Bangladesh Roadside Tree Plantation

In 2018, two roads of Bogra have been planted from the first week of July; the roads are Amboil road (from Amboil village to Bamihal village) and Mominpur road (from Mominpur village to Hatgari village). 485 saplings have been planted over 0.5 kilometer of Mominpur road; the tree caretaker is Majeda (49). On Amboil road, 1,300 saplings out of 1,550 have already been planted; the rest 250 saplings would be planted within next 2/3 days; the tree caretaker for this 1.5 kilometer road is Shanti.

Case Study of Majeda, Sherpur upazila, Bogra 

Majeda (49) wife of Habu (58) lives in Mominpur village, Sherpur upazila under Bogra district. Her family is an extreme hard core poor family. Her son got married and lives separately and her daughter also got married and lives in a different village. Ten years before, they were living in Sariakandi upazila near the bank of Jamuna River. In 2008 their house was washed away by the river erosion; they became homeless. Then they moved to their present address. Here she has one decimal of homestead land. Her small house is made of tin on the top and bamboo fencing around it. But she and her husband don’t have any land for cultivation. Her husband is sick for the past four years and cannot help his wife. Majeda worked in a rice mill to support her family. From July 6, 2018 she is working as a caretaker of the roadside timber tree plantation. She is responsible for 0.5 km road where 485 saplings are planted. Per month she will receive US$ 16.50 as salary. She is happy to receive the job of a caretaker for three years. She hopes to buy some land at the end of her job.

In Netrokona district, plantation has not yet been started. Our workers of Netrokona have selected 5 roads for plantation of 8 kilometers. They are namely:

1. Rambhodropur paved road to Boroitola Bazar, Baushi union, Barhatta upazila: 1 kilometer

2. Rambhodropur bend to Harlia Bridge,Baushi union, Barhatta upazila: 2.5 kilometers

3. Harlia bridge to Baghmara bridge, Asma union, Barhatta upazila: 3 kilometers

4. Seopur bend to Agunati, Kaliara Gabragati union, Netrokona Shodor upazila: 0.5 kilometer

5. Basati bridge to Nairapara bridge, Kaliara Gabragati union, Netrokona Shodor upazila: 1 kilometer

These five roads have been arranged with the help of the local government of these areas. The government provides use of the roads for tree plantation by PEP for 20 years. It will also provide any other help needed, for example, if miscreants damage trees, the police will assist. The government are owners of 20% of the tree wealth. A special memorial for Alyce M. Priesmeyer will be established on road number 5 above.

In Chandpur district, all roads in both Kachua and Matlab Dakhin upazilas are presently planted with roadside trees by the local government and local initiative of the residents of the area. As no roads were available for plantations, PEP has decided to help extend plantation of fruit and timber saplings at the homes of the poor in these areas.

In Chandpur, a total of 4,875 fruit and timber saplings have been planned to be distributed among the poorest families for their homestead plantation; of them 2,925 are guava saplings and 1,950 are akashmoni saplings. Of the planned total, 2,500 saplings have been distributed among the 500 families. Each family has received 3 guava and 2 akashmoni saplings. The rest of the saplings would be distributed by August 10^th.