Renaissance International Foundation Chairman Ataur Rahman spoke about the current environmental disaster, saying that in the current world, human needs are increasing day by day due to the trend of development. Activities such as urbanization, industrialization, infrastructure construction, and expansion of communication systems are increasing. Trees and forests are becoming the easiest victims for these development activities. Trees have to be cut down for development, this has become the rule of this country. We do not understand when our policymakers and government officials will think about how to develop without cutting down trees or causing any harm to the environment. On the one hand, trees are being cut down for the sake of development, and on the other hand, the question is being raised – is this real development or a suicidal decision? What do we basically mean by development? Development is the overall progress or change in the financial, social, cultural, educational, health, technology, infrastructure, etc. of an individual, society, nation or state, which gives people the opportunity to live a better, orderly, safe and prosperous life.

Construction of new roads, bridges, industrial areas, and residential buildings is essential for the economic progress, infrastructure development, and civic amenities of a country. The need to cut down some trees for these activities often becomes a reality. Especially in developing countries, due to population growth pressure, urbanization, and the need for agricultural land, development work is being carried out by clearing forests. The government and construction companies say that the implementation of these projects creates employment, facilitates communication, and activates the economy.
However, there is no way to deny the terrible consequences that this one-sided thinking of development is causing in the long term. Experts say that cutting down trees does not mean just destroying a single tree, it is destroying the entire ecological balance. Currently, the effects of climate change have taken a terrible form in the whole world, including our country. The temperature is increasing day by day, due to which long-term heat waves are being created. Accordingly, if trees are cut down, trees should be planted in double proportion.

Climate change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and provide oxygen. Cutting down trees increases the amount of greenhouse gases, which in turn increases temperatures.
Due to which diseases like respiratory problems, skin diseases, and heatstroke increase.

To overcome this situation, sustainable development is needed, where development occurs but without destroying the environment. It is not enough to just plant trees – it is also very important to select trees by considering the right place, time, weather, soil type, surrounding environment and settlement context. Again, just planting trees is not enough, it needs proper care.
Development by cutting down trees may bring immediate economic benefits, but in the long run its consequences can be dire. No development is sustainable by destroying nature. Rather, that development eventually becomes a suicidal decision for mankind. Therefore, now is the time to choose the path of development by giving utmost importance to protecting trees, forests and the environment. Because only when nature survives will humans survive, and only when humans survive will development survive.

Development should be achieved by saving trees, not destroying them.