a) Planning
by Mosharraf Hossain
Divisional Forest
Officer
Chittagong Forest Division, Chittagong
Forest Department,
Bangladesh
May, 2000
1. Introduction
2. Review of the Current and Past Forest Planning Process
2.1 Past Planning Experiences
2.2 Shortfall and Implementation Problems, a review (1972 - 1997)
2.3 Present Experiences
3. Level and Nature of Participation of Stakeholders in Planning
4. Process of priority setting for choosing alternatives for Planning
5. Use of Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in Forest Planning
6. Strength of the current Planning Process
7. Weakness of the Planning Process
8. A Better Planning Process
8.1 Outside Forest Department
8.2 With in Forest Department
8.3 Development of Remote Sensing unit
9. Conclusion and Recommendation
Bangladesh Forest Department is responsible for the management of 3.9 million ha. of forest area. Forest and trees are the source of a number of essential products like timber, fuel-wood etc. The Forestry activities contribute nearly 3% to the GDP. Moreover forests are important in protecting watersheds, in reclaiming land from the sea and in the protection of coastal areas form cyclone and tidal surge. Forest has important influence on environment and can influence on water availability in soil, reduce soil erosion, conserve wildlife, flood control etc. Keeping in view, the economic and ecological importance of forests, considering the depletion of forest under population pressure, and recognizing the land use and socio-economic constraints being faced, forest resource development planning trends has been changed in Bangladesh.
Forestry planning is the responsibility of the Forest Department. This has been done in full consideration of and with a view to support the national goals of socio-economic development. The major objectives of forestry planning include conservation of natural forest and wildlife resources; establishment of large scale forest plantations; promotion of people participation in forestry activities and support to homestead forestry; efficient utilization of forest products to meet domestic needs; promotion of non-wood forest products for providing off-farm employment and income to the rural communities; provision of forestry extension services; and development of in-country capacity for forestry development in terms of skills and technology.
The planning capability of the Bangladesh Forest Department (FD) is not adequate and needs strengthening, through increase of manpower at the FD's Planning Cell and also improvement of the planning, monitoring and evaluation capability of the manpower employed for the purpose. Integrated and coordinated planning process is still at the infant stage.
Further more revolution of information technology at the beginning of new millennium compelled all sectors to be oriented with computer networking, computer aided planning process. In this case forestry sector of Bangladesh is just at the door step.
2.1 Past Planning Experiences
Forestry planning process in Bangladesh has been almost traditional one. Forestry has been one of the major sub sectors of Agriculture Sector in Bangladesh and was considered to be revenue earning sub-sector. Government of Bangladesh has been devoted to the development of its forest resources by implementing number of development projects through Forest Department. These development projects were carefully appraised and approved by the chain of concerned authorities for implementation. That has caused delay in implementation of the development projects. Approved development projects are included in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) which is again formulated as per target of five year plan. The Fourth Five-year Plan (1990-95) is the last successfully completed planning document of Bangladesh. Right from independence to Fourth Five-year Plan total of ninety one development projects costing Tk. 58272.25 lakh have been implemented under forestry sub-sector.
2.2 Shortfall and Implementation Problems, a review (1972 - 1997)
During the First Five-year Plan period and the follow up two year approach plan period the objectives and the strategies pursued were merely traditional ones. The development activities could hardly associate the people and little attention was given to the private sector, especially to improve the village wood lots, planting in marginal wastelands etc.
During the Second Five-year Plan period the strategy was to maximize production through development of forest resources in government forest and to develop the homestead wood lot, particularly through fast growing species and fruit trees and also to develop strip plantations along roads, highways, railways, canals & embankment sides. The programme to stabilize newly accreted land in the coastal areas through afforestation with mangrove species gave new dimension of activities to the forestry sub-sector.
During the second plan great emphasis was laid on the development of rural/village forestry. During the third Five-year Plan period emphasis was on conversion of the existing low yielding forests into high yielding ones, afforestation of degraded and denuded forest lands and also newly accreted lands in the coastal areas; replenishment of the village forest by supplying seedlings for planting in the homestead as well as in marginal and coastal land.
