By Amreto Sarker, from Rajshahi
“I never use harmful nets in my orchard. Instead, I leave some fruit for birds and insects,” says Md. Shafiqul Islam (53) of Jotgorib village in Tanore, Rajshahi.
Driven by his passion for trees, Shafiqul has traveled across 12 districts collecting plant species. His homestead now contains around 140 species of fruit, forest, and medicinal plants. Since planting his first Ashwina mango saplings in 2014, he has personally planted nearly 5,000 trees.
What began as a livelihood initiative after returning from overseas employment evolved into a mission to green the drought-prone Barind region. His orchard serves as a model agroecology learning center featuring medicinal gardens, biodiversity refuges, composting systems, biogas facilities, pheromone traps, and water sources for birds.
He avoids pesticides and herbicides, allowing natural ecological processes to thrive. Fallen fruits are left to decompose, enriching the soil and supporting beneficial organisms. Birds are welcomed as allies in pest control, while climber plants such as ivy gourd provide food and habitat.
Beyond his own farm, Shafiqul has planted over 500 palm seeds along village roads and distributed diverse tree saplings to more than 1,100 students in five schools. He regularly follows up on the growth of these trees and encourages environmental stewardship among young people.
His vision is to expand tree planting, promote vermicomposting, restore fallow lands, and inspire future generations to care for nature. Through his efforts, he hopes to make the Barind landscape greener and more resilient.
