The reforestation activities for the 2020 season in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlements, began on Wednesday
The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department, and the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) partners through the Energy and Environment Technical Working Group (EETWG) launched the activities.
This year’s planting is part of a strategic partnership and coordination between the government of Bangladesh and UN agencies and NGOs to restore the environment and biodiversity in and around the camps, which is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, according to ISCG.
“With this plantation programme, we will turn the desert-like environment of the camps into an oasis of greenery,” says RRRC Md. Mahbub Alam Talukder.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, planting is starting later in the season this year. In close coordination with camps-in-charge and site management and site development sector partners, 15 organizations -- ActionAid, Arannayk Foundation, BAT, BRAC, CNRS, DCA, FAO, FIVDB, IOM, IUCN, Mukti, RDRS Bangladesh, Shushilan, UNHCR, WFP -- will plant over 120 hectares, adding to the 350 hectares that were planted in 2018 and 2019.
“The Planting Plan for 2020 will allow the humanitarian community and the Government to meet the challenges of slope failures, soil erosion, and water quality through plantation in the camps,” explains Todd Wofchuck, EETWG coordinator.
Organizations involved in the planting process will strictly follow Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures and ensure an 8-month maintenance plan to help ensure that the plants survive.
Priorities for reforestation activities this year are riparian (swamp vegetation) protection, slope stabilisation, roadside erosion control, and plantation with native tree species, which will restore the environment and help address risks faced by many Rohingyas and Bangladeshi families who are vulnerable to slope failure and flooding resulting from heavy monsoon rains.
“Funding to sustain vital environmental initiatives in the Rohingya refugee response is crucial to restoring the land and protecting both the biodiversity and the people – refugees and host communities- living in Cox’s Bazar District,” says Nicole Epting, ISCG senior coordinator.