Context
Forests in Bangladesh are rapidly disappearing, with more than 50% of the forested area having been cleared in the last 30 years. In the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary of south-eastern Bangladesh, the problems caused by deforestation are particularly evident. The area is very important for biodiversity, carbon storage and the water supply. Due to large-scale forest clearances, however, many plant and animal species have disappeared and carbon dioxide emissions have increased. Improved forest management within the sanctuary could halt the loss of species and reduce CO2 emissions and thereby contribute to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. However, no adequate measures for reforestation or sustainable forest management are being carried out here.
Objective
In the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, sustainable forest management with the participation of the local population has improved.
Approach
Through this project, GIZ is supporting the implementation of Bangladesh’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. The project takes into account activities that have already been initiated by the government to improve the management and monitoring of the forests. Such activities provide a framework for the decentralisation of the forest sector, while also integrating local people in the management of natural resources.
The project involves the provision of advice and equipment in support of local services. It contributes financing for pilot measures intended to promote long-term forest management and for the development of alternative sources of income. It also works to increase forest density by planting indigenous trees in the degraded areas of the sanctuary and by supporting social forestry in areas surrounding the sanctuary. The latter activity involves planting trees on Forest Department land, which are then tended by local people who share in the harvest.
Results achieved so far
The project has started to promote alternative income generating strategies for communities that depend on the forest. Training has been provided in alternative income sources, and interest-free micro-credits have been issued. Meanwhile, activities have also been carried out to raise awareness about participatory forest management. This includes socially responsible forestry, in which land administered by forest agencies is made available to local people.
To curtail illegal logging, community groups have been established to patrol the forest. At the same time, improved cooking stoves that burn less firewood have been installed in households within and around the sanctuary. A biodiversity monitoring system has been established, along with a database that will help measure the expected increases in forest density and biodiversity.