DHAKA : Millions of government primary school students are set to become frontline participants in Bangladesh's nationwide afforestation campaign as the government rolls out its "One Child, One Tree" programme targeting the planting of 1 crore (10 million) trees across the country.

Outlined in the national budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27) and linked to the broader National Green Mission, the initiative aims to facilitate the planting of 1 crore trees at the homes and homesteads of students enrolled in government primary schools.

The programme is part of a wider national target to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years as the government seeks to maintain ecological balance, restore degraded forests, preserve biodiversity and create green employment opportunities.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury highlighted the initiative in his budget speech, saying: "Under the 'One Child, One Tree Programme', the government has finalised an action plan to facilitate the planting of 1 crore trees at the homes and homesteads of students enrolled in government primary schools."

The initiative reflects the government's broader climate and environmental priorities outlined in the FY27 budget.

"One of the key objectives of the government is to address the challenges of climate change and to build a green and sustainable Bangladesh for future generations. Special emphasis has been placed in the budget for FY27 on maintaining ecological balance through environmental conservation and afforestation," the finance minister said.

The programme is designed to engage students directly in environmental stewardship by encouraging the planting and taking care of trees within their own households and communities. Environmental conservation and climate awareness are also being integrated into the education system as part of students' civic responsibilities.

Referring to this approach, the finance minister said: "As part of environmental and civic responsibility, the following will be ensured: implementation of the 'One Child, One Tree' programme; inclusion of environmental conservation and climate awareness in education."

To ensure accountability and improve sapling survival rates, the government is developing a "Tree Monitoring App" that will digitally track and monitor planted trees across the country.

According to the budget and climate reports, the app will support digital surveillance and maintenance of saplings, making afforestation activities more accountable and systematic. The platform will work alongside GPS and GIS-based data collection systems used to maintain records of afforested areas under the Department of Forests.

The digital monitoring mechanism is considered particularly important for the One Child, One Tree programme as the saplings will be planted in homes and homesteads across the country where conventional monitoring would be difficult.

The initiative forms part of the National Green Mission's broader afforestation strategy, which includes planting trees on marginal lands along roads, highways, embankments, riverbanks and canal banks, while also expanding urban forestry and agroforestry programmes.

The wider programme also places emphasis on mangrove afforestation in coastal char areas, restoration of coastal ecosystems, rehabilitation of degraded shal forests in hilly and central regions, and conservation of endangered forest species.

As part of the environmental strategy, the government plans to bring 50 percent of coastal mangrove forests under carbon trading mechanisms to generate revenue.

The afforestation programme is also expected to have significant economic benefits. According to the budget documents, the broader initiative to plant 25 crore trees is expected to create approximately 350,000 green jobs, both directly and indirectly.

The finance minister described the programme as part of a larger national effort to protect the environment and strengthen climate resilience.

"The Budget is built around ten strategic priorities... protecting the nation from the impacts of climate change and preserving biodiversity by transforming community-led afforestation into a green revolution... to build a sustainable, green, climate-resilient, and liveable future for generations to come," he said.

With an action plan already finalised and digital monitoring mechanisms under development, the "One Child, One Tree" programme is set to become a key component of Bangladesh's long-term environmental strategy, linking education, community participation and afforestation in pursuit of a greener and more climate-resilient future.