During the Third Five-year Plan period the village forests were subjected to heavy exploitation to meet the growing demand and more so after imposing moratorium on felling of natural forest. The rural forestry program during the plan period lagged much behind its target. In addition to all these depletion of the village groves were accelerated due to increased demand for varied construction works, after creation of upazilla system, at the upazilla headquarters.
During the Fourth Five-year Plan period the main emphasis was to expand forest and provide increased supply of timber and wood. Besides, qualitative improvement of natural forest through artificial regeneration was also given priority. During the Fourth Five-year Plan expansion of forest resources and afforestation of the newly accreted lands continued. Major thrust was people's participation and private sector investment in the management and development of forest.
During 1995-97 the main objective of the forestry sub-sector was to expand forest resources, make the forests adequately productive, develop institutional capabilities including human resource and involve local people as much as possible in forestry activities. People oriented programmes covering forestry on marginal lands, char lands, road sides, etc. got momentum during these years. Coastal afforestation programme was also carried out during this period in support of land reclamation.
Fifth Five-year Plan (1997-2000) is ongoing Five-year Plan and identified necessary short falls of the past planning process and incorporated new ideas for future development. Future planned activities are mentioned in these documents. Different development projects are formulated following present policy and target of the government. Already seven development projects have been implemented with in this planned period and another nineteen development projects are under implementation. Out of these nineteen development projects sixteen are ongoing projects and three are new projects included within this fiscal year.
Fifth Five-year Plan is more competent planning document of the government and formulated on the basis of past experiences and present need. With in these Fifth Five-year Plan linkages in and around level, growth and changes in forest resources, land use, allied sub-sectors, protected areas etc are considered during planning.
Participation of stakeholders in forest planning has now been practiced in Bangladesh. However it was absent in the past. Different workshops/seminars are being arranged in the divisional level to view the grass root level ideas and share local experiences in forest planning. People's participation through RRP has been practiced for forest planning. Leaders of the society, rural elites, NGO representatives and stakeholders are invited to the workshop to have better participation in the forest planning process. Effort has been made to introduce different alternative means to have more participation of peoples from the grass root level in the present forest planning.
Forest Department has been implementing social forestry projects in which social survey for data collection has been made, benefit-sharing module has been developed and people's participation has been encouraged. NGOs are also associated in the forestry planning and implementation process. Forest Department also consults with allied agencies like BFIDC, Pulp and Paper industries, Match industries during its planning process.
Earlier investment so far made in the forestry sub-sector and its management was narrowed to merely to higher revenue earning for the government. But this outlook has been changed. While planning, different issues are now being considered in this sub-sector such as environmental issues, wildlife conservation, bio-diversity conservation, socio-economic improvement through peoples participation, forest based small scale industries as well as wood based large industries, creation of employment opportunity, women employment, eco-tourism etc. Present Forest Policy, national goals, international treaties and convention are the parameters for priority setting for choosing alternatives in forest planning.
With in Forest Department, Resources Information Management System (RIMS) was established under the World Bank financed Second Forestry Project. Geographic Information System has also been developed under Forest Resources Management Project. Thus Forest Department has been equipped with GIS and Remote Sensing in support of forest planning.
Forest inventory is conducted through remote sensing. All parts of forest area of Bangladesh are inventoried except for Hill Districts and the database thus created are used for developing management plans and information system.
Remote sensing has now been utilized in forest planning. The aid of remote sensing also helps in quick appraisal of situation, which facilitates to decide on the variability of planning process. Remote sensing also gives repetitive coverage of the forest land through which adjustments in planning can also be possible.
GIS is a decision making tool which in combination and also by integration can help to build up data base for the planning process and the data base just started to be utilized in forestry planning process.
Currently we are using database for forest management on a pilot basis. But this support is not adequate. Forest composition maps that are now available do not cover all forest areas of Bangladesh. Use of remote sensing and GIS techniques in forest management, which ultimately helps in forest planning, is also insufficient. Forest Department is also using computer but in a very limited scale. Development of computer networking (LAN & WAN) as a pilot programme is under way within Forest Department. This networking is planned to be introduced in all the divisions of the Forest Department. Thus forest planning support will be enhanced in near future.
