29. Poverty alleviation and forest conservation in Bangladesh: role of research
Sheikh Sirajul Islam^[42]

ABSTRACT

Forest resources are being depleted rapidly due to increasing population pressure in Bangladesh. The existing laws have not proved efficient in protecting forest resources. Forest department which has to look after large areas of forest with insufficient staff, ignores local needs. A change is felt essential and a participatory forestry programme has been introduced. The Betagi-Pomra Community Forestry Project has changed the socio-economic status of the settled families. The North Bengal Community Forestry Project contributed significantly towards land use efficiency, employment generation, environmental stability and social equity. The participants with the share benefit system emerged as a dynamic social group. It helped forest department to recover encroached land and established legal rights. The Farming system research and development programme (FSRDP) has improved the socio-economic conditions of the poor hill farmers by developing and practicing sustainable land use system on hill farming.

INTRODUCTION

Forest resources

Bangladesh is mostly composed of flood plains (80 percent) with some hilly areas (12 percent). Bangladesh has a total land area of 14.39 million ha of which 9.12 million ha are under cultivation, 2.14 million ha public forest, 0.27 million ha village groves, 1.64 million ha permanently under water, with other land areas (1.22 million ha) occupied by tea gardens, uncultivable areas, rural and urban houses and ponds (Kibria et al. 2000). The country has limited forest area in comparison to its total land and population. The areas under government and village forests are about 16 percent of total land. However, only 0.93 million ha (6.5 percent) is under tree cover which is about 40 percent of the government controlled forests (Anonymous 1989). The remaining 60 percent includes denuded grasslands, scrub and encroached lands. At least 73 000 ha forest land has been lost due to encroachment for aquaculture and agriculture. Moreover, 24 000 ha is lost every year to homesteads, urbanization and deforestation (FMP 1992).

The contribution of forestry towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current price has been estimated at 3.28 percent (BBS 1994). The supply of various forest products such as timber, poles, fuelwood and bamboos do not meet the present demand. Village forest area being one-tenth of the national forest area supplies 70 percent of saw logs, 90 percent of fuelwood and 90 percent of bamboos used in the country (Douglas 1982). The per capita consumption of timber and fuelwood has been estimated to be 0.01 million m³ and 0.08 million m³ respectively (Byron 1984). The figure will be less if the present forest production and population are considered. The gap between the demand and the supply will increase as the population grows. The gap can be narrowed through plantation of fast growing trees in the presently denuded forest and waste lands as well as homestead areas.

FOREST POLICY, STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT

Forest policy and strategy

The national forest policy of Bangladesh prepared in 1979 is summarized below:

• forests shall be carefully preserved and scientifically managed;

• government forest shall not be used for non forestry purposes;

• timber wealth shall be increased by large scale plantations;

• optimum extraction and utilization of forest produce using modern technologies;

• 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 separate administrative unit of the government and relevant laws updated for implementing forest policy;

• steps shall be taken for conservation of forests, wildlife and for utilizing recreational potential of forests;

• mass motivation shall be initiated and technical assistance extended to those interested in forestry.

The country's forest management has the following goals and strategies:

• reduction of forest products shortages

• improvement of forest management

• reduction of deforestation and encroachment

• development of people's participation

• minimization of environment hazards

• creation of employment opportunities and poverty alleviation

Forest management

The main forest management system has been clear felling of the natural forest followed by artificial regeneration in hill forests. Sal forests are managed by the three working circles, namely; conversion with artificial regeneration working circle, coppice working circle and afforestation working circle. There is a problem of large scale encroachment in the sal forests. So afforestation has been practiced with the active participation of local people on a benefit-sharing basis. Existing stocks are gradually loosing coppicing power rendering extended areas blank. The early management in the Sundarbans confined itself to realization of revenue. Sundarbans forests are now under the Selection-cum-Improvement management system with a 20-year cycle. Yield is controlled by fixation of exploitable diameter.

