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Quantitative Assessment of People-oriented Forestry in Bangladesh: a Case Study in the Tangail Forest Division

Nur Muhammed
Forest Policy Laboratory, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamimminowa, 399-4598 Nagano -ken, Japan.

Masao Koike
Forest Policy Laboratory, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamimminowa, 399-4598 Nagano -ken, Japan.

Farhana Haque
Forest Policy Laboratory, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamimminowa, 399-4598 Nagano -ken, Japan.

Md. Danesh Miah
Department of Forest Resources, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Forests represent more than just a livelihood to many people in developing countries. In Bangladesh, for example, overwhelming poverty and socio-economic pressures have resulted in an unstable situation where intensive pressure on forest resources is having increasingly negative consequences for the population. Some studies have evaluated the benefits of people-oriented forestry activities from an investment, as well as a participant, point of view. In the study area located in the Tangail Forest Division, a total of 11,854 ha of woodlot, 2,704 ha of agroforestry and 945 km of strip plantations have been raised in a benefit-sharing program that is inclusive of land encroachers and other economically disadvantaged people. Since 2000-2001, a total of 3,716 ha of woodlot, 890 ha of agroforestry and 163 km of strip plantations have been harvested to the benefit of 6,326 individuals. Investment analysis indicates that woodlot plantation is not financially viable but agroforestry is the most profitable. These results were somewhat unexpected since initial analysis suggested that the woodlot plantation profit would be greater than, or at least equal to, that of the agroforestry plantation if the number of planted seedlings per unit area was taken into account. The per unit area Net Present Value (NPV) was highest in the agroforestry plantation ($1,662) and negative in the woodlot plantation (-$397). The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was also highest in the agroforestry plantation (1.64) and lowest in the woodlot plantation (0.86). This study also showed that some individuals who were formally classified as encroachers have now become vital stakeholders. On average, participants received $800, $1,866 and $1,327 over the course of thirteen years from strip, agroforestry and woodlot plantations respectively. Average annual return per participant was $62, $144 and $102 respectively, which was in addition to each individual’s yearly income. This added income is a significant contribution to monetary resources and improves socio-economic conditions at a grass roots level. Overall then this program can be considered a financial success as a plantation raising strategy. However, despite this financial progress, the program cannot be considered a true form of participatory people-oriented forestry because it shows serious deviations from the original concept or model for participatory people-oriented forestry that is outlined in the project document. These discrepancies are especially notable with regard to i) beneficiary selection, ii) gender equity, iii) professional attitude and corruption, iv) funding and v) program approach. However, other countries faced with similar challenges of forest overuse and degradation may adopt this practice for achieving self reliance and environmental stability.

Keywords: Bangladesh, People oriented forestry, Sal forests, Investment analysis

Location: Tangail Forest Division in Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2000

End Date: 00-00-2001

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Tree

Objectives:

To determine the Quantitative assessment of people-oriented forestry in Bangladesh

Methodology:

This research, based on case study analysis, was conducted to evaluate the profitability of three different types of plantation raised through a people-oriented forestry program in Tangail Forest Division in Bangladesh. The three types of plantation were strip, agroforestry and woodlot. The study was divided into different phases of review and data acquisition. In the preparatory phase, a search was conducted for major relevant documents, which were obtained and reviewed. In the data collection phase, field visits were made to the Banstoil and Dholapara Ranges of the Tangail Forest Division. Fifty-two respondents were randomly selected from the two forest ranges (17 participants from the strip plantation, 17 from the agroforestry plantation and 18 from the woodlot plantation). Among the 52 respondents surveyed only two were found to be female beneficiaries (3.8%). Although the ratio between male-female participants is supposed to be 1:1, in practice this is rarely the case. Moreover, it was found that there were no female participants in strip plantation and woodlot plantation among the surveyed respondents. This gender bias is widespread not only in the study areas but also across all areas of social forestry in Bangladesh. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. Interaction with interviewees was generally informal, and included two-way communication. This method helped accommodate the wide diversity of opinions, knowledge and experience of the interviewees. The goal of the interviews was to determine participants’ demographic and socioeconomic status as well as the maintenance costs and financial gains from the plantation plots. Annual plantation raising and management costs were obtained from the Tangail Divisional Forest office. As there was no record of plantation-specific staff salary and administrative costs, yearly costs for the whole forest range were divided by the total area of the range to arrive at a per hectare cost and plantation-specific costs were then derived from this. Land tax was calculated from the official rate fixed by the land administration authority of the country. In an investment analysis of a teak plantation in Bangladesh, Muhammed et al. (2004) adopted similar techniques for calculating staff salary and administrative costs. The prevailing bank rate of interest (8% in this case) was used to calculate the rate of inflation over the period of plantation growth. In addition to the individual interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) - a useful PRA (Participatory Resource Assessment) technique - was also used to promote closer interaction with the interviewees in the hope of obtaining more uninhibited and realistic responses. Information gathered from the field was collated, processed and analyzed with non-parametric statistical methods using SPSS and Microsoft Excel.

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. 88(1): 83-92 (2008) Issue Date 2008-07

Article Link (Online Journal): http://hdl.handle.net/10091/1116

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In conclusion, people-oriented programs like those described here could be a key factor in not only alleviating significant poverty but also in stemming the tide of rampant deforestation. Ultimately, recovery and maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems will provide the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people through production of economically valuable commodities and protection against excessive erosion and flooding. Success in Bangladesh may encourage implementation in other countries that face similar forest degradation.

Knowledge Management: Journal