Natural Keya, also known as fragrant screw pine (Pandanus odorifer), forests on St Martin’s Island are reportedly facing destruction shortly after the conclusion of the tourism season on January 31.
Local residents have raised concerns that a significant number of Keya trees are being cut down along the shoreline in the Dakkhin-para area to make way for the construction of resorts.
One resident, Tayeb Ullah, mentioned that upon his recent visit to the area, he observed a portion of the forest already cleared, with more Keya trees being felled and left to dry.
According to Ullah, the dense Keya forest serves as a vital barrier protecting the island’s residential zones from tidal water intrusion. He highlighted that several resorts have been established by clearing Keya forests to offer tourists unobstructed views of the sea.
Last year, some residential areas experienced seawater incursion during high tides, resulting in damage to freshwater ponds and jeopardizing the livelihoods of residents.
Foyezul Islam, the chairman of St Martin’s Island union parishad, acknowledged reports of indiscriminate felling of Keya trees in the Dakkhin-para area near the beach but expressed uncertainty about the parties involved.
Islam mentioned that an on-site inspection by a beach worker was conducted on Sunday, and further actions would be taken post-investigation.
He also noted that the cleared land is privately owned, speculating that a local individual may have sold the land to a resort entrepreneur from Dhaka. However, the motive behind cutting down the trees remains unclear, whether for resort development or other purposes such as roofing.
Jamir Uddin, the director of the Department of Environment’s Cox’s Bazar district office, confirmed awareness of the situation and emphasized the seriousness with which they are addressing it. A preliminary inquiry has been initiated.
Stressing that the entire St Martin’s Island holds Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) status, Uddin underscored that any destruction of natural forests on the island is unlawful. He asserted that those implicated in the act would be identified through investigations and face legal repercussions under the Environment Conservation Act.
