DHAKA : The government is developing a “Tree Monitoring App” as a key digital tool to ensure the survival, growth and accountability of saplings planted under its nationwide afforestation initiatives, including the flagship "One Child, One Tree" programme. 

The initiative is outlined in the National Budget Speech Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27) and the Bangladesh Climate Budget Report 2026-27 as part of the broader National Green Mission aimed at large-scale environmental conservation and climate resilience. 

According to the budget and climate policy documents, the app is being developed to make afforestation activities more modern, transparent and accountable through continuous digital surveillance and maintenance of trees planted across the country. 

The system is designed to track the status of saplings and ensure proper maintenance after plantation, addressing challenges in monitoring large-scale tree plantation activities, particularly those carried out at the household level under the "One Child, One Tree" programme.

The programme aims to facilitate the planting of one crore (10 million) trees by engaging students of government primary schools, with saplings planted at their homes and homesteads as part of a nationwide effort to promote environmental responsibility among the younger generation. 

To strengthen monitoring accuracy, the ‘Tree Monitoring App’ will operate in integration with GPS and GIS-based data collection systems, enabling digital mapping and record-keeping of afforested areas under the department of forests. 

The app is expected to play a central role in ensuring sapling survival where manual oversight is limited, particularly in dispersed plantation sites across rural and urban areas. 

The National Green Mission, under which the programme is being implemented, targets the plantation of 25 crore (250 million) trees over the next five years, aiming to restore degraded forests, maintain ecological balance and enhance carbon sequestration. 

The broader afforestation strategy also includes creating approximately 350,000 green jobs, both directly and indirectly, as part of its environmental and economic objectives. 

According to the budget documents, the government also plans to bring 50 percent of coastal mangrove forests under carbon trading mechanisms to generate revenue while supporting environmental conservation efforts. 

The afforestation programme prioritises mangrove species in coastal char areas, restoration of ‘Shal’ forests in hilly and central regions, and conservation of endangered forest species to protect biodiversity. 

It also includes context-specific plantation strategies covering marginal lands along roads, highways, embankments, riverbanks and canal banks, alongside expanded urban forestry and agro-forestry programmes. 

In addition, the budget proposes a 15 percent VAT on the import of trees and aromatic tree extracts, reflecting regulatory measures linked to environmental and resource management. 

The ‘Tree Monitoring App’ is therefore positioned as a central digital instrument of the National Green Mission, supporting large-scale afforestation, ensuring transparency in implementation and contributing to Bangladesh’s long-term goal of a climate-resilient and environmentally balanced future.