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

The benefit-sharing ratio for Social forestry plantations

Major Social Forestry Activities

• Community Forestry Project (ADB Loan No. 555-BAN; EA:FD; Duration 1981-1988);
• Upazila Afforestation and Nursery Development Project (ADB Loan No.0956-BAN [SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1989-1996);
• Coastal Green Belt Project: (ADB Loan No.1353-BAN[SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1995-2002);
• Forest Resources Management Project: Forest Directorate Component (IDA Grant and WFP Assistance Duration: 1992-2001 EA: FD)
• Forestry Sector Project (ADB Loan No. 1468-BAN[SF]; Duration: 1998-2004, EA: FD).
• Sundarban Biodiversity Conservation Project (Currently suspended Loan No. 1643-BAN[SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1999-2006)
  

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.

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.

Source: http://www.bforest.gov.bd/social.php

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