Natural Keya, also known as fragrant screw pine (Pandanus odorifer) forests on St Martin’s Island, are reportedly facing destruction shortly after the tourism season concluded on January 31. Local residents have voiced concerns over the alleged rampant felling of Keya trees along the seafront in the Dakkhin-para area to make way for resort development.
Tayeb Ullah, a resident of the area, witnessed a significant portion of the forest already cleared with more Keya trees being cut down and abandoned to dry. He emphasized the crucial role of the dense Keya forest in shielding the island’s residential areas from tidal water intrusion, highlighting that several resorts have been established by clearing these forests to offer tourists unobstructed sea views.
Last year, some residential areas faced seawater incursion during high tides, causing harm to freshwater ponds and endangering residents’ livelihoods. Foyezul Islam, the chairman of St Martin’s Island union parishad, acknowledged reports of indiscriminate tree felling in the Dakkhin-para area but expressed uncertainty regarding the perpetrators.
Following initial assessments, it was revealed that the cleared land is privately owned, potentially sold to a resort developer from Dhaka. The motive behind the tree removal remains ambiguous, speculated to be for resort construction or roofing purposes.
Jamir Uddin, director of the Department of Environment in Cox’s Bazar district, confirmed their awareness of the situation and assured that a thorough investigation was underway. St Martin’s Island has been designated as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), making any destruction of natural forests illegal. Uddin warned that individuals involved in the incident would be identified through investigation and face legal consequences under the Environment Conservation Act.