The Hill Forest mainly situated in the district of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban and Sylhet. The total area of the Hill Forest is 670,000 hectare which accounts for 44% of total area managed by the Forest Department and 4.54% of total area of Bangladesh.

Sundarban, the world’s largest contiguous natural mangrove forest in Bangladesh covers an area of 6,017 sq. km which accounts for 4.07% of total area of Bangladesh and 40% of total area managed by the Forest Department. The area covered by the three wildlife sanctuaries in the Sundarban is 1,39,700 hectare that was declared as ‘World Heritage site’ by the UNESCO in 1997.

The plain land ‘Sal’ forest is situated mainly in the district of Gazipur, Tangail, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Netrokona, Naoga, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Panchagar. The total area of Sal Forest is 120,000 hectare which accounts for 0.81% of total area of Bangladesh and 7.89% of total area managed by the Forest Department.

Depending on their location, nature and type of management of the forests of Bangladesh can be grouped into three broad categories, which is tabled below:

Types of Forest

Area (m ha)

Percentage

Natural Mangrove Forest and Plantation

0.73

4.95

Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen Forest

0.67

4.54

Tropical moist deciduous Forest

0.12

0.81

Total

1.52

10.3

Types of Forest:

Mangrove Forests

i.                    Natural Mangrove Forests

The largest single tract of natural mangrove forest is the Sundarban. It consists of a total of 6,01,700 hectare which is 4.07% of total land mass of the country and 40% of total forest land.

Sundarban harbours 334 species of trees, shrubs and epyphites and 269 species of wild animals. World renowned Royal Bengal Tiger is the magnificent animal of the Sundarban. 1,39,700 hectare forest land of Sundarban is declared as World Heritage Site where three wildlife sanctuaries viz.Sundarban East, Sundarban West and Sundarban South wildlife sanctuaries are located. The forest inventory of 1998 exhibits that there are 12.26 million cubic meter timber is available from the species of Sundri (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Baen (Avecennia officinalis), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum), Passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) etc with 15cm and above diameter.

Sundri is the most important tree species in the Sundarban which is distributed over 73% of the reserve. Extent of Sundri is followed by Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Baen (Avecinnia offcecinalis), Passur (Xylocarpur mekongensis), Keora (Sonneratia apetala) etc. There are some other non-wood forest products like Golpata (Nypa fruticans), honey, wax, fish, crab etc which are also of high value.

Sundarban is a unique habitat for a number of wildlife. Among them some mammals are Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Monkey (Macaca mulatta), Indian Fishing cat (Felis viverrina), Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata), Spotted Deer (Axis axis) etc. Reptiles like Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator), Rock Python (Python molurus) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) etc. are found in the Sundarban.

ii.                  Mangrove Plantation

Mangrove afforestation along the entire southern coastal frontier is an innovation of foresters. During 1960-61, Government undertook afforestation programme along the shore land of coastal districts. This initiative got mementum from 1980-81 with the aid of development partners and afforestation programs are extended over foreshore islands, embankments and along the open coasts.

Since 1960-61 upto 1999-2000, 142,835 hectare of mangrove plantations have been raised under a number of coastal afforestation projects. The present net area of mangrove plantation is 132,000 hectare after losing some area due to natural calamities.

Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests

A century old government organization started functioning from1862 with:

Before partition under British India in 1947, the forests of Bangladesh were under the control of:

After partition of British India, East Pakistan Forest Service were created comprising:

Responsibility for forestry was passed to the Bangladesh Forest Department after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
Bangladesh Senior Forest Service were renamed as Bangladesh Civil Service (Forest) Cadre under Bangladesh Civil Service Cadre Rules, 1980.

Administrative units of the Forest Department under revenue budget.

#

Name of units/offices

No. of units/offices

1

Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests

1

2

Office of the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests

1

3

Office of Conservator of Forests/Circle Office

4

4

Office of the Divisional Forest Officer/ Forest Division

9

5

Management Plan Division

41

6

Botanical Garden (Dhaka and Chittagong)

3

7

Forestry Development Training Centre, Kaptai

2

8

Forest Academy, Chittagong

1

9

Forest School (Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Chittagong)

3

10

RIMS-GIS Unit

1

11

Social Forestry zone

41

12

Protected Areas

15

13

Range

255

14

Beat

672

15

Check Station

75

16

Social Forestry Nursery Training Centre

98

17

Social Forestry Plantation Centre

341

Manpower Summery

#

Designation

Nos.