But recently we have developed a Resource Information Management System (RIMS), which is partly responsible for the interpretation of remote sensing data and to develop the GIS. The cell that has already been developed has a few forest cover maps which have been prepared by using remote sensing and GIS.
The planning process in Bangladesh has not been modernized yet. The planning process is still weak and obsolete in many instances. The following issues are identified as the weaknesses in the planning process:
1. Inadequate database
2. Dearth of forest type map/forest composition map
3. Lack of skill manpower
4. Lack of skill manpower
5. Lack of EIA during planning
6. Lack of training facilities.
Schematic diagram of current process of forest planning
(Note: PCP = Project Concept Paper, PP = Project Performa, DPEC=Departmental Project Evaluation Committee, ECNEC= Executive Committee for National Economic Council)
- Participation of stakeholder to view their idea through RPP/Workshop.
- Development of forestry in consultation with other allied sectors like agriculture, wood based industries such as BFIDC, Match industries, Pulp and paper industries etc.
- Interactive or interchanged process may be developed.
Database to be built up for forest stand at beat, range and division level. Since Bangladesh is a highly populated country, per unit production need to be increased many times. A proper database will help to draw a proper plan in order to integrate all the variables for higher production.
Forestry today is not only a revenue earning source but it is also used for the protection of gene pool and bio-diversity management.
To develop holistic plan quick appraisal and timely data collection is utmost necessary for a well accepted plan.
8.3 Development of Remote Sensing unit
Forest Department needs to develop a permanent remote sensing cell tagged with the central forestry planning unit.
A methodology or a process needs to be developed to acquire remote sensing data from abroad on a regular basis.
At first a micro level data base need to be developed so that at the later stage remote sensing data can be interpreted on the basis of that micro level information.
Forest Department does not have that sort of strength or mechanism to accommodate such kind of planning process.
At present whatever may be the piece meal activities in the department those are developed under different projects funded by International donors (ADB/WB). But for the continuity and sustainability a permanent set-up is mandatory within the department with skilled manpower and necessary computer hardware and software.
A central monitoring and evaluation system along with the planning is also lacking in the Forest Department. Implementation of the programmes should be monitored and evaluated to judge the accomplishment, which can be a basis for the future planning process.
Well organized planning process is absolutely necessary which should be capable of organizing sub-sectorial issues in the planning process addressing both for the stakeholders as well as the department.
In the process of planning and plan implementation, emphasis need to be placed on inter-sectorial co-ordination in view of the close linkages, between forestry and other sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fishery, industries and energy.
Forest's role in environmental conservation and protection of bio-diversity should receive serious attention in the plans for forestry development.
A well organized database is also necessary for forestry planning. Forest Department has its own database but in a limited scale. Database once developed should be up-dated on a regular basis. In this case RIMS should be given support to develop its own facility for collection and maintenance of its own database. Moreover the structure of database is different from one country to another. But now a days a Global Forest Resource Management (GFRA) is conducted throughout the World to have a standard resources management system. FAO is responsible to develop a unilateral data base system for this region. So the individual country which develops database should be compatible with data structure developed in the FAO guideline.
A skilled manpower is needed to handle these database and for the conformity of the planning system. A devoted and permanent set-up is needed to be engaged with the central planning unit of the department.
Number of computers, currently under use, are inadequate to handle the total planning process of the department. Updated computer facilities along with the modem, internet need to be procured for the efficient planning process. Integration and cooperation may be achieved if computerized net working could be developed.
For the maintenance of the computer and peripherals and also for the training of the personnel's, the normal budget of the government is very scanty and not adequate in many instances.
