Saidul Islam Montu, Betagi (Barguna)

While Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently announced a nationwide initiative to drape the country in a green canopy during his visit to Barishal, afforestation and sapling production efforts in Betagi upazila of coastal Barguna are severely constrained by a persistent lack of designated land for the local forest department's nursery. This chronic shortage has left forestry officials and employees in a state of uncertainty, undermining government directives.

Environmental activists point out that for a coastal region vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, greenery serves as the primary line of defense. Local forestry initiatives play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and maintaining ecological balance. However, years of lacking a permanent nursery site have caused local communities to fall behind in sapling production, posing environmental risks.

According to the Upazila Forest Department, a forestry and nursery center was established in 1990 on a convenient site near the main gate of the Upazila Parishad Complex to facilitate sapling production, environmental protection, economic growth, employment generation, and tree plantation drives. Due to space requirements by the Upazila Parishad, the nursery and office were relocated on January 24, 2024, to an abandoned site near the dormitory and the old Upazila Parishad building.

Later, under developmental instructions from then-UNO Md. Faruk Ahmed, the nursery was relocated once again to vacant land behind the upazila election office. A new nursery was established there, housing 10,000 saplings of various species—including rain tree, mahogany, mango, jackfruit, bahera, jam, and arjun—alongside 10,000 prepared polybags.

However, in July 2025, the Ansar and Village Defence Party reportedly constructed a tin-shed building for the Ansar-VDP Development Bank on part of the nursery land. Forestry officials stated that the construction proceeded without prior notice, destroying government assets, including saplings and polybags, and plunging sapling production into uncertainty. Locals have questioned how long government offices must wander nomadically.

Md. Belayet Hossain, Acting Officer of the Betagi Upazila Social Afforestation Center, said, disputes over nursery land have persisted since the department's inception. The recent unauthorized construction by Ansar-VDP damaged government property and disrupted sapling production. Although a temporary nursery was set up inside the old upazila chairman's building following instructions from the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, it has yielded little success.

A field inspection revealed that the current temporary site is cramped and exposed, with stunted saplings struggling amidst weeds—conditions locals describe as entirely unsuitable for raising healthy plants.

According to forest department guidelines, upazila-level nurseries are typically established under the authority of the Upazila Parishad, which is responsible for allocating suitable, permanent land.

Tree lover Salma Begum remarked that disruptions in sapling production force residents to procure plants from elsewhere at higher costs and with uncertain quality. Environmental activist Khairul Islam Munna expressed regret that despite Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent call on July 13 to nurture trees with parental care and blanket the country in green, the lack of a proper local nursery site prevents effective implementation of directives.

Nurun Nahar, Assistant Forest Conservator for Barguna District, explained that standard procedure requires a formal resolution by the Upazila Parishad to permanently allocate land for a nursery, which has not yet been executed in Betagi, causing the ongoing crisis. She urged district and upazila administrations to allocate permanent land for the nursery as soon as possible.

Md. Mohsin Khan, General Secretary of the Betagi upazila committee of Citizens for Good Governance (Sujan), emphasized that government nurseries are vital for greening and cautioned that hindered sapling production negatively impacts the local environment.

UNO Md. Saddam Hossain, who is also President of the Upazila Environment and Forest Development Standing Committee, said, a temporary nursery has been set up at a new location for now, and the administration is considering allocating better, permanent land for sapling production in the future.