About two years ago, the Department of Forest took an initiative to plant a huge number of trees at Baikka Beel to provide shelter and food for the birds and also to preserve the environment.
However the forestation effort was not met with much success due to lack of planning and monitoring.
According to Climate Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (Crel), an NGO working at Baikka Beel, the forest department planted various trees during the 2012-2013 fiscal year under the climate trust fund.
Hijal and Korosh trees were planted in 20 hectares of land spending Tk7 lac. And in 50 hectares a total of 12,500 Murta plants were planted spending Tk1,464,950.
A recent visit by this correspondent to this ecologically critical area could not find any Murta plant. Though some Hijal and Korosh trees were seen, Murta, a cane-like plant locally popular for weaving floor mats, was non-existent.
Md Shamsuddin, treasurer of Borogangina Wealth Management Association, an organisation involved in managing Baikka Beel, said Murta plants planted by the forest department did not exist any more.
“After the forest department planted the trees, they did not contact any of the private organisations associated with managing Baikka Beel. Hence there was no one to take care of them. Most of the Murta plants died within one to two years of planting,” he said.
Sylhet division forest official Md Delwar Hossain said: “The trees were planted to create shelter for the birds and enrich the ecology of the area. But we are frustrated with the Murta plants, which did not go as we planned. However, the Hijal-Korosh trees are still there.”
Meanwhile, Crel planted about three thousands trees in 2014. Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, an official of Crel, said they took utmost care during and after planting the trees.
“We placed a stick beside each sapling and ensured that they are well taken care of. We also planted heavy trees such as mangoes, banyans, arjun etc,” he added.
The Ministry of Land declared the 250-acre Baikka Beel as a sanctuary for fishes and birds in 2003. Since then fishing and collecting aquatic plants have been banned here.
Every year Baikka Beel turns into a heaven for migratory birds ushering in a number of tourists and nature enthusiasts.