Monitoring and evaluation should be equally strengthened with in the planning system.
by
Md. Zaid Hussain Bhuiyan
Deputy
Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officer
Working Plan Division,
Chittagong
Forest Department, Bangladesh
May, 2000
1. Introduction
2. Database Status for Forest Planning
3. Existing Resources available for database management
4. Recommendation to improve the existing database system to increase utility
5. References
A compact and updated database could provide sound management and integrated planning for the forestry resources in Bangladesh. The efficiency of database and its management will serve the current and future needs of integrated and coordinated forestry planning at all levels. The Resources Information Management System (RIMS) of the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) has been designed as a comprehensive forest management system to support forestry planning and programmes. It is actually a micro computer based system for the management, processing and reporting, that can accumulate, store and analyze date for forest inventory, silvicultural prescriptions, growth and yield data, socioeconomic, forestry and economic data at various levels of aggregation. Although Bangladesh Forest Department has adopted this computer based RIMS in the year 1985 at its Head quarter with limited information preserved in the system which at present incapable of supporting the integrated and coordinated forestry planning in the forestry sector of Bangladesh. Due to the lack and access of a sound wide-area-net-work in computer systems across the country and the existing overall management system, the current forestry planning do not property integrate the interactive process of programming, budgeting performance evaluation and monitoring.
In Bangladesh, the Forestry Planning begins with the FD prepared project schemes based on its data support from RIMS and other information directly collected from the Divisional Forest Offices. After preparation of project profile the project detail is sent by the Chief Conservator of Forests to the profile, the Ministry of Environment and Forest for review with the objectives of the project and later the project is sent of the Ministry of Planning. Planning Ministry finally takes approval from the National Economic Council where prime Minister is the Chairman of the Council For the forestry projects the implementing agency is the Forest Department who reports its progress to the Government every month. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of the project are being conducted by the FD during implementation and post monitoring and evaluation are conducted by the implementation and Monitoring Divisions (IMED) under Ministry of planning every year at the field levels.
RIMS is a computer based management systems that stores, updates, programme and retrieves information from a mapable (polygon) unit on forest land called sub-block. These sub-blocks are per-identified blocks (polygon) of more or less homogenous tree crop, which can be subjected to some management practice.
The current data sources of RIMS of forestry planning are (a) Aerial photo (b) Satellite images and (c) Ground inventory and truthing for rechecking database.
A time series aerial photo of 1982 (ODA) and 1995 (Quasco) were used for preparing the database for Sundarbans Forest Division. Map of Survey General of Bangladesh 1972 was also used for preparing the database, Aerial photos 1995 (Quasco and SPARRSO) was used for Chittagong and Cox's Bazar Forest Division. SPOT image 1996 was used for Sylhet Forest Division along with the maps from Survey of Bangladesh. Ground tuthing carried out for updating and rechecking of database.
At present RIMS using the following content of database are (l) Area (2) Trees (3) stand information (4) Composition (5) Landuse data (6) and Administrative. The existing capability of database is limited to the aforesaid components. Other important information/database on (1) Topographic data (Contour data) (2) Slope% (3) Stream River, (4) Forest settlers (5) Soil (6) Watershed and (7) Environmental data are absent which are needed to be procured and preserved for integrated and coordinated forestry planning and management in the RIMS-GIS.
The present mode of digital data collection and storages are followed by the digitization of aforesaid maps. Aerial photos are Interpreted and transferred to digitization map database through manual.
Database have been recently updated after the end of the recent forest inventory which was conducted for sundarbans Forest Division, Chittagong Forest Division, Cox's Bazar Forest Division, Sylhet Forest Division and four Coastal Forest Division. A regular update of the database is carried out during field operations. However, a regular updating of database is absent at a regular interval of time Data should be updated at least twice in a year considering the feed back from field offices.
Since the time series data of satellite images and aerial photos are limited, the data updating process is seriously hindered, As for example Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Sundarbans Forest Division's data from SPOT Images of 1996 and coastal forest data collected from the Land Accretion and plantation Map, 1992' by SPPARSO and was base. Forest inventories of the plantations and natural forest have been completed in Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Sylhet Coastal Afforestation Divisions. The inventory sample data and forest type data by Range, Beat and block was put to the computer and forest type listing prepared, Sub-block information, overlaid in the inventory forest type maps was also put to the computer and sub-block listing prepared. Each sub-block is equally identified by Range, Beat and Block by species, are and area, However, recently the inventory of Sal (Shorea rebusta) forests and its mapping at the central region of the country started and arrangement have been completed to procure either SPOT or IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite) data of 1999 in order to re-checking field data and update database for future planning. RIMS-GIS lab practices a projection system names 'Bangladesh Traverse Marcator' (BTM) for spatial and Geo-referring purpose.
