Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, emphasized the profound importance of planting trees during her address as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the National Tree Fair 2024, held at the Forest Department Auditorium.

She urged that the significance of tree planting should resonate deeply within us, as it is essential for leading a healthy and beautiful life.

Trees play a vital role by absorbing excess heat, purifying the air, and cooling our environment. Hasan called upon everyone to not only plant trees but also care for them, stressing that collective efforts can restore our forests and environment.

During her remarks, Hasan highlighted the need for prioritizing afforestation over commercial timber ventures. She advocated for modernizing forest management practices and focusing on sustainable forestry and livelihood development instead of seeking short-term gains from social forestry.

Additionally, she underscored the importance of raising public awareness and engaging youth in the conservation of forests, biodiversity, and the environment.

The event also featured the distribution of awards to winners of tree identification, essay, and drawing competitions, as well as recognition for stall owners.

This year's National Tree Fair showcased 120 stalls, selling a total of 3,185,993 saplings, valued at BDT 16,28,52,010. Ornamental saplings were the top sellers, followed by timber, fruit-bearing, medicinal, and endangered species saplings.

Earlier in the day, the Environment Advisor visited the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) and urged officials to take responsible action in conserving forest resources.