Policy generally refers to the principles that govern action directed towards given ends. It defines agreed or settled courses for adoption, by governments and institutions. At the national level, policy embraces general goals and acceptable procedures and actions to achieve their goals. While policies reflect long term objectives, they are subject to modifications based on the dynamics of policy environment. Policy provides a basis for legislation, plans and prescriptions, and a framework to continuously correct institutional inadequacies to maintain dynamic growth. A policy, thus, provides an important means to achieve goals considered essential and desirable by society. The effectiveness of a policy therefore, depends on achieving defined goals.
While national policies should be specifically tailored to conditions existing in the country, there are several goals and aspects which have universal or wider relevance and applicability. These include environment conservation, sustained production and utilization of resources, satisfaction of basic needs, equitable distribution of income, acceleration of socio-economic growth, and people's participation.
There are different categories of policies depending on coverage, scope and purpose. At the national level there are the principles enshrined in the Constitution and general aspects, such as economics, development, education, and environment conservation. Specific policies apply to sectors, such as forestry, agriculture, and industry. These policies are not mutually exclusive, and the general policies considerably influence specific sectoral strategy.
A national forest policy specifies principles regarding the use of a nation's forest resources, intended to contribute to the achievement of national objectives. In this context, the forest resource includes land where such resources can be developed. Diverse, and often conflicting concerns and interests, at various levels, affect people's perceptions of potentials and problems relating to the multiple roles and uses satisfied by forests today.
Modern forestry involves a web of interrelated activities that go far beyond the limits of forest land, and affect the welfare of everyone economically and ecologically. Rational practice of forestry requires decisions on what (and how much) goods and services we wish to obtain and how to obtain them. Multiple roles (production, protection and conservation) of forests are now the accepted basic objectives of forest management. A serious concern is how to manage forests to retain their essential roles as part of the natural resource system, while maintaining their capacity for supporting people. Fully sustained multiple roles of forestry has come more and more into focus as a fundamental objective.
Over the years the concepts and methodologies of policy analysis, and policy formulation evolved and improved considerably. The old manifesto-type policies are being modified into ones with specific and measurable objectives. Accordingly, traditional manifesto-type forest policy declarations are now viewed as imprecise expression of intent. Acceptable, good national forest policy is now seen as a formal and comprehensive statement which provides a conceptual framework, and clear objectives for forestry development, as well as orientation for the choice and execution of forestry programmes and related activities. It sets standards for decision making and discourages ad hoc acts. Policy development, implementation and evaluation are more or less a continuous process and closely related to effective planning.
Planning should allow and respect the legitimate range of interests of all concerned, (both public and private, including those of local inhabitants) and bring about their effective participation in all stages of the process. Otherwise, it becomes socially irrelevant and politically ineffective. In a broad sense, forest policy works best as a dynamic system, influenced by changes in policy environment.
Existing policy weakness Forestry as a sector of the economy is viewed as a government department, despite the fact that some 70 percent of all forest products originate on lands outside the control of the Forest Department. Several crucial aspects get little or inadequate mention in existing forest policy. Such aspects include: functional classification and use of forest land, role of forests as the biological foundation of sustained natural productivity, community participation, role of private sector, processing and utilization of forest products, organization of forest-based growth centres, enterprise development, rural energy needs, involvement of voluntary organizations, importance of non wood forest products and forestry extension. |
Currently, the National Forest Policy of Bangladesh (1979) is a manifesto-type statement and is very general and vague. In summary, it states:
· Forests shall be carefully preserved and scientifically managed;
· Government forests shall not be used for non forestry purposes;
· Timber wealth shall be increased by large scale plantations;
· Optimum extraction and utilization of forest produce will be carried out using modern technology;
· Measures to set up new forest-based industries and to meet raw material requirements shall be adopted;
· Research, education and training in forestry shall be organized to meet scientific, technological and administrative needs;
· A cadre of officers shall be constituted for manning the forest sector;
· Forest sector shall be organized as a separate administrative unit of the government and relevant laws updated for implementing forest policy;
· Steps shall be taken for conservation of forests and wildlife and for utilizing recreational potential of forests;
· Mass motivation shall be initiated and technical assistance extended to those interested in forestry.
Sectoral policies are subordinate to those defined by national goals, including the Fundamental Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution. The Government of Bangladesh recently adopted policies related to two vital areas. One is the policy of economic growth within the broad framework of a Twenty Year Perspective Plan (1990-2010). This covers: acceleration of economic growth; alleviation of poverty; generation of employment opportunities; and increased self-reliance. The other is the National Environmental Plan with the following objectives:
· maintenance of the ecological balance and overall progress of the country through protection and development of the environment;
· protection of the country against natural disasters;
· prevention of all types of activities leading to pollution and degradation of the environment;
· ensuring environmentally sound development in all sectors;
· ensuring sustainable, long term and environmentally congenial utilization of all resources.
Thus, the overall policy directives are fully in favour of: ecologically sound and biologically sustainable development of forestry; supporting economic improvement through appropriate measures of resource expansion, conservation, management and utilization including all linkages and involving people at each stage.
Need for policy review Policy analysis clearly highlights the following areas of critical importance for: Controlling the high rate of deforestation; introducing scientific and sustainable management of forest resources; undertaking intensively managed (on high-input and high output basis) forest plantations as an investment enterprise; practising appropriate, integrated landuse for improving overall sustainable biological productivity; reducing wastage in logging/harvesting and processing of forest products; rationally restructuring the forest industry as an economic undertaking and improving their economic efficiency; strengthening/intensifying forestry and forest products research and extension; arresting ecological degradation and erosion of biodiversity; rehabilitating wildlife and wildlife habitat; improving essential infrastructure for forest resource development; meaningfully involving people, private sector and NGOs in the development of forestry sector; appropriately restructuring the forest sector institutions to be capable of serving as effective agents for promoting sectoral growth, unfettered by bureaucratic hurdles; improving, qualitatively and quantitatively human resource for forestry in terms of training, education facilities and incentives. ensuring multidisciplinary approach and inter-sectoral coordination in forestry matters. |
Reviewing the situation of the various crucial aspects of forestry development in Bangladesh indicates that the broad policy directives require follow up action. Identified weaknesses of the current forest policy and implementation mechanisms are:
· Natural forests are not managed under an environmentally sound system.
· Forest plantations (inspite of having a legacy of over a century) have not yet been able to contribute to the wood supply.
· There is very little improvement in harvesting and processing technology.
· Extension forestry benefiting the homesteads producing trees and forest products in rural areas is inadequate.
· Forest-based industrial development is stagnant or deteriorating.
· Community forestry projects produced some good results but there is no indication how to achieve growth and development with public equity and true participation.
· Coastal afforestation for stablizing accreted lands is successful, but there is need for a clear and rational policy regarding the use of such lands.
· Wildlife conservation and forest recreation potential are both badly neglected areas, neither conserved nor fully utilized.
Plan team review clearly pointed out the need for resolving conflicts between forestry and other sectoral policies, such as agriculture, land use, livestock, fishing, irrigation, mining, industry, investment, finance, trade, taxes and fiscal regulations, tourism, transport, energy, urban development, social and community welfare, environment and nature conservation, science and technology and education.
