The author of this article is Suraiya Begum Ruhi, MSc student of Resource Economics and Sustainable Development at the University of Bologna.
Dhaka is one of the world’s top ten megacities with over 21 million people, facing a severe air quality crisis due to vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and unregulated construction. Transforming underutilised spaces into green oases offers an alternative to conventional development.
Urban Forest as carbon sinks
Climate change exacerbates Dhaka’s vulnerability, with rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall affecting infrastructure and livelihoods. Urban forests act as natural air filters, as each mature tree can absorb up to 22 kilograms of CO2 annually. Moreover, urban trees cool the air through the evapotranspiration process, lowering city temperatures and minimising heat-related health risks.
Urban forests can also alleviate Dhaka’s flooding issues, where heavy monsoon rains cause waterlogging. Tree roots nourish soil permeability, allowing water to absorb into the ground rather than overwhelming drainage systems. While cities should maintain at least 15% green space and 10-12% wetlands, Central Dhaka’s green space has dropped to 7.09% and wetlands to 2.9%. Overall, expanding urban forests would restore ecological balance, acting as a buffer against extreme weather and diminishing the urban heat island effect.
The socio-economic impacts of urban forests
Creating an urban forest in Dhaka is not just an environmental initiative, it has profound socio-economic implications. With a population density of 23,234 people per square kilometre, the city faces immense pressure on land and resources. Many low-income communities reside in informal settlements with limited access to sustainable livelihoods. Including these communities requires well-planned job transitions with targeted skills training, leveraging existing forest expertise, and prioritising inclusion, empowerment, and protection. For example, integrated pest management training in northwest Bangladesh has boosted conservation tillage adoption.
Urban forests can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the city, boosting property values and promoting eco-tourism, potentially benefiting local businesses from food vendors to artisans. However, this comes with significant risks. The introduction of green spaces often attracts wealthier residents and leads to the displacement of lower-income communities. Hence, urban forests can also raise living costs and reduce housing affordability. Such phenomenon – called “green gentrification” – has prominent examples such as New York City’s High Line and Chicago’s Bloomingdale Trail. This highlights the need for thoughtful policies, ensuring that vulnerable communities are protected whenever an urban forest is realised.
Community-driven approaches to urban forestry
Urban forests can incorporate fruit-bearing trees and community gardens in low-income neighbourhoods. This is particularly important due to the rising food prices that Bangladesh is experiencing. Urban farming models in cities like Havana and Nairobi show how small-scale agriculture can combat food scarcity and offer a viable income stream for low-income families. In Dhaka, community-managed urban agroforestry could alleviate poverty by empowering locals to grow and sell crops.
Strategic tree planting in underprivileged areas can enhance air quality and provide recreational spaces. Thus, a certain approach to urban forestry can benefit marginalised communities and promote more inclusive urban environments. In Dhaka, the wealthier neighbourhoods currently enjoy parks and recreational facilities, while poorer areas lack such amenities.
Turning a fairytale into policy implementation
While urban forests offer significant environmental, economic, and social benefits, they also pose challenges, requiring substantial funding, space, and long-term commitment, particularly in dense, costly cities like Dhaka. Without careful planning, urban forests risk disrupting current land use or harming local ecosystems, especially if non-native tree species are introduced. These concerns underscore the need for inclusive policies that ensure urban forests support social equity, resource management, and sustainability.
Dhaka’s growing population and environmental challenges call for sustainable solutions. For this reason, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is initiating urban forest projects in Banani and Kalyanpur. Nevertheless, successful urban forestry models must be tailored to Dhaka’s specific context, requiring political commitment, community involvement, and sustained investment in green infrastructure. As the Chinese proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