1

Chief Conservator of Forest

1

2

Deputy Chief Conservator of Forest

4

3

Conservator of Forest

11

4

Assistant Chief Conservator of Forest

5

5

Deputy Conservator of Forest

63

6

Sub-Divisional Forest Officers

7

7

Assistant Conservator of Forest

130

Total

221

8

Other Officers

38

9

Other Officers and Stuffs

8422

Grand Total

8681

Conservation Sites:

Protected Areas of Bangladesh

‘Protected area’ covers an area of 2,43,677 ha which accounts for 16% of the total area managed by the Forest Department and almost 2% of total area of Bangladesh. It includes 8 National Parks, 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Game Reserve and 5 other Conservation sites.

Protected Areas include Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park and Game Reserve. Their definitions in the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Order, 1973 (henceforth Wildlife Order) is as follows:

“Wildlife Sanctuary means an area closed to hunting, shooting or trapping of wild animals and declared as such under Article 23 by the government as undisturbed breeding ground primarily for the protection of wildlife inclusive of all natural resources such as vegetation soil and water” (paragraph) (p) of Article 2).

“National Park means comparatively large areas of outstanding scenic and natural beauty with the primary object of protection and preservation of scenery, flora and fauna in the natural state to which access for public recreation and education and research may be allowed” (paragraph) (p) of Article 2).

“Game Reserve means an area declared by the government as such for the protection of wildlife and increase in the population of important species wherein capturing of wild animals shall be unlawful (paragraph) (c) of Article 2)”.

Article 23 of the Wildlife Order has provisions for declaration of Protected Areas and also has regulations prohibiting activities in the Protected Areas.

16 notified Protected Areas of the Country are as follows:

A

NATIONAL PARKS

Location

Area (ha.)

Established

1

Bhawal National Park

Gazipur

5,022

1974/1982

2

Modhupur National Park

Tangail/Mymensingh

8,436

1962/1982

3

Ramsagar National Park

Dinajpur

27.75

2001

4

Himchari National Park

Cox’ Bazar

1,729

1980

5

Lawachara National Park

Moulavibazar

1,250

1996

6

Kaptai National Park

Chittagong Hill Tracts

5,464

1999

7

Nijhum Dweep National Park

Noakhali

16352.23

2001

8

Medha Kassapia Natioal Park

Cox’s Bazar

395.92

2004

9

Satchari Natioal Park

Hobigonj

242.91

2005

B

WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES

Location

Area (ha.)

Established

10

Rema-Kelenga Wildlife Sanctuary

Hobigonj

1795.54

1996

11

Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhola

40

1981

12

Sundarban (East) Wildlife Sanctuary

Bagerhat

31226.94

1960/1996

13

Sundarban (West) Wildlife Sanctuary

Satkhira

71502.10

1996

14

Sundarban (South) Wildlife Sanctuary

Khulna

36970.45

1996

15

Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary

Chittagong Hill Tracts

42087

1962/1983

16

Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary

Chittagong

7761

1986

GAME RESERVE

 Location

 Area (ha.)

 Established

C

17

Teknaf Game Reserve

Cox’s Bazar

11615

1983

D

Name

Location

Area (ha.)

Established

1

National Botanical Garden

Dhaka

84.21

1961

2

Baldha Garden

Dhaka

1.37

1909

3

Madhabkunda Eco-Park

Moulavibazar

265.68

2001

4

Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park

Chittagong

808

1998

5

Dulahazara Safari Parks

Cox’s Bazar

600

1999

Sundarban- The World Heritage Site

Sundarban, the World Heritage site is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries such as Sundarban East Wildlife Sanctuary, Sundarban South Wildlife Sanctuary and Sudarban West Wildlife Sanctuary. The total area of World Heritage Site is 1400 sq. km. out of which 910 km. is land area and 490 km. is water area. The three sanctuaries are intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt tolerant mangrove forest. The area has been recognized globally for its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity. This mangrove supports a unique assemblage of flora and fauna, including charismatic megafauna like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine Crocodile and the Ganges River Dolphin. The Sundri tree, for which the sundarban is named, is a endemic species of this forest.

Sundarban mangrove forest particularly the three wildlife sanctuaries act as good nurseries and potential breeding ground for shrimps, prawns and many edible fishes. For outstanding natural value, the World Heritage committee of UNESCO inscribed the Sundarban of Bangladesh in the World Heritage list by their 21st session in 1997 and accordingly the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh declared the Sundarban as World Heritage Site in 1999.