RIMS/GIS division at the FD Headquarter supply map and data to the Forest Divisions, to the consultants and to the policy makers. Stakeholders like Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) and Khulna University also user of the data on regular basis. Due to the absent of wide area network, the outside users are unable to access database.
RIMS/GIS is the computer based management unit of the FD headed by a Deputy Conservator of Forests and one Assistant Conservator of Forests works as GIS application specialist and one hired technician on temporary basis. In order to facilitate the existing work of the RIMS-GIS is designed with the modern computer facilities and mapping services.
Software used for database building and mapping are (1) PC ARC/INFO 3.5, (2) PC Arc View 3.0a (3) Erdas Imagine 8.3.1. At present a Windows 95 based LAN is framed within the RIMS-GIS Unit with a resources of 8 Pentium PCs, I Scanner (A4), 2 DesignJet Plotters (Al & AO). 1 Pen Plotter and 3 digitizers.
Recently PBMS (programming, Budgeting, Monitoring System) a personal computer base system have been designed and developed under the world Bank assistance to automate and facilitate the different processes and inputs/ outputs involved in the physical budget and programming of the Forest Department as well as the monitoring and evaluation to the financial disbursement of both revenue and development budget, The PBMS is operational on pilot basis for the one forest circle namely Chittagong Forest Circle out of six existing territorial forest circles. Five Forest division under this circle have been included in this information system.
4. Recommendation to improve the existing database system to increase utility
The Combination of RIMS with suitable GIS would provide desired link between
database map. Existing RIMS capabilities needs to increased and considerable
enhancements in various planning and management will be strengthened, for
example:
- enhance mapping process and map products by inclusion of non-forest features like topography, infrastructure and administrative boundaries based on consistent projections system.
- allow up-to-date map presentation of current state of forests.
- enable simulation of different management scenarios and present them in map form
- allow inclusion of non forest data, which is of great importance of forest planning and management (e.g. thana wise or village wise demographic data, socio-economic data, location and characters of consumers and market of forest produce etc.).
Establish at least three full time GIS personnel and five data entry technicians within the RIMS wing.
Keep the established RIMS-GIS database up to date by establishing an information exchange between RIMS wing and concerned field offices respectively DFOs Working Plan/Management Plan.
Make annual backups of the database, archive them and analyze changes.
Yearly remote sensing data should be made available to up-date existing database.
Update the database prescription, volume functions and yield tables.
In-house (with in the FD-HQ) and Wide-Area-Network with remote offices is urgently needed to handle the overloaded work volume of RIMS-GIS lab. Both internal and external workstation will be required. Internal workstation will have direct connection with the new system under multi-user environment and external workstation will be located outside Forest Department and a dial-up link will be required. This system will greatly link the RIMS-GIS lab with the field.
In order to facilitate the database for integrated and coordinated forestry planning the Wide-Area-Network, of the RIMS-GIS, the Bangladesh Forest Department server has to be linked with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of land, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluations Division under Ministry of Planning, and External Resources Division under Ministry of Planning. The system will allow speedy database information exchange between the agencies and will help in effective and on time implementation of the projects at the field levels and avoid traditional bureaucratic delay in planning process.
After completion of home country Wide-Area-Net-Work a regional networking of computer database are to be established to exchange forestry, forestry related and environmental data between the neighbouring countries. This will help in integrated and coordinated forest planning maintain uniformity in project preparation particularly in the tropical forests as the social and silvicultural uses and problems are almost same in Bangladesh, Indian Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.
Interdepartmental linkage for data exchange will maintain uniformity in data capture and using.
Time to time training programme need to be organized to improve the skill of the GIS personnel.
As the quality of the input data is the most efficient tool in proper management, appropriate technique should be introduced in collection of accurate field data, continuous collection of information from Forestry operations performed and special studies will be required to keep the database up to date and operating efficiently.
