Tree Monitoring App to Track Plantation

The government is developing a national Tree Monitoring App to digitally track planted trees, their locations, growth and survival rates. The system will use geographical coordinates to record tree locations and require periodic image uploads of individual trees or groups of trees. The initiative is aimed at verifying plantation data, monitoring survival rates and measuring actual green coverage.

The information was disclosed by Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while speaking as a special guest at a consultation meeting on the progress of NGO-led tree plantation commitments. The meeting was held Wednesday, 16 September morning at the conference room of the NGO Affairs Bureau in Dhaka.

Dr. Saimum Parvez said many trees planted under previous projects died because of inadequate maintenance. As a result, trees were often planted again at the same locations in subsequent years. The proposed app is intended to reduce such waste and provide a more reliable picture of the country’s actual green coverage.

Reviewing data presented at the meeting, he said more than 120 NGOs had committed to tree plantation through July 2026, but data from only 83 NGOs had so far been received. He urged the remaining organizations to submit accurate information quickly.

Calling on NGOs to prepare before the app becomes fully operational, he said, “Field-level monitoring officers must ensure that geographical coordinates are tracked from now on.”

He added that current images of each tree or group of trees would have to be uploaded to the app at specified intervals. Separate imaging guidelines would be provided for large forest areas and similar locations.

Representatives of NGOs raised several protocol-related issues at the meeting. In response, the Special Assistant said arrangements were being made to quickly distribute ministry-prepared guidelines on which types of trees are suitable for particular regions.

A dedicated telephone and email helpdesk will also be introduced soon to provide direct assistance to NGOs, he said.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam attended the meeting as the chief guest. Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Director General (Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau, chaired the meeting.
//DBTech/BMC/SME/MIST//