We appreciate Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury speaking of a comprehensive afforestation plan for Dhaka -- which has been a long time coming. It is also refreshing to have a minister stressing the need to incorporate green spaces into urban development plans - something that should never have been overlooked in the first place.
Our unchecked march towards urbanization has come at a steep cost, with green spaces being sacrificed on the altar of development. This unsustainable trajectory has left Dhaka a barren concrete jungle, and it is about time the authorities concerned comprehended the dire consequences of insufficient green spaces.
Our terrible air quality and increased urban heat island effect are arguably the two most immediate ramifications of our lack of greenery in the capital. Our air quality rarely dips below the “unhealthy” range, and it is the lack of trees -- which play a crucial role in filtering pollutants and providing oxygen -- that exacerbates this issue. In addition, more concrete structures means more absorption and retainment of heat, causing temperatures to soar. If summer this year is any indication, the need for more trees is more prevalent than ever before.
With plans beginning to develop, the important thing now is to not get caught up in the details, and promptly move forward with implementation. Thus, while talks of satellite imagery to determine the best approach is legitimate, ultimately, the solution is simple: Dhaka needs more trees.
This is not an avenue where we can delay and wait for the perfect moment; every day, the number of trees goes down in the capital, and if we do not act swiftly and begin reversing this trend, we will have a capital that is unlivable for its denizens.