Dochnal F,ERNST (1998) : Implementation to the Forestry Sector Phase 11, working paper No. 7, I implementation of the Forest Resources Management System (RMS) Feb 4, 1988, 21 P, FAO Forest Department, Banagladesh.
Runkel M. and Khan F.I. (1998) : Manual on RIMS-GIS Database, Geographic Resources Information Management System of Forest Department, Bangladesh. GOB/WP Forest Resources Management Project, 207P, Forest Department, Ban Bhaban, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
Runkel M. (1997) Geographic Information System-overview and Refresher course 14p, GOB/WB FRMP, Forest Department, Dhaka-1212. Bangladesh.
Balmforth, E.G. (1987): Department of Forest Resources Management System (RMS) for Forest Department, Bangladesh, Working Paper No. 3, FAO of the United Nation FAO/UNDP/BGD/85/085. 46p. August, 1987.
Forest Department, Bangladesh
May, 2000
Table of contents
1. Introduction and Background
2. Development of an Information System in the Forest Department
3. Hardware and Software
4. Networking and Future Application
5. Recommendation and Conclusion
Information on resource status is the most important aspect of its scientific management. Though information system depends on the kinds of resources and the objective of the management system but it's use can hardly be overemphasized in connection to planning, control, monitoring etc.
The growing importance of forestry demands quick appraisal of forest status, people's socio economic condition and the parameter responsible for the environmental degradation. To keep pace with the present modernization in the forest management technology, Bangladesh Forest Department as well has adopted a computer based Resource Information Management System (RIMS) in 1985. Further the RIMS unit and its capabilities has been further augmented through the introduction of GIS. It is then realize that the existing management information system doesn't integrate the interactive process of programming, budgeting and performance evaluation/monitoring.
Accordingly in 1999 under a World Bank project a MIS under the name of PBMS (Programming, Budgeting and Monitoring System) has been developed at the Hq. of the Forest Department taking one of the Forest Circle as a pilot area.
RIMS is a computer based management system that stores, updates, process and retrieves information primarily on individual mapable unit on forest land called sub-block. These sub blocks are pre-identified blocks (polygon) of more or less homogenous tree crop, which can be subjected to same management practices.
The computerized Resource Information Management System (RIMS) within Forest Department of Bangladesh is designed to integrated a database of (i) forest inventory (ii) growth and yield models and (iii) standard silvi-cultural prescriptions to project the development of mapable management units. Hence, RIMS serves as an important forest planning and management tool for FD.
A current restriction of RIMS results from the fact that the link to the mapable units- normally forest sub-blocks is not available in a suitable computerized form. The forest type maps in a scale of inch to miles (1:15,840) are available only in analog form (on paper).
The combination of RIMS with a suitable GIS would provide the missing link between database and maps. In addition to the currently given RIMS capabilities this could result in considerable enhancement in various planning and management e.g.:
- enhance mapping process and map products by inclusion of non forest features like topography, infrastructure and administrative boundaries, based on a consistent projection system;
- allow up-to-date map presentation of current state of the forest;
- enable simulation of different management scenarios and present them in map form;
- allow inclusion of non-forest data, which is of importance for forest planning and management (e, g thana-wise or village-wise demographic data, socio-economic data, location and characteristics of consumers and markets for forest produce etc.)
Within RIMS, GIS technique and methodology can be used to work on existing data of forest resources. The input to the GIS within RIMS has to come from various sources, e. g forest inventory, photo and satellite image interpretation, topographic map, administrative maps, census data etc. At present the database management is used and maintained at the headquarters of the Forest Department. The stand information on forest divisions are sent to the headquarters through prescribed formats to update the database periodically.
The proposed PBMS (Programming, Budgeting and Monitoring system) is a personal computer- based designed and developed to automate and facilitate the different processes and inputs/outputs involved in the physical budget programming/ planning of the Forest Department as well as the monitoring and evaluation to the financial disbursement of both revenue and development budget and the accomplishments based on targets.
The PBMS is designed to store, maintain and analyze data on the annual plans and budget request and allocation to the various units of the Forest Department. It Can Accommodate The Daily Disbursement processing and put into Computer Record Important Financial data for accounting of various projects and activities of the Forest Department.
