The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has imposed a nationwide ban on planting, collecting, and selling eucalyptus and akashmoni saplings, citing their severe ecological damage.
The ministry issued the directive on Thursday, ordering all government agencies, NGOs, and citizens to replace these invasive species with native fruit, timber, and medicinal plants in afforestation projects, reports BSS.
According to the ministry, scientific evidence shows these exotic trees deplete groundwater reserves, worsening aridity in drought-prone regions; release toxic leaf litter that sterilises surrounding soil, failing to support local biodiversity, leaving native birds and insects without habitats.
“This aligns with our national and international conservation commitments,” stated the ministry’s notification.
The forest ministry emphasised that these species have disrupted ecosystems across Bangladesh’s dry and seasonal zones.
