Govt committed to transform botanical gardens into conservation sites: Rizwana

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has emphasized that botanical gardens are not merely recreational spaces but vital centres for nature conservation.

The government is committed to transforming these gardens into conservation sites and any effective proposals in this regard will be given due consideration, the adviser said while delivering the inaugural address as chief guest at the Annual Botanical Conference 2024, organized at Jahangirnagar University on Friday. She joined the event virtually from her Dhaka residence.

Rizwana highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to protect endangered forest areas, including hilly and coastal forests.

However, she noted that while attempts are being made to regulate tourism for conservation, various challenges have emerged.

She stressed the need to evict illegal invasions and ensure reforestation in degraded forest areas.

If deforestation occurs due to any development project, immediate afforestation measures must be implemented as an alternative, she added.

Rizwana said the government has initiated a comprehensive master plan for the restoration of sal forests.

She highlighted that natural forests cannot be fully restored through social forestry alone, and no afforestation project should come at the cost of destroying existing natural forests.

She also stressed the importance of fulfilling constitutional commitments to biodiversity conservation through concrete actions.

She urged other universities to foster similar eco-friendly environments.