RATIONALE OF PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT

Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries of the world. It has very limited resources in comparison to the population and the existing resources, especially the forest resources are not equally distributed all over the country. On the other hand, the existing forest resources are also in a serious state of degradation due to over exploitation, and the demand and supply gap is increasing. The degradation of forest resources has already started to take revenge in the form of floods, cyclones, land-slides, etc., causing threats to ecosystem, and as a consequence, poverty is increasing in rural Bangladesh at an alarming rate.

After the independence of Bangladesh the government initiated many programmes to alleviate poverty but most were unsatisfactory. As a consequence government has been undertaking programmes to promote much wider diversification of activities that may help to alleviate poverty of the rural mass. At present, along with many other programmes for poverty alleviation, forestry in the form of afforestation, reforestation, social forestry, community forestry, forest based small scale entrepreneurship development etc. has also been taken as an approach to alleviate rural poverty.

The overall result of past management of the natural forests do not support healthy forestry development. The position has worsened in recent years. Over the 20-year period ending in the early 1980, natural forests declined by 2.1 percent annually on an average. From 1984-90, the annual rate of decline was 2.7 percent and is likely to be more than 3 percent in the coming years. On the other hand, a large area of khas and protected forest land has remained unproductive and contributes very little to the national economy.

In the part, forestry remained the exclusive domain of the Forest Department. Generally it ignored the local needs, and helped divert forestry benefits to the wealthy people. A change is felt essential, and forest management and protection should become the function of the entire population.

To increase the tree cover on private lands and involve the masses in it, government and non government organization (NGOs) have made several attempts towards participatory forestry programmes. A number of participatory projects have been undertaken. These efforts have three directions - protecting the existing forests, expanding the forest area through utilization of khas and protected forest lands, and regenerating the denuded hills. Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) has generated many technologies which are directly related to poverty alleviation and forest conservation. BFRI has done extensive studies on the participatory projects, viz., the Betagi-Pomra Community Forestry Project, the Farming System Research and Development Programme, the North Bengal Community Forestry Project and the Thana Afforestation and Nursery Development Project. The primary objectives of these participatory projects were to rehabilitate the landless poor people and to augment the supply of fuelwood, timber, edible fruits, fodder and other tree products which will ultimately help the country in poverty alleviation as well as forest conservation.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND FOREST CONSERVATION

BFRI technology related to poverty alleviation

Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) was established in 1955. It has a total area of 1100 ha including 28 ha at headquarters in Chittagong. It has two research branches with 17 research divisions, besides, the Administration and Service Engineering Division. There are 22 field research stations all over the country. There are 830 officers (including 150 scientists) and staff in this institute. Research studies are conducted under 12 programme areas, and a total of 40 technologies has been generated. Some of the technologies help to increase forest resources in both public and private forest land. Some technologies help wood based industries for product development through scientific utilization of forest resources. Such increase in forest resources and their proper utilization ultimately reduce poverty solving unemployment problems in the country. Out of 40 technologies, eight are directly related to poverty alleviation for the poor and marginal farmers and listed:

• Simple technique for propagation of bamboo

• Technique for enhancement of service life of rural housing materials

• Nursery and plantation techniques for indigenous tree species

• Nursery and plantation techniques for cane and pati-pata

• Propagation and conservation of medicinal plants

• Production of improved quality forest seeds and seedlings

• Appropriate technology for hill farming

• Techniques for pest and disease management in nursery and plantation

The Betagi-Pomra Community Forestry Project

BFRI undertook a study to investigate the socio-economic impact of the Betagi-Pomra Community Forestry Project in 1985 (Islam 1998). The project was undertaken in two villages of Betagi and Pomra under Chittagong district in Bangladesh. The two villages are hilly and close to government reserve forest. Betagi is khas land under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land Resources while Pomra is protected forest land under Forest Department. The objectives of the project were (a) to regenerate denuded hill through plantation of trees, (b) to rehabilitate landless farmers, (c) to protect the forest from the illegal felling with the help of the settlers and (d) finally to suggest how this experience can be effectively extended to other hilly areas in the country.

