Isn’t it ironic that a new four-lane highway, cutting through 10,000 acres of the protected Amazon rainforest, is being built for COP30 – a global summit meant to address climate change? While the world debates climate action, such decisions remind us how often ‘progress’ comes at a cost. Here at home, the story is much the same, if not worse.
As we mark International Day of Forests today, let’s turn our attention to the forests around the country and see how they’re holding up.
The mangrove giant Sundarbans
A World Bank report shows the Sundarbans, spanning Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat, shrank from 7,142 sq km (1904–24) to 6,871 sq km (2015–16), losing 252 sq km over a century. It is equivalent to 2.5 sq km or 350 FIFA-standard football fields annually.
This decline threatens biodiversity, with the Sundari tree and over 31 endangered species, including the Bengal tiger, at risk. Tiger numbers here dropped from 440 in 2004 to 114 in 2019. Deforestation and climate change are devastating this ecosystem, endangering wildlife diversity and the livelihoods of local communities.
Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Rangamati
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is vital for forest restoration and carbon conservation in our country. But it faces severe deforestation, with 522,158 hectares lost and 146,210 hectares degraded. Pablakhali Sanctuary lost 9% (800 hectares or 2000 acres) of its primary forest from 2002–2023, per University of Maryland satellite data via Global Forest Watch.
Deforestation continued in 2024, notably in the park’s north. These forests host rare species like Asian elephants, clouded leopards, and hoolock gibbons, and support indigenous communities. Ongoing illegal activities threaten ecological balance, necessitating urgent conservation efforts.
Lawachara National Park, Sreemangal
Lawachara, a National Park, faces severe threats due to linear infrastructure and human activities. A 2019 Zoologia study by Jagannath University documented 27 fatalities across five monkey and langur species within two years of their survey. A 2013 study by Shahriar Rahman found 503 snake roadkills in Lawachara.
Fires, like the one in Lawachara last month that damaged two acres, further endanger biodiversity. Poaching using brake wires also threatens wildlife. With 25,000 trees at risk due to human intervention, experts warn that deforestation and habitat fragmentation could devastate the region’s ecosystem.
Madhupur Sal Forest, Tangail
The Madhupur Sal Forest in Tangail, once rich in wildlife like peacocks, wild buffalo, and deer, is now severely degraded due to deforestation, food shortages, and poaching. Once spanning 45,000 acres, it has shrunk to just 10,000 acres due to tree felling and encroachment, according to the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.
This destruction has caused an acute food crisis, leaving primates and birds struggling to survive. Around 36 variants of trees, including wild fruits and herbal plants, have become extinct in this area.
Bhawal National Park, Gazipur
Bhawal National Park, a vital Sal forest near Dhaka, has seen its forest cover shrink from 39,943 hectares in 2000 to 16,174 hectares in 2023 due to unplanned urbanisation (RDRC, BELA). This loss worsens air pollution, reduces diversity, and weakens climate resilience. Immediate action is needed to curb encroachment and restore the forest.
Ratargul Swamp Forest, Sylhet
Ratargul, Bangladesh’s only freshwater swamp forest, faces severe pollution from plastic waste, food debris, and cigarette butts left by tourists. This litter harms aquatic life and disrupts the ecological balance. Protecting Ratargul requires stricter waste management and awareness campaigns to preserve its unique ecosystem and natural beauty.
Jhau bon, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar
The Jhau ban in Teknaf, planted with 40,000 Tamarisk or Jhau trees between 2014-2016, protects coastal communities from cyclones and tidal waves. However, over 1,000 trees were illegally felled in a single week in 2023, as reported in Samakal. Deforestation increases coastal vulnerability and accelerates beach erosion. Protecting these trees is critical for climate resilience and the safety of local communities.
Nature is changing before our eyes. Some forests are fading; others are fighting to survive. But there’s still hope. Every tree we protect, every forest we restore, helps bring back balance. The more we see, the more we understand—and the more we can do to keep our wild home thriving.