DHAKA, Feb 25, 2025 (BSS) - In a groundbreaking initiative, the government has commenced the demarcation of 18,565 acres of Madhupur's Sal forest in Tangail.

Under the directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, this historic effort is being undertaken jointly by the Forest Department, local administration, and local organisations.

For the first time in the country's history, the official boundary of a forested region is being systematically delineated, a ministry press release said.

The demarcation process has begun at the border points of Beribaid Mouza in Madhupur Upazila and Kamalapur Mouza in Mymensingh.

A total of 15 mouzas, including Arankhola, Beribaid, Chunia, Gachabari, Idilpur, and others, will have their forest boundaries precisely defined.

For years, the absence of a clearly marked boundary has led to rampant encroachment, with settlements emerging and large tracts of forestland being converted into pineapple, banana, and papaya plantations.

The new demarcation will safeguard the forest, enabling scientific management and the long-overdue restoration of Madhupur's Sal ecosystem.

Furthermore, as part of the Forest Department's annual encroachment removal initiative for FY 2024-25, 150 acres of illegally occupied forestland will be reclaimed and reforested with Sal and associated native species.

 In addition, site-specific afforestation programmes will replace non-native plantation species with ecologically suitable flora.

The collection of seedlings-including Haldu, Koroi, Haritaki, Bahera, Arjun, Jarul, and others-is already underway. Plans are also in place to sow Sal seeds directly in designated areas to facilitate natural regeneration.