Participatory Forest Management Approach and Livelihood Security of Coastal Dwellers in Bangladesh

0643-C1

Paramesh Nandy^[1], S.P. Paul and M.A.K. Miah

Abstract

Reflecting on the recent changes, particularly in the central coastal forest of Bangladesh, where 8 069 ha are now in the hand of encroachers, Participatory Forest Management (PFM) appeared as the best option for future sustainability. Criteria for successful PFM and increased livelihood security for coastal dwellers have been prioritized at stakeholder level and validated. Systematic involvement of settlers in PFM has been identified as the key to insuring livelihood security for which mutual trust, legal right and relationship are regarded as essential components. Since land ownership is a limiting factor, the stakeholders emphasized that periodical land leasing followed by a community-based land-use monitoring approach may lead to mutual trust and harmonize legal relationships. Settlers are assured a portion of allocated land as land with tree cover through a joint partnership programme with the Forest Department. In this regard, sustainable community development has been determined as a priority objective to achieve successful PFM. The paper outlines major constraints along with promising approaches, with a view to improving the livelihood security of coastal dwellers. It has been recommended that a practical land-tenure policy be introduced highlighting security of land ownership rights for the settlers.

Introduction

Despite the growing tendency of land encroachment, Noakhali Division of FD alone (where the present study was conducted) established more than 34000 hectares of coastal plantations, out of which 8,069 hectares are now under encroachment (Canonizado,1999). Situation appears alarming for coastal dwellers because there needs vegetative protection belts, replacement of mangroves by mesophytes and exists genuine demand for cultivable land - all these issues dictate to develop a participatory approach which will enable to help and bring these settlers into the main stream of forest development. Integrated Forest Management Plan (IFMP) of Noakhali Division (1999-2008) made some provision of PFM for which selection of suitable site should be made. The present study has been undertaken in order to understand the survival strategies of rural stakeholders residing in this site and expected to provide useful information for that part of IFMP.

With these in view, present Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was conducted at char Mohiuddin and Mohammadpur village of central coastal belt by a seven-member multidisciplinary team comprising six from different disciplines of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute and one from FD. It was aimed to entangle local stakeholders for the assessment of their own survival strategy, present and future needs, prevailing socio-economic conditions and overall to develop acceptable management criteria for PFM.

The materials represent a holistic analytical framework for a wide range of accumulated information and highly addressed to the need of marginalized groups of the society. It also contains some site-suitable approaches and expected to be useful for planning local management aspects of future PFM.

Methodology

Stakeholder analysis was conducted by using PRA techniques. Equal number of small, medium and large category of settlers was selected. A total of 70 participants comprising 40 from char Mohiuddin and 30 from Mohammadpur village took part in the exploration of respective site. The composition of farmers team was also gender based participating 60% male & 40% female in Mohiuddin and 50:50 in Mohammadpur village which enabled the PRA team to achieve more perceptions of women on different issues.

PRA locations and settlers were considered as target areas and groups respectively because (a) Both the villages are located in raised coastal areas; (b) Settlement in the target area is relatively new; (c) Target groups as well as the target area are highly potential for the intervention of new technologies.

The following criteria had also been considered in selecting locations:

Land accretion of Mohiuddin is older than Mohammadpur village.

Period of raised-land exploration through human settlement differs almost a decade between two locations.

Frequency of inundation and their subsequent effect to agricultural production systems also differ between two locations.

One of the locations is almost surrounded by coastal forest and the other (Mohiuddin) is out but adjacent to mangrove forest.

Results and discussions

As per respondent, the livelihoods of stakeholders mostly depend on agricultural productivity dominated by three major production systems. Although, the yield of rice is much lower and the cultivation is of loosing concern (Table 1), it appears as major production practice in both study areas. Pond based fish culture was identified as widely accepted and profitable production process. Initial earth-working for raising homestead areas in char (accreted) land necessitates most of the stakeholders to keep a mini pond within their homesteads.

Among pulses, Lathyrus sativus owing to its minimum maintenance cost, widely cultivated in both study areas as relay crop with rice. Similarly, inundated soil-moisture availability in Mohammadpur assists the local farmers to broadcast Linum usitatissimum without providing plough and found profitable production system. Other vegetables like tomato, chili, brinjal, etc. were grown in small scales.

