Thousands of villagers across Bangladesh have started growing palm trees as a bulwark against casualties from lightning. 
Experts have blamed such casualties to deforestation and loss of taller trees like palms as these are used to act as lightning conductors.
In 2016, Bangladesh declared lightning as a natural disaster when the official toll topped 200 deaths, with 82 people dying on a single day in May.
The dwindling number of palm trees in the countryside may have led to the increase in number of deaths due to lightning strikes, experts said.
As part of the government’s reforestation campaign, launched in 2016, a good number of palm seeds were planted on both sides of road adjacent to the Dartana river at Boitpur village in southern Bagerhat district.
Dr Mahmud Hossain, professor of forestry and wood technology discipline at Khulna University, said the high casualties stem in part from lack of trees whose branches can absorb the impact of lightning. 
While the trees are damaged, it means the electric charge is safely passed into the earth.
Where palm trees exist, the number of deaths due to lightning strikes is lower than the palm tree-less areas.
Habibul Haque Khan, director, Khulna division’s department of environment, said palm trees act as natural lightning conductors during storms because of their height. It helps to address risks caused by climate change.
Amir Hossian Chowdhury, conservator of forests (Khulna circle), said, “Palm tree acts as shield to cope with storms and tidal surges. We know lightning usually hits the tallest object first. And for this, the palm tree, which is tallest tree, works as lightning conductor, decreasing the death toll from the 
lightning strikes.”
As part of reforestation project, a good number of palm trees have been planted in Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Laxmipur, Barguna and Jhalakathi districts since 2015, Amir Hossian added.
Saidul Islam, DFO of social forest division in Bagerhat, said palm trees not only prevent lightning strikes but also protect coastal areas from storms and cyclones. Their roots also protect flood-protection embankments against soil erosion.
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