A socioeconomic sample survey was conducted in both areas in 1985. Information on family size, labour contribution, growing stock per hectare, annual farm income, etc. were collected. Similarly another follow up sample survey was conducted in both the areas in 1994. The same information was collected again. The survey results are presented and compared in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1. The comparative results of family size, labour hour per day and annual farm income at Betagi and Pomra

Table 2. Estimated change in average growing stock at Betagi and Pomra

In Table 1, it is observed that the family members have not increased significantly over a long period of 9 years at both Betagi and Pomra. The annual farm income has, however, increased two to three times more than the same in 1985 with decrease in trend of labour hour contribution per day. In Table 2, it is also noticed that the growing stock of forest trees, fruit trees and bamboo groves have increased largely at both areas over the same period. It indicates that the landless people have developed their allotted plots with agroforestry farming. Previously, they used to live on day labour, rickshaw pulling and fuelwood collection.

The inpu-output situation in Betagi and Pomra is given in Table 3. The internal rate of return (IRR) was estimated to be 104 percent for Betagi and 90 percent for Pomra.

Table 3. Input-output situation under Betagi and Pomra Community Forestry Project (1985)

US $ 1 = Tk. 40

The socio-economic impacts of the project are as follows:

• The employment opportunities were created for the landless. Their income and quality of living have improved significantly.

• The denuded hills have turned into green crops. The farmers are producing fruits, vegetables, sungrass, fuelwood and timber. The encroachers are now protectors.

• The farmers have become capable of contributing a large range of activities.

• Significant impact on social equity has been achieved. This is the ultimate goals of rural development.

• The two areas have become self-sufficient in fuelwood and sungrass which are essential commodities for rural living. The settled families now supply vegetables and fruits to local areas and Chittagong city.

• Social crimes have decreased. The farmers are now hope for a better life.

• Economically viable hill farming technology has been developed with sufficient generated information.

• A community forestry model has been established. It may be used in formulating forest management policy and for replicating elsewhere.

The North Bengal Community Forestry Project

BFRI conducted the study of the financial viability of agroforestry under participatory approach at Modhyapara of Dinajpur district in Bangladesh (Rahman and Islam 1997). Forest Department (FD) established this agroforestry plantation of 6.05 ha in 1985. FD made an agreement with five local participants allotting 1.21 ha land to each allottee with certain terms and conditions. BFRI contributed to select agro and forest crops and their plantation techniques after discussion with the participants and FD.

A socio-economic survey (for five participants) was conducted in 1996. Financial viability was found out in terms of benefit-cost ratio (B/C ratio) and internal rate of return (IRR). Financial analysis was done from first year to ninth year considering the investment and benefit over the period. The financial returns received by the FD were Tk. 1500 in the third year (pineapple auction) and Tk. 138 090 (sale proceeds of trees) in the ninth year. The participants incurred input costs in addition to FD assistance for growing intercrops in the first year. They had to bear all the costs for growing agricultural crops from second year. Labour contributed by themselves was Tk. 30 per day. Participants' benefits came from agricultural crops (100 percent), cyclone damaged trees (100 percent), wages paid by FD in the first and second year and sale proceeds of trees in the ninth year (50 percent). Year-wise break-up of costs and benefits is presented in Table 4. The estimated B/C ratio and IRR have also been shown under each situation.

Table 4. Financial analysis of Dinajpur (Modhyapara) Community Forestry Projects

US $ 1 = Tk. 43

The total costs pertaining to the whole agroforestry system were obtained by adding the costs incurred by both the participants and FD. The total benefits generated by the system were also estimated similarly. The results shown in the table are on the basis of 15 percent rate of interest. The B/C ratio under only FD situation, participants situation and whole agroforestry system situation stand at 1.43, 2.21 and 1.95 respectively. All the three B/C ratios are greater than 1. It implies that the agroforestry system applied is viable not only for FD and the participants but also for the whole participatory module. The IRR under the above three situations are 21 percent, 250 percent and 42 percent respectively.

The socio-economic impacts of the project are given below:

• FD recovered the encroached forest lands and established its legal rights

• FD emerged as development partner.

• The management costs of FD reduced substantially.

• FD established well stocked plantation in the area where it could not be successful under conventional approach.

• FD did not require to employ its limited resource for protecting the plantation as the participants protected the plantation.

