Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is planning to create ‘Urban Forest’ to control the high temperature of the capital, prevent air pollution and protect the environment. Two sites have already been identified for urban afforestation on the advice of HIT officer Bushra Afrin. Waiting only for patrons. The work will be officially started if the financial support is received.

Talking to the concerned people, it is known that initially afforestation will be done in Banani and Kalyanpur of the capital. DNCC has its own premises in Kalyanpur. And DNCC wants the place of road and highway department in Banani. Later, Roads and Public Paths Department agreed to give space under 18-point conditions.

Bushra Afrin, chief heat officer of Adrienne Ershott-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Ershott-Rock), a US-based company assigned to the organization, has sought the sponsorship of Bangladesh Bank to ensure financial assistance in the first planned urban forestry of the capital. As Asia’s first heat officer, he is working in coordination with DNCC to reduce the temperature in Dhaka.

Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afrin has been advising the DNCC on urban temperature control since being appointed. Now as part of his advice and planning, efforts are being made to do urban afforestation in Banani and Kalyanpur. If we get a sponsor in this forest, the work will officially start. – DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam

According to sources, the main objective of this urban forestry project is to develop a spiritual bond between nature and children. Local species of trees will be used or planted here. So that it can easily adapt to the local environment. By creating such small forests, sustainable ecosystems can be created. However, selection of the right species of plants is very important for creating this forest.

DNCC Environment, Climate and Disaster Management Circle Executive Engineer. Nuruzzaman Khan told Jago News, ‘Urban forestry helps to cool down the city environment, keep water flow normal, increase biodiversity. Besides, in the first phase of creating urban forestry, importance is given to local species of trees. Small forests usually contain 20 to 40 species of trees and shrubs.’

In this regard, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam told Jago News, ‘Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Chief Heat Officer Bushra Afrin has been advising DNCC to control the city’s temperature since being appointed. Now as part of his advice and planning, efforts are being made to do urban afforestation in Banani and Kalyanpur. If we get patrons in this forestry, the work will officially start.’

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He said, ‘We have developed and modernized 24 parks and playgrounds in North City in the last four years. All parks and playgrounds have been opened to the general public. Citizens are enjoying its benefits.’

Urban forestry
Sources in DSCC’s engineering office said that DNCC has a reservoir of 53 acres in Kalyanpur. A gang had illegally occupied this place for ages and built a settlement. Occupants were evicted a year ago by conducting mobile courts. Now DNCC wants to build Hydro Ecopark there. Chief Hit Officer Bushra Afrin proposed to do ‘Urban Afforestation’ separately as part of this.

We want to create ‘urban forestry’ as a pilot project in Kalyanpur and Banani in Dhaka. DNCC will implement this afforestation. However, the project is still in the planning stage. The work will be officially started after getting the sponsor. – Chief Hit Officer Bushra Afrin

Similarly, Bushra Afrin advised DNCC on urban afforestation on the unused land owned by Roads and Public Ways Department on the east side of Airport Road from Kamal Ataturk Avenue to Banani 27 Road. Later, on December 27 last year, DNCC sought permission to temporarily use the unused land owned by the Roads and Highways Department. On April 18 of this year, Senior Assistant Secretary of Property Branch of Road Transport and Highways Department. A letter signed by Ghulam Jilani gave permission for urban afforestation.

However, DNCC cannot claim the ownership of the forest area, if the Roads and Highways Department wants to expand the road in the future, it has to give up the urban forest area – 18 conditions are given. DNCC has also been asked to sign an MoU with the Department of Roads and Highways in compliance with these conditions. DNCC is said to be preparing accordingly.

When asked, Chief Hit Officer Bushra Afrin told Jago News, ‘We want to create ‘urban forestry’ as a pilot project in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur and Banani. DNCC will implement this afforestation. However, the project is still in the planning stage. The work will officially start after getting the sponsor.’

He said, ‘The place where we want to afforest in Kalyanpur is owned by the City Corporation. And Banani’s place belongs to the Directorate of Roads and Highways. In the meantime, this department has written to DNCC to allot space. However, they have given some tough conditions. We want to proceed with their conditions.’

On the surface, there is an empty space lying vertically on the east side of Airport Road from the south side of Banani 27 Road to Kamal Ataturk Avenue. Here are some flowers for beautification. But it is deteriorating due to lack of maintenance. The place did not see any board of any government agency.

Ahsan Habib is a resident of Banani 27 road. Every morning and afternoon he walks on different roads of Banani. During the conversation, Ahsan Habib said, ‘The place where urban afforestation is being talked about, earlier there were many large trees of different species. All the trees have been cut down at various times in the name of road widening.

Besides, a few nurseries were established here a few years ago. It looked good. But they have taken up a lot of space due to a ram banani landing on the elevated expressway. The nurseries are gone. Now if urban afforestation is done there, the city dwellers will benefit.’

DNCC Environment, Climate and Disaster Management Circle Executive Engineer. Nuruzzaman Khan said, ‘This initiative of urban forestry in Banani has been taken on the advice of Chief Hit Officer Bushra Afrin. Now if we get a sponsor in the forestry, the design will be made and the memorandum of agreement will be made.’

MMA/ASA/JIM

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