Dhaka, May 15 -- To protect the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity, the government has banned the plantation, collection and sale of eucalyptus and akashmoni saplings.

The Forest-1 Wing of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued an official notification on Thursday announcing the ban.

According to the directive, in line with national and international commitments, all government, non-government organisations, and individuals must now replace these invasive species in afforestation programmes with native fruit-bearing, timber, and medicinal plants.

The ministry said that these invasive species absorb excessive amounts of groundwater, which depletes soil moisture and severely affects dry and seasonal climate z...