Bangladesh tree plantation efforts are set to expand under a five-year national programme aimed at ensuring that at least 250 million trees survive across the country, as the government seeks to restore forest cover, protect biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.
The government has said it plans to plant 320 million saplings over five years, anticipating that around 70 million may not survive. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo said the aim is to secure the survival of at least 250 million trees within that period.
The announcement came ahead of Bangladesh’s national observance of World Environment Day on July 9, when the government is also set to inaugurate the Environment Fair 2026, the National Tree Plantation Campaign and the National Tree Fair. Although World Environment Day is marked globally on June 5, Bangladesh is observing it this year alongside its annual plantation campaign.
This year’s theme for the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair is: “Let’s decorate the country through tree plantation, Bangladesh first.”
Bangladesh tree plantation plan moves under Smart Forestry
Bangladesh tree plantation work will be brought under a “Smart Forestry” framework that uses satellites, geographic information systems, remote sensing, drones and a national tree database to monitor the location and survival rate of planted trees.
Officials said every planted tree will be recorded digitally. Drones will be used in remote char areas, coastal regions and forests to support monitoring, particularly in places where physical inspection is difficult.
The use of digital tracking is important because past plantation programmes in many countries have often been criticised for focusing on planting numbers rather than survival. Bangladesh’s decision to monitor survival rates suggests that the government wants the programme to be judged by long-term outcomes rather than ceremonial planting drives.
Mintoo said the Forest Department is preparing an implementation policy, which is still under development. The government also plans to involve elderly women, elderly men and young people in planting and maintenance work, signalling that community participation will be central to the programme.
Programme aims to create green jobs
The five-year initiative is expected to create around 350,000 green jobs and support the development of 10,000 nursery entrepreneurs. These employment goals are significant because a plantation programme of this size requires seedling production, transport, planting, monitoring, watering, maintenance and protection from grazing, pests and encroachment.
If properly managed, the programme could support rural livelihoods while improving ecological protection. Nursery entrepreneurs may benefit from increased demand for indigenous saplings, while local communities could be engaged in planting and aftercare.
However, the success of the jobs component will depend on implementation details. The government has said it will not provide direct cash incentives, saplings, land, fields or orchards for private tree planting. Instead, it plans to support individuals and organisations that voluntarily undertake plantation efforts, while government agencies will finance their own plantation work from existing budgets.
Nearly 900 organisations have already applied for government support, including requests for land, saplings, orchards, fields, parks and funding. Officials said those applications are under review.
Current year target focuses on treeless areas and coasts
The Forest Department has already planted 8.33 million saplings, meeting nearly 17 percent of this year’s target, according to officials. During the current fiscal year, the department plans to plant 15 million indigenous saplings in treeless areas, along roads, canals, embankments and coastal zones.
The government has also outlined plans for large-scale mangrove and fruit tree planting. Officials cited targets involving 20 million mangrove saplings and 35 million indigenous fruit trees during the current fiscal cycle.
Mangrove planting is especially important for Bangladesh because coastal forests can help reduce storm surge impacts, protect embankments, support fisheries and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable coastal districts.
The Forest Department is also implementing afforestation projects on forest land recovered from illegal occupation. Officials said plantation work has begun on recovered land, including thousands of acres previously under illegal occupation.
Six focus areas shape the five-year programme
Officials said the 250-million-tree initiative has been divided into six components based on Bangladesh’s geographical, environmental and socio-economic conditions.
The six focus areas are coastal afforestation, forest restoration, urban forestry, community forestry, homestead and agroforestry, and production forestry. The programme will be implemented in short-term, medium-term and long-term phases over the next five years.
This structure matters because Bangladesh’s ecological needs vary widely. Coastal areas require salt-tolerant and storm-resistant species, while urban areas need trees that can survive pollution, heat and limited soil space. Homestead and agroforestry programmes can support household nutrition and income, while forest restoration requires species that rebuild ecosystems rather than only provide timber.
A one-size-fits-all plantation drive would risk wasting resources. The six-component approach gives the programme a better chance of matching tree species and planting methods to local conditions.
Indigenous species prioritised over exotic trees
The government plans to prioritise fast-growing indigenous species instead of exotic trees to reduce pressure on natural forests and support local ecosystems.
According to the Forest Department, priority species include mahogany, gamar, jarul, kadam, agar, bamboo, shilkoroi, black plum, mahua, bohera, arjun, neem, haritaki, jackfruit and elephant apple. The government also plans to plant 100,000 neem saplings within 180 days.
In coastal areas, casuarina will be planted, while sundari, gewa, bain and goran will be prioritised in the Sundarbans. The use of Sundarbans-linked species is important because mangrove ecosystems require specialised trees adapted to saline and tidal conditions.
Experts have welcomed the focus on tree planting but warned that species selection, land suitability and maintenance will determine whether the effort succeeds. Large-scale plantation can fail if trees are planted in the wrong soil, in unsuitable locations or without adequate protection after planting.
Experts warn maintenance will decide success
Environmental experts have stressed that planting trees is only the first stage. Long-term care is essential if the government wants at least 250 million trees to survive.
Professor Dr Mihir Lal Saha, former chairman of the Department of Botany at Dhaka University, said Bangladesh’s forest and tree cover continue to decline, making large-scale plantation necessary. However, he warned that trees must be cared for properly after planting.
He said at least three out of every five planted trees should survive and called for a comprehensive five-year implementation plan. He also said species should be selected based on land availability, root systems, canopy spread and local ecological conditions.
The warning reflects a common challenge in plantation campaigns. Public drives can generate strong initial participation, but saplings often die without watering, fencing, monitoring and protection from human or animal damage. Survival, not planting numbers, must therefore remain the key measure of success.
National tree fairs to support public participation
The government will also use national and local tree fairs to increase public participation. A month-long tree fair will be held in Dhaka, while 15-day fairs will take place in divisional cities. Seven-day fairs will be held in 56 district headquarters, and three-day fairs will take place in 29 upazilas.
The National Tree Fair in Dhaka will feature 120 stalls. Such fairs can help raise public awareness, connect people with nurseries and promote indigenous species suited to local conditions.
However, public participation must be matched by guidance. Households, schools, community groups and local governments need practical advice on where to plant trees, how to maintain them and which species are appropriate.
Without proper guidance, plantation activity can produce weak results, including poor survival rates, damage to infrastructure or the spread of unsuitable species.
Climate resilience depends on long-term follow-through
Bangladesh tree plantation efforts could support climate resilience, biodiversity protection and ecological restoration if the programme is implemented with careful planning. Trees can reduce heat, stabilise soil, improve air quality, support wildlife habitats and protect communities from erosion and storm impacts.
Yet the programme’s ambition also creates a major governance test. Planting hundreds of millions of saplings will require coordination among ministries, local government institutions, private organisations, research institutes, academic institutions and civil society groups.
Continuity will be essential. Experts have warned that Bangladesh often struggles to sustain long-term environmental projects when political or administrative priorities change. A five-year plantation programme will only succeed if monitoring, maintenance and funding remain consistent beyond launch events.
The government’s decision to use digital monitoring could improve accountability, but technology alone will not be enough. Field-level care, community ownership and ecological planning will decide whether the trees survive.
For now, the programme marks a major environmental commitment. If Bangladesh can move beyond planting ceremonies and focus on survival, species suitability and long-term care, the 250-million-tree target could become a meaningful step toward restoring forests and strengthening climate resilience.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 9, 2026
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