Forest is a very important renewable resource in Bangladesh. It provides materials like timber, pulp, pole, fuel wood, food, medicine, habitat for wildlife and primary base for biodiversity. It also provides oxygen, controls or reduces the intensity of the cyclones and tidal surges in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, influences the rainfall, and sustained water yield in the river systems etc. Besides these, forest is also used for hunting, and nature based tourism. Now a days, eco-tourism is the preferred type of tourism and it is widely believed that eco-tourism could be an alternative mechanism for environmentally sustainable development without depleting the forest resources and its habitat and biodiversity. Considering all these, forest and consequently forest management is getting importance with the passage of time.

Past Forest Management

Present Forest Management

Past Forest Management

Scientific forest management in this sub-continent was started during British rule by the appointment of Sir D. Brandis as the Inspector General of Forest in 1865. A separate forest department was created for Bengal in 1876. Chittagong Forest Division was the first division created in Bangladesh by British ruler in 1872 and the Sundarban Forest Division was created in 1879.

In those days, forests were managed primarily for revenue collection under the control of Revenue Department. Only valuable trees were extracted from the forest to get more revenue,.

Keeping in mind the importance of forest, a forest management plan or work plan is prepared for each forest division. This management plan guides forest manager to manage forest or to perform day to day work in the forest. This plan spells out where to cut trees, how much to cut and what to plant to cover up the cleared up forest etc. on annual basis.

Present Forest Management

The present forest management is almost totally different from the past one in respect of its objectives and philosophy. Present forest management objectives are not only to produce timber only but also to provide clean air, clean water, healthy habitat for wildlife and to act as a major source of biodiversity and nature-based tourism. The present philosophy of forest management is to involve people in the management and create an environment so that people can feel that they have also some stakes on trees growing on the forestland and to improve living standard of the people residing in the vicinity of the forests .

Present Management objectives
Present forest management is primarily guided by Forestry Master Plan (FMP) completed in 1993 with the assistance from ADB, UNDP and FAO. The objectives of present forest management are adopted following FMP and these are:

enhancing environment preservation and conservation

introducing rational forest land use

increasing public participation and benefit from the forest

creating forests on marginal and private lands

institutional strengthening

improving management practices

Improving efficient resource utilization.

Recent Improvement in Management Practices:

Inventories of all major forest formations in the country except the forests in Chittagong Hill Tracts were carried out. This has provided the necessary database for using quantitative information for writing more comprehensive management plans for different forests. Small units of uniform crop have been identified and information on these units were recorded with the help of computer based Resources Information Management System (RIMS) unit in FD.

The inventory and associated activities have made long desired information on the status, growth and yield of forests in the country available. It has been possible to develop volume and yield functions for all major plantation species and volume functions for major species in natural forests. This has made possible to regulate yield for long period of time. A new working plan format has been devised to make it possible for the use of the available information in future management plans.

An annual plan of operation is included as part of the management plan. This is basically a detailed plan of operation within the forest division and is prepared by the Divisional Forest Officer.

In recent years there has been a substantial shift in emphasis in Forestry and Forest Mnagement from maximizing yield towards maximizing sustainability through increased participation of local population, conserving biodiversity and maintaining forestry services.

The present management systems are evolved from the past ones through various modifications in order to incorporate present objectives of forest management. Some new forest management systems are also added to address new concept in forest management such as agroforestry, homestead plantation, strip plantation, participatory forestry on encroached forest, mangrove afforestation on newly accreted land in the coastal area, conservation area management to preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

Resource Information Management System

Bangladesh Forest Department initiated the Resource Information Management System (RIMS) during 1984-85 under the auspices of IDA funded Second Forestry Project. The main objective of the RIMS was to produce reports and maps relevant to all aspects of the management plan, silvicultural prescriptions and to provide information on present and predicted yields from relevant operations. This was designed as an aid to intensive forest resource management of all Forest Divisions through management plans and also in perspective planning in forestry.

Thus the RIMS is a two way information system. The raw data are supplied to the computer from the field divisions. The processed information are sent back to the field Divisions from the RIMS Unit. After performing operations, the data on new situation are fed to the computer for updating the database.

Along with the technological development RIMS Unit adopted Geographical Information System (GIS), a computer based data management, mapping and analyzing system of spatial information. Forest Department integrated GIS with the existing RIMS under the World Bank financed Forest Resources Management Project (FRMP) in mid 90’s. RIMS/GIS unit now is bestowed with modern GIS setup with state of the art and technology, software, computers, plotters, digitizers and experienced personnel as well.

Social Forestry programs have been initiated with a view to meet the forest product requirements of local population and to reverse the process of ecological and climatic degradation through proper soil and water conservation and to improve the socio economic condition of the rural people.

