The wet season in Bangladesh brings more than rainy days; it brings life, renewal, and growth. As regular rainfall nurtures the soil and eliminates the need for additional watering, young saplings can thrive. Making now the perfect time for Symbiosis’ annual sapling distribution initiative.
Every year, Symbiosis distributes around 4,000 saplings across all projects. This demand-driven initiative is thriving for the following reasons:
- Local Initiative: Community-Based Organisation members actively identify the importance of tree plantation in their communities and request saplings for planting.
- A Diverse Ecosystem: Saplings are selected based on their usefulness for the local environment and communities. This could include fruit-bearing trees, medicinal plants and species that support biodiversity, offer shade, greener surroundings and provide long-term benefits for families and future generations. This year the project has primarily distributed Mahogany trees, chosen for their resilience and high maturity survival rates. These trees can be used for timber production, shade, windbreaks and help counteract soil erosion and increase groundwater retention.
- The Ripple Effect: The goal isn’t simply to plant 4,000 trees; it’s to build a culture of environmental conservation. Monisha, our Symbiosis Bangladesh Communications Officer notes,
“We encourage community members to take further initiative by planting more trees from their own efforts. We have seen people take this message seriously, creating a stronger culture of environmental responsibility”.
The local momentum aligns with the Government of Bangladesh’s national priorities, which strongly promote environmental protection and urge NGOs to actively contribute to greening the nation.
Behind every sapling distributed, there is a human story. For many, a tree represents a long-term investment in their children’s future, a way to improve their environment and an opportunity for financial security.
A great example of this is Lima, a resilient woman from one of our project areas.
Lima and her husband, Shahnewaz faced severe poverty and financial struggles until 2006, when guided by a Symbiosis field worker, Lima decided to take a courageous step in rewriting their story.
With 2,000 Taka she bought 500 saplings and started a nursery in her own yard. Lima worked day and night to nurture the saplings and simultaneously her own self-belief began to grow.
“Her nursery turned into a dream world surrounded by greenery.”
– Minhaj Uddin Team Leader, DHP (Symbiosis Bangladesh)
Today, her nursery has expanded to 8,000 saplings, boasting an estimated market value of 150,000 Taka. While it costs 7 Taka to raise each sapling, Lima sells them for 20 Taka each, bringing financial stability to her household.
Nursery Growth At a Glance:
2006: 500 Saplings >>> 2026: 8,000 Saplings
Initial Capital: 2,000 Taka >>> Current Market Value: 150,000 Taka
Production Cost: 7 Taka/sapling >>> Sale Price: 20 Taka/sapling
Tragically, in July 2025, Lima’s husband and biggest supporter, Shahnewaz, passed away from Tuberculosis (TB). Though shattered by grief, Lima has refused to let her family fall back into poverty.
Lima’s eldest son, Anwar (pictured in field above), has stepped up to manage the nursery, filling his late father’s shoes and working by his mother’s side. Because of the nursery’s steady income, Lima’s eldest daughter has successfully passed her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, and her youngest daughter is in the sixth grade. Anwar, a ninth-grade graduate, is now proudly protecting his family and scaling the business.
What started as a 2,000 Taka investment in a few saplings has transformed into a multi-generational business, pulling a family out of poverty and inspiring others.
Through the simple act of distributing saplings, Symbiosis isn’t just encouraging tree planting, we are helping grow independent livelihoods and empowering a new generation to build a greener Bangladesh. With Bangladesh continually ranking in the top countries for air pollution, initiatives like this are more important than ever.