<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said forests cannot be destroyed by building roads or any other infrastructure.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Working together, we can all give a beautiful Bangladesh to the future and present generations by conserving forests, wildlife and biodiversity,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Environment and Forest Minister said these as the chief guest at a discussion programme organised by the Forest Department on Thursday on the occasion of the International Forest Day 2024 with the theme "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World".</div><div><br></div><div>The Forest Minister said that afforestation and monitoring activities are being digitised.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Successful forest monitoring and crime prevention is being done in the Sundarbans through the introduction of smart patrolling system, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mobile apps are being prepared to get tickets and other services online for tourists in the Sundarbans and other protected areas, added Saber.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the existing laws, rules and regulations are being updated to achieve various targets.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Forest Conservator Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury presided over the occasion whereas Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhana Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun; Aranyak Foundation Chairman Professor Dr. A. J. M. Manjur Rashid and SUFAL Project Director Gobinda Roy spoke among others.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Cheques were distributed to the beneficiaries of social forestry and prizes were distributed to the winners of the 'Tree Identification' competition held on the occasion of International Forest Day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>