conservation and management of forests, wildlife, and biodiversity, both short-term and long-term plans have been adopted. These include master plans for protected areas, conservation and expansion of indigenous and endangered plant gene pools, afforestation of reclaimed forest lands, and public awareness campaigns through seminars, workshops, wildlife olympiads, posters, billboards, and other outreach programs.
Bangladesh is a densely populated country. Preserving the existing forests while improving their health and diversity is critical. Social forestry programs implemented by the Forest Department have brought fallow and marginal lands under afforestation, contributing to rural socioeconomic development, employment generation, and environmental sustainability. By involving local communities, social forestry accelerates the transition toward a green economy.
Local communities play a vital role in forest conservation. Forest-dependent groups, such as indigenous communities, farmers, and residents, are daily users of forest resources. Their participation in conservation efforts must be enhanced. The government’s Social Forestry Program integrates local communities into forest management, allowing them to benefit economically while protecting forests.
Additionally, non-governmental organizations and environmental groups are raising awareness about sustainable forest use. While the government remains committed to forest conservation and expansion, public participation is essential for success. Awareness must be raised among local communities, farmers, forest-dependent groups, and policymakers about the proper use of forests. Media, social networks, educational programs, and public campaigns should emphasize that forest conservation is not only vital for biodiversity but also for sustainable food production and the well-being of future generations.
Ensuring sustainable forest management requires strategic policies and their effective implementation. Initiatives such as social forestry, forest conservation laws, and livelihood improvement programs for forest-dependent communities need to be strengthened. Strict monitoring, controlling illegal logging, and reforestation must be prioritized to prevent deforestation. Coordination between the agriculture and forest sectors, promoting the cultivation of forest-based food, and integrating modern technology into forest management are also necessary steps.
International cooperation is crucial in forest conservation and food security. To combat climate change, Bangladesh requires financial and technological support from developed countries. Learning from the experiences of advanced nations in forest conservation and management can help Bangladesh achieve sustainable development. Utilizing research from organizations such as the FAO, the IPCC, and other international bodies will enhance national policies on forest conservation. Investment in research and innovation can improve forest-based food production, exports, and local livelihoods. Balancing forest conservation with food security requires a combined effort of public awareness, effective policies, and international collaboration. The government, researchers, local communities, and global organizations must work together to achieve this goal.
As the world faces increasing food security challenges and environmental changes, a balanced policy integrating forest conservation and food management is more critical than ever. Development strategies must consider forests and food security as complementary elements. Bangladesh has already undertaken initiatives like social forestry, sustainable forest management, and eco-friendly agricultural practices to maintain this balance. However, long-term planning and implementation are essential for these efforts to be effective.
To ensure a livable and sustainable environment for current and future generations, scientific and appropriate technologies must be used for forest conservation, development, sustainable production of forest products, and their efficient use. Achieving this goal requires the collective efforts of the government, private organizations, local communities, farmers, researchers, and the general public. Increasing public awareness, promoting eco-friendly agriculture, improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, and investing in research are essential to preventing deforestation and ensuring food security.
International Forest Day 2025 reminds us of the need to work together to build a healthier, greener, and food-secure world. Now is the time to take collective action at individual, social, and national levels so that forests can play a vital role in ensuring food security while also protecting the environment.
Author: Dipankar Bar, Deputy Principal Information Officer, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change(PID Feature).