There is no single body specifically responsible for developing and managing NWFPs. BFD administers the land from which most supplies originate but devotes only slight attention to managing the depleting resources. Bangladesh Scientific Industrial Research Council's (BSIRC) mandate includes developing small and cottage industries. However, BSIRC needs strengthening and convincing of the importance of NWFP industries in providing employment and income for the poor. Presently, this opportunity is not well recognized.
Table 4 - Area and Volume of the Natural Forests of Kassalong and Rangkhiang by Forest Types
Location |
Forest Cover Type |
1963 |
1983 | ||
Area (ha) |
Volume (000'cu m) |
Area (ha) |
Volume (000' cu m) | ||
Kassalong |
Timber-types |
52689 |
7002.4 |
46395 |
6337.6 |
Timber-bamboo |
23506 |
2818.0 |
14878 |
1679.7 | |
Bamboo-timber |
31972 |
1725.8 |
23525 |
1270.3 | |
Bamboo-types |
41366 |
714.6 |
12653 |
218.9 | |
Plantation |
5013 |
- |
14330 |
- | |
Non-forest and non-productive areas |
9981 |
- |
52667 |
- | |
Total |
164527 |
12260.8 |
164448 |
9506.5 | |
Rangkhiang |
Timber-types |
20325 |
3285.5 |
7116 |
1220.4 |
Timber-bamboo |
6933 |
988.5 |
3228 |
393.8 | |
Bamboo-timber |
17519 |
809.0 |
6194 |
286.2 | |
Bamboo types |
27907 |
563.1 |
13606 |
274.8 | |
Plantation |
2011 |
- |
8873 |
- | |
Non-forest and non-productive areas |
2409 |
- |
38087 |
- | |
Total |
77104 |
5646.1 |
77104 |
2175.2 | |
Grand Total |
241631 |
17906.9 |
241552 |
11681.7 | |
Source: De Milde, R. et al. 1985. The Kassalong and Rankhiang Reserve Forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Field Document No. 10 FAO/UNDP Project, BGD/79/017
Research and development efforts with NWFPs are scattered, unorganized and uncoordinated. Coordination and institutional linkages at local and national level between government, non-government and other agencies is missing. Confusion exists as to what agency is responsible for each product. Competent, knowledgeable and well-trained staff responsible and accountable for developing, managing, processing, utilizing and marketing NWFP are needed. staff to do this will require good programmes for training.
In order to promote profitable, self-sustaining socio-economic development in villages and communities near NWFP resources, it is imperative to develop and promote NWFP-based industries. Existing cottage industries are mostly household-based. To maintain profitability, they require adequate support in terms of financial, technical and marketing assistance. The households engaged in each industry need to be organized into functional transparent cooperatives. This type of development and coordination must have active linkages with other government agencies, e.g. Department of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Agriculture Extension, and NGOs, plus normal credit institutions.
The government should encourage and support the establishment of an integrated NWFP processing or manufacturing industry, including murta, rattan and bamboo. This has to include an effective and efficient marketing system. Traditional artisans are leaving their trade because of the seasonal nature of the industry. An integrated established industry, offering a continuous and rewarding source of income, if given proper encouragement, can provide significant employment in many parts of Bangladesh.
Success in the various NWFP programmes requires a well managed and expanding resource. Industry development will require systematic and organized extension services. Awareness appreciation and organized motivation are essential in getting people's participation. Only extension and training can generate this motivation and support.
Uncoordinated Development - The main issue facing future NWFPs development and improvement is the lack of a single organization responsible for the collection, promotion and/or development of non wood products. In the absence of such a unit, it is not possible to make a coordinated effort to achieve a breakthrough in any remarkable promotion of these products.
Five issues dominate non-wood product development · Uncoordinated development. · Inappropriate forest management. · Inadequate resource information. · Under developed extension services. · Unexploited social and economic development opportunity. |
A well developed and economically successful industry based on non wood products requires the will and commitment to package and transfer the technology to the primary producers and processors through an institutionally coordinated scheme. There is an urgent need to create an office or unit to promote and develop non wood products. Adequate funds for the operations of the proposed office are also needed. One way to do this is to put back wood products revenue or income to finance development until the programme becomes self sustaining. Government should provide an incentive or reward system for people involved in NWFPs development and management.
Policy and Institutional Strengthening - The lack of long term policy places NWFPs in an unhealthy situation. Responsive, long term policies need formulating, appropriately supported by research and development. The policy formulated should be relevant to the thrusts and priorities of the government. Specifically, it must conform with the present and proposed forest, health, industrial and trade policies. These policies need gearing towards poverty alleviation, social equity and sustained public participation. Moreover, some organizations or agencies must have sole responsibility and financing to develop NWFPs from collection point to marketing.
Inappropriate Forest Management - Government must change its traditional forest management and development approach. Its clear felling silvicultural system requires replacement with one which not only conserves biodiversity but maintains the non wood product resource base. This will keep the forest ecosystem healthy and help to sustain the economy of forest-dwelling communities. Both management and development strategies must promote the country's forests as an integrated complex of both wood and NWFPs.
Silvicultural issues are many, in fact, higher yield from plantations and high forest, are mainly silviculture and management related. For the last few decades, forest protection has become very problematic. This problem will assume a still higher proportion if the socio-economic conditions of a large majority of the population worsens.
More protected areas need to be demarcated in the country to support NWFP development. The potential of the protected areas NWFP for production and conservation remain untapped and requires close study. Areas used mainly for non wood products need zoning, delineating and need to be managed separately and intensively from traditional products.
Inadequate Resource Information - There is a great need for a comprehensive nation-wide inventory of NWFP resources. Quantitative data are needed for the formulation of more responsive policies and in designing and developing appropriate plans, activities, projects, and related programmes. Methods and systems for reliable resource assessment need developing, including manpower and equipment to make the assessment.
Social Equity - A component of sustainable forest development is the promotion of equitable distribution of forest benefits. The traditional disposition of forest resources, including non wood products, through the auction system discriminates against poor people and is destructive to the resource. The recommendation is to develop and implement an alternative system where long term licenses or permits go to organized communities near the resources. However, these communities require training as sustained developers, producers and processors of the resources. These needs can easily drive an extensive poverty alleviation programme in support of government social goals. However, with the right to harvest the particular natural products goes the responsibility to protect, enrich and manage the resources so that the benefits are sustained.
Undeveloped Extension Services - Successful non wood product programmes on resource base management and industry development requires systematic and organized extension services. Awareness, appreciation, and motivation are essential in making people act and participate. More importantly, capabilities and supportive skills are strong driving forces that would make the programme successful. Good extension and training generates the motivation and support needed.
Integrated non wood crops are a logical part of an effective extension and training programme. A battery of extension workers need training on the various technical aspects, including seed technology, nursery propagation, plantation development, management/ maintenance, harvesting/collection, processing and marketing. In turn, these extension workers train the cooperators in resource management and development, and in the development of household industries. This means providing advice in planning and sustained management, technology in production and processing, and marketing.
Developing NWFPs is an important area with tremendous potential in poverty alleviation and widespread economic development. There is some scope for building raw material supplies, selectively. Government supports and facilitates reasonable credit, increases raw material supplies, and helps to supply training and extension services. Specific programmes and project identification are better left to individual private companies, groups or active NGOs.
Principal strategies to improve Bangladesh's non wood products resource and related social and economic benefits involve coordinating institutional support and developing NWFP policy integrated with GOB's broad social and economic goals and policies.
