Community Forestry for Sustainable Forest Management: Experiences from Bangladesh and Policy Recommendations

• DOI: 10.15684/formath.11.133
• Publication Date: 2014-09-23T23:22:43Z
• Authors: M. Jashimuddin; M. Inoue
• Keywords: Community forestry; Sustainable Forest Management; Sustainable Management

This study follows the introduction of community forestry in Bangladesh and uses secondary information sources to analyze its effectiveness as a means fostering sustainable forest management. We found that current management practices have evolved from an emphasis primarily on production more people-centric model designed support conservation resources. First introduced late 1970's, has proven successful for reforestation, afforestation, diversifying economic opportunities rural communities. A total 30,666 ha woodlot plantations, 8,778 agroforestry 48,420 km strip plantations been established by Forest Department under programs since mid-1980's. Furthermore, some mature harvested benefits distributed among key stakeholders. The 1994 Policy, (Amendment) Act 2000 2004 Social Forestry Rules are considered milestone achievements implementation Bangladesh. Tree Farming Fund (TFF) provide revenue stream projects. succeeded reducing distrust conflict between officials local farmers, encroachment government lands, deforestation rate. But, program faced roadblocks stem top-down bureaucratic approach poor governance system. number NGO's also working promote with notable success, despite short-comings include strong profit motive, coordination bodies, lack transparency, non-uniform benefit sharing mechanisms. However, traditional community-based known village common forests (VCF) practiced indigenous people Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) may be useful guide policymakers looking ways involves people.