BANGLADESH

The greening of Bangladesh's coastline will commence soon. The Asian Development Bank has approved a US $23.4 million loan for a 7-year project for improving Bangladesh's forest cover and alleviating rural poverty by creating income opportunities.

Under an aggressive reforestation drive spearheaded by Bangladeshi NGOs and the forestry department, landless people would be urged to undertake tree plantation along embankments, roads and railways, while local farmers would receive high quality seedlings for the better production of palms and fruit trees.