• The participatory approach appeared to be easier and successful.

• The income of the participants increased substantially with the receipt of 50 percent share of timber sale proceeds.

• The participants emerged as a dynamic social group.

• Employment opportunities were generated.

• There is population pressure on scarce land. The participatory approach rehabilitated both man and land together. It accelerated landuse efficiency so that land could be intensively utilized for sustaining national development.

• The system contributed towards environmental stability.

• The system enhanced the supply situation in the local market contributing towards price stability.

• The system contributed towards social equity.

• Successful resource management system was introduced which ultimately helped both poverty alleviation and forest conservation.

Farming system research and development programme

BFRI started Farming System Research and Development Programme (FSRDP) at Saulok and Faitong sites of Bandarban hill district in Bangladesh in 1996 (Paul et al. 2002). The main objective of the programme was to improve socio-economic conditions of the farmers by developing and practicing sustainable land use system on hill farming. FSRDP had five research programmes and seven development programmes through transfer of mainly BFRI generated technologies.

Research Programmes

• Studies on differential slope agroforestry (DSA) method

• Developing techniques of soil conservation and soil management practices in the slope land cultivation system

• Devising multi-storied home garden

• Studies on socio-economic impact of agroforestry interventions

• Assessment and improvement of women's role in respect to agroforestry activities

Development Programmes

• Demonstration of sloping agriculture/agroforestry land technology (SALT).

• Introduction of improved agroforestry management practices under Rabi and Kharif seasons.

• Use of pre-rooted and pre-rhizomed branch cutting technique for cultivation of bamboo.

• Popularization of preservative treatment of indigenous rural housing materials, viz. bamboo, sungrass, wood, etc., and their service life.

• Beef fattening programme by using urea-molasses-straw (UMS) technique.

• Introduction of improved chicken/broiler/duck rearing practices.

• Introduction of improved fish culture technique using small water reservoirs/seasonal ditches/ponds as means of cash generation activities.

The site working group consisting of researchers, farmers and related extension workers implemented the field activities. The household assets of the 50 target farmers have been categorized into upper, middle and lower groups through the base line survey. The studies on socio-economic impacts of agroforestry showed 70 percent and 112 percent economic rate of return (ERR) for group-1 (farmers with more than two technologies) and group-2 (farmers with less than two technologies) respectively. The base line survey indicates that the women farmers are closely involved in household activities, cropland, home garden management and marketing. The women have positive attitude in adopting improved technologies.

Demonstrations have been conducted on SALT as well as on management of tree and bamboo propagation nurseries under farmers' management conditions. The growth of trees and crop yield were satisfactory. The survival of tree seedlings was good (90 percent). The hedge trees yielded 9 ton/ha/year as biomass. Under improved agroforestry management practices, the yield of different forest and High Yield Variety (HYV) agro-crops was satisfactory. In nursery management technique, the farmers raised about 60 000 seedlings and 30 000 bamboo branch cuttings. Of these seedlings about 30 percent were utilized by the farmers themselves and the remaining 70 percent were marketed to the local people. The farmers' reaction on preservative treated durable bamboo and sungrass-made house has been found positive. Thirty out of 150 cattle have been brought under beef fattening programme. The average benefit-cost ratio (BCR) in beef fattening was 1.69. Rearing of improved broiler and layer chicken and duck has been enthusiastically accepted by the farmers. The improved fish culture technique has been found to be an effective cash generating activity. The cash generation from each decimal of water body under improved fish culture was increased to Tk. 250, which is 150 percent higher than traditional practice.

Apiculture has been introduced to 20 farm families in the site and upto June 2001 about 40 kg honey has been collected. The FSRD programme has been initiated through training of about 300 farmers on seven technologies. Similarly field days have also been organized on agroforestry demonstration/practices through participation of about 450 farmers. The results of the programme are compiled in Table 5.

Table 5. Component wise progress of FSRD at Bandarban (1998-99/2000-2001)

US $ 1 = Tk. 56

The socio-economic impacts of FSRDP are as follows:

• SALT has been demonstrated as a sustainable slope land cultivation practice.