The PBMS will be able to generate the needed monthly and annual planning and budget reports both in their original or reprogrammed form. The PBMS can also produce the needed monitoring and evaluation reports on a monthly and annual basis based on the consolidated planning and financial reports. It can compile ad sort the data for any of the FD or the whole FD.
The database under RIMS/GIS has been developed for the major eight Forest Division of the FD within the command area of the World Bank funded project. The divisions are Sundarban. Chottagong, Cox's Bazar, Sythet forest divisions and four coastal forest divisions (namely Chittagong, Noakhali Bhola & Patuakhali). A forest stand based database on individual polygon consisting of different combination of parameters has been developed. The polygon has also been digitized subsequently to form a GIS map base. The management plans for same of the divisions among the forest divisions mentioned above has already been prepared and others ate under preparation.
The PBMS has been recently developed on a pilots basis for the Chittagong forest circle out of six existing territory circles. Five forests divisions at Chittagong headquarters have been included in the information systems.
A huge setup of PC's at the Forest Department Hqs. Under RIMS/GIS has been developed to facilitate the work. The PC's are converted through Local Area Network systems. A requirements for the computer and peripherals, licensed software for programming, data analysis and management' s and the operating system including appropriate manuals and user guides for the PBMS has been developed. One set has been specified for the FD headquarters and another for the pilot area of Chittagong Circle/Divisions. The Hardware combination proposed has the necessary attributes of speed memory and multimedia capability to perform the task of the PBMS. The funds for the procurements of the above hardware/software will be incurred form the world Bank project, At present on funds are available to procure computer for other forest circles/divisions.
Once installed and operational. The MIS should be properly networked to provided interactive entry and analysis of data to various users and units of the Forest Department, It should also be networked to existing data base systems such as the GIS/RIMS at the FD headquarters. Improved communications and exchange of data and information with installation within the MIS of facilities for internet and electronic mails. This for implementation of the MIS to the whole FD the future, appropriate design and recommendations for networking shall be formulated.
For integration of the system, methodology should be through LAN (Local Area Network within Fd) and WAN (Wide Area Network in remote offices) environment. The system will have the capacity to handle the volume and workload. All workstations will have their own processing capability. The workstations form the remote offices will be connected to the system with dial-up 48.8bps modem and other in-house workstations will be connected through internet.
The in-house and outside users will be able to access database and services on the system. The networking software will be able to integrate networks and provided the seamless information flow. Both internal and external workstation will be required. Internal workstations will have direct connections with the new system under multi-user environment and external workstations will be located outside of FD and dial-up links will be required.
The networking system is preferred to have Windows NT environment to support the various hardware and software as well as the communication capabilities and security features needed. The application development platforms will be based on a relational data model and high level application development tools. For development of programming, budgeting, monitoring & evaluation System require an integrated set of development tools that address all the stages of application development process.
SQL Server/Oracle with SQL interface and end-user query capabilities will be ideal to develop the application programs as back-end and Visual FoxPro will be the front-end programming language. Visual FoxPro can also be used as relational database management system. Special measures will be taken to provide data integrity, search efficiency, disk space usage and external access.
The proposed LAN/WAN system for future establishment at the FD to provide a complete MIS capability for the whole FD is shown in Figure 1.
An uptodate inventory information are available for a few forest divisions of the country except Chittagong Hill Tracts and Plain Land Sal forest area which comprises 52.98% of the total of the forest land of Bangladesh. A digitized database is also available for the forests which are inventoried so far. But these database are stored and processed only in the headquarters of the Forest Department. A motivation and orientation among the forest officials are lacking in utilizing the information in their day to day job or in a routine manner. Moreover the circle/division offices are not equipped with computer and other facilities. Trained and devoted manpower needs to be developed to operationalize the use of computer in the department. The existing data structure need to be reviewed and a structure compatible with FAO guideline need to be developed. As soon as the department will enter into an automated information storage and processing system the provision for the monitoring, supervision and maintenance need to be developed for the sustainability.