Social Forestry programs have following objectives:

To meet the needs for fuelwood, small timber, bamboo, fodder and other minor forest produces on sustained basis.

To provide employment opportunities to the rural population.

To develop cottage industries in rural areas.

To utilize the available land to the best advantage according to its production capacity.

To provide efficient soil and water conservation.

To improve aesthetic value of the area and to meet the recreational needs of the population.

Participatory Forestry

From last two decades there has been a gradual shift in the forest management approach adopted by Forest Department i.e from its traditional custodian role to a more participatory approach. Accordingly the provision of people’s participation in protecting the natural forest and afforesting the degraded and encroached forest land with benefit sharing mechanism has been developed and people’s participation has been ensured.

The ADB funded Community Forestry Project implemented in the seven northern districts from 1981 to 1987 paved the foundation of Participatory forestry in Bangladesh. Following this other ADB funded project named ‘Thana afforestation and nursery development project’, ‘Green Belt project’ were implemented and now ‘Forestry sector project’ is being implemented throughout the country. Major components of this project are: Woodlot, Agro forestry and Strip plantations etc.

Social Forestry Achievements

Economic Benefit:

Poverty is a major problem, particularly in rural areas of Bangladesh. Plantations raised earlier under the CFP and the TANDP are now being harvested to raise second rotation plantations under the Forestry Sector Project (FSP). During 1999-2003 nearly 5080 ha Woodlot, 1597 ha Agroforestry, 2,897 km Strip Plantations and 40 ha Charland Plantations have been harvested and replanted under FSP with the total sale proceeds of 704 million Taka. In total 23,561 participants received Taka 308 million as their shares as per the agreed participatory Benefit Sharing Agreement (PBSA) during this period.

Under World Food Program Assisted Strip plantation program, starting from 1988 to 1998 about 45,682 km strip plantation have been raised and 38.524 million seedlings have been planted and maintained with the participation of 4,56,820 landless destitute families of which about 3,65,456 is women. In total 77,048 nos. of caretakers have been employed under this program.

During 1999 to 2006, an amount of 15174 ha woodlot, 3468 ha of Agroforestry, 7414 km Strip plantations and 219 ha Char land plantations have been harvested and replanted under FSP with total sale proceed of 2370.21 Million Taka. In total 68372 participants received 1044.15 Million Taka as their shares as per agreed participatory benefit sharing agreement (PBSA) during this period.

Sustainability of Participatory Forestry

The Social Forestry Rules

The Forest Act of 1927 has been amended in 2000 to support and encourage social forestry/participatory forestry activities in the country. Social Forestry Rules have been formulated and now waiting for vetting from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Forest Act and Social Forestry Rules will provide legal support to participatory forestry and will also ensure sustainability to this programme.

The Tree Farming Fund (TFF)

Participatory plantations are being raised from development budget using both government and loan money. Participatory forestry cannot be made sustainable using government fund only. Tree Farming Fund (TFF) has been developed using 10% money from the final harvest to reduce dependency on government and donor fund. The Ministry of Finance has approved TFF. The participants will operate the TFF. TFF will provide 50% of the replanting cost. The remaining 50% cost will be provided by the project. If TFF doesn't cover 50% of the replanting cost, the participant will contribute voluntary labour to cover the gap. TFF and participatory labour contribution will make participatory forestry sustainable.

Future Prospect:
The Potential land available for the Social Forestry practices are as follows :

No.

Available Land

Area in Million Hectare

A

Degraded & denuded land of Unclassed State Forest Land

1.00

B

Khas lands

0.56

C

Degraded government forest land

0.27

D

Marginal strip land

0.08

E

Homestead marginal land

0.27

F

Degraded tea garden land

0.06

G

Degraded private forest land

0.05

H

Cropland Agroforestry on private agricultural lands

2.36

(29% of the total agricultural land is above normal flood level & suitable for cropland agroforestry)

Total Available Land for Social Forestry

4.65

In total about 4.65 million hectare land is available for this purpose, which is about 31% of the country's total land surface. Considering size of Bangladesh and her forest area, the potential land available for Social Forestry production system is quite significant.

Anticipated production

If all the available 4.65 million hectare of land is brought under Social Forestry production system then 4.65 million hectare of land would be available for planting annually under Social Forestry production system of 10 years rotation. The area will produce 46.5 million cubic meter of timber and firewood annually (at the moderate rate of 10 cu m/ha/year, production). Moreover the system will provide food, income and employment opportunities for the farmers.

Agroforestry

Major Forest Produces and Revenue Earned During 2000 - 2003 (click to view)