• The nursery techniques for tree and bamboo have facilitated local availability of desired seedlings for the people interested in tree planting activities.

• Trees of improved sources and HYVs of crops have been cultivated under agroforestry practices.

• The average soil erosion loss has been drastically reduced in the FSRD site.

• Bee culture has been accepted as attractive cash generating activity and became a popular production technology.

• Farmers' reaction to preservative treated bamboo-sungrass made house is positive.

• Farmers showed their keen interest in UMS technique for beef fattening.

• Increased production of meat and eggs has enhanced cash generation to the farmers and local people through rearing both broiler and layer chicken and duck.

• Increased fish production through poly culture of fish has contributed to generate cash money for the farmers.

• The women have positive attribute in improved technologies for household and home garden activities.

• Significant socio-economic impacts have been achieved in terms of higher economic rate of return due to FSRD interventions.

Thana Afforestation and Nursery Development Project

Thana Afforestation and Nursery Development Project (TANDP) was executed during the period from 1987 to 1994 by Forest Department adopting BFRI technologies on nursery techniques and strip and agroforestry plantation techniques (Huq and Alim 1995). The primary objective of the project was to arrest depletion of the tree resources and improve the land-use practices for increasing production of fuelwood and timber in unproductive forest land in the country. TANDP raised community awareness for forestry development creating a permanent institutional capacity for forestry extension.The project had the following participatory components:

• Enrichment plantation

• Agroforestry plantation

• Strip plantation

• Establishment of thana nurseries

Local people were involved as participants in establishment of enrichment plantation. They were involved with share benefit mechanism. The participants got 40 percent of total forest produces including intermediate output. Encroached forest land was brought under a multiple used agroforestry component by participating local members. They received 50 percent of final forest products including agriculture and intermediate forest produces. The participating members of public were involved in strip plantation on government land. A total of 345 thana nurseries was established for distribution of 25 700 000 seedlings to all agencies including members of public as well as to disseminate BFRI technologies for nursery and plantation. However, the targets and achievement of the participatory components are given in Table 6.

Table 6. Target and achievement of participatory components of TANDP

CONCLUSION

Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) along with different forestry research and development programmes, has a mandate to undertake poverty alleviation programmes. With this view, the institute has undertaken research and development programmes within its capacity.

Equipped with the BFRI generated technologies, many marginal and poor farmers have developed nurseries, collected and produced quality seedlings of bamboos, trees, canes, pati-patas and medicinal plants. Through this, they are earning a lot of money from sale proceeds of seeds and seedlings. The farmers are using preservative treated rural housing materials like bamboos, wood and sungrass for enhancement of service life. As a result, the poor farmers do not have to collect the housing materials for a long time. This will also reduce pressure on forest resources. The farmers are also using the techniques for pest and disease management in their nurseries and plantations. The poor hill farmers are also benefited through use of appropriate technologies for hill farming such as home garden, agroforestry, bamboo propagation, apiculture, fish culture, poultry farming, livestock, low cost housing with bamboo and sungrass, etc. The poor hill farmers are now better of through selling their products. Their hills are now protected from soil erosion and are covered with fruit and forest trees.

The Betagi-Pomra project depicts a way of utilizing denuded hills simultaneously by rehabilitating the landless people. The socio-economic status of the settled families has improved considerably. If this type of project is initiated in the denuded unclassed state forests and unproductive hilly khas lands, it will help rural development solving unemployment problems for the landless people and increase the production of food, fuel, timber and other forest products.

The participatory approach in forest management contributes significantly towards land use efficiency, employment generation, environmental stability and social equity. The approach has been inspiring both the participants and the Forest Department. The Forest Department has legal right to encroached land and emerged as a development partner. The participants have been benefited with their share, while the Forest Department also has earned handsome revenue from a small patch of plantation without involving itself in the tedious job of its protection. The system is a unique example for poverty alleviation of the poor farmers and conservation of forest without much involvement for management and protection.

In TANDP, the poor people were involved in its components and received financial benefit as per share-benefit agreement. They developed nurseries with the help of the project and received income selling quality seedlings. Thus, the project has contributed to poverty alleviation through implementation of the participatory components.

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