In the past 30 years, Dhaka has been steadily losing its greenery despite promises to restore it. However, there has been a recent positive development with the establishment of two Miyawaki urban forests in quick succession by different entities. The Dhaka North City Corporation’s forest in Diabari, Uttara, spanning 2.6 acres with 53,400 trees, has been joined by another forest in Sector 17 of Uttara, inaugurated on July 28. This new forest consists of 6,100 trees from 93 native species and was implemented by Shakti Foundation and Mutual Trust Bank with support from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
The simultaneous efforts of a public institution and a civil society organization with private financial backing to plant forests indicate a positive shift. However, to ensure replicability, the government should focus on implementing a credible monitoring framework and ensuring protection for the newly planted forests. Satellite imagery analysis spanning three decades revealed a drastic decline in Dhaka’s green cover from 17 percent in 1989 to just 2 percent in 2020, marking an 88-percent reduction. Factors such as construction, population growth, and infrastructure expansion led to the loss of 185 hectares of tree cover between 2010 and 2022, exacerbating the urban heat island effect.
The implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) like the Miyawaki method, which involves creating dense, multi-layered forests with native species, has shown promising results. These forests can reduce ambient air temperatures, intercept airborne particulate matter, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity at higher levels than conventional plantations. Similar successful projects in India demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, such as converting barren parks into native woodlands and establishing Miyawaki forests in schools.
Bangladesh has also showcased successful initiatives like the Prokolpo Sonapahar project in Mirsarai, Chattogram, which restored a degraded hillside with native species. The government’s commitment to planting 250 million trees aligns well with the Miyawaki method’s capabilities in supporting tree monitoring and carbon sequestration efforts. However, a credible delivery plan is necessary to achieve this target. The importance of green cover in schools is highlighted by instances of school closures due to extreme heatwaves, emphasizing the need for school-based Miyawaki forests.
National frameworks like the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) prioritize increasing tree cover and urban afforestation. While initiatives by DNCC and Shakti Foundation align with these frameworks, a comprehensive national policy is required, including mandatory green cover requirements for institutions, enforceable green belt protection, and a school-based Miyawaki program for credible climate reporting.
The ecological importance of these forests is well-documented, and ongoing projects in Dhaka demonstrate their effectiveness. Moving forward, establishing an institutional framework to coordinate efforts, monitor outcomes, and scale successful initiatives is crucial for sustainable urban development.