Table 1. Livelihood security from existing production systems

Production systems	Char Mohiuddin			Mohammadpur
Production systems	Production cost, in Taka	Net return, in Taka	BCR	Production cost, in Taka	Net return, in Taka	BCR
Rice	6285.00	-285.00	1.05	5650.00	-50.00	1.01
Pulse	1680.00	820.00	1.49	1520.00	1480.00	1.97
Linseed	-	-	-	1450.00	1350.00	1.93
Fish	2765.00	2035.00	1.74	2010.00	990.00	-

The stakeholders of both locations are far from practicing agro-forestry and rearing livestocks. Tree plantation activity is in the initial stage associated with the primary pattern of human settlement. Data on livestock rearing per family indicates that 86 to 100% farm categories in both study area include poultry practice possessing average 8 to 9 nos. of duck and 10 to 13 nos. of chicken head per family. At the same time 20 to 30% marginal families are engaged in rearing goats, young stocks and milky cows while bullocks & dry cows are reared by only 7% large farmers.

Table 2. Involvement in decision making process

Components	Families engaged, %		Gender involved in decision making process, %
	Mohiuddin	Mohammadpur	Mohiuddin		Mohammadpur
	Mohiuddin	Mohammadpur	Male	Female	Male	Female
Crops	100.0	92.7	46.2	53.8	85.7	14.3
Livestock	87.0	75.0	58.3	41.7	10.0	90.0
Forestry	40.9	10.0	16.7	83.3	66.6	33.4
Fishery	88.0	71.4	40.0	60.0	100.0	-
Homestead	100.0	85.7	61.5	38.5	20.0	80.0

Gender analysis reveals that the male farmers of Mohammadpur village dominate in decision making for major components while a balanced decision making process exists for almost all components of Mohiuddin which indicate the prevailing livelihood differences between two locations (Table 2).

Chronological key events quoted and validated by the stakeholders reflect two reciprocal tendency of land encroachment. Mohiuddin settlement is a result of cooperative move of landless people whereas in Mohammadpur, it is influenced by absentee landlords. Settlers are erosion victims from the nearby (Hatia) thana. It was identified that the absentee components compel the erosion victims to encroach land and cultivate the same through hidden benefit sharing systems but the poor stakeholders have to face all illegal consequences. Another trend of land encroachment is that the settlers deliberately keep some lands in their possession for securing their livelihoods which create antagonistic relationship between local and govt. people and as a consequence, illegal erosion of vegetative belts are encouraged by outsiders.

Problems regarding participatory approach for productive use of raised land and its resource control were prioritized at stakeholders level and validated. There exists genuine demand for cultivable land and the limiting factor is land ownership which traditionally lies on FD, its encroachment creates antagonistic relationship between FD and settlers. Whereas, the main principle of Joint Forest Management (JFM) should be the joint partnership between local people with FD (Hobley, 1996). Such antagonistic relationship has been identified as the milestone of household insecurity of coastal dwellers. Settlers opined for systematic land leasing and also for periodical land-use monitoring approach. They prefer to constitute a land allocation committee having member from settlers to take care for not allocating land to muscle men of the society. Settlers unanimously agreed to abide by the rules of the committee. However, they would like to go for sharecropping with others in order to sustain their livelihood. Preferential ranking of settlers for various issues has been shown in table 3.

Table 3. Ranking for participatory use of raised land and its resources.

SI. No	Characteristics of problem	Percentage		Rank	Possible Solutions
SI. No	Characteristics of problem	Agreed	Dis- agreed	Rank	Possible Solutions
1	Land allocation:				Special Land Allocation Committee having members from Govt. NGO and settlers can be formed.
	i) Allocation only by Govt. Committee;	80.0	20.0	15
	ii) Committee nominated by settlers;	-	100.0	5
	iii) By special committee including Govt. NGO & settlers.	100.0	-	20
2.	Selection of settlers:				Landless having family and recognized by local authorities to be selected.
	i) landless(with family)	100.0	-	20
	ii) Landless(Bachelor)	-	100.0	5
	iii) Landless family recognized by local Govt. & NGO	100.0	-	20
3.	Allotment conditions:
	A.
	i). Settlers should have permanent residence and invest inputs/own labour in allocated plots but should not work outside.	50.0	50.0	10	Concord of opinion is that they are bound to reside and invest own labour/inputs in allocated plots.
	ii) Settlers should have permanent residence and invest inputs/own labour in allocated plots but should also work outside.	100.0	-	20	Considering their economic condition, they may earn money by using their additional labour outside.
	B.
	i) Plot allotment to be made in between tree shelter belts with responsibilities for taking care of trees.	100.0	-	20	Plot allotment may be made with all responsibilities or by providing responsibilities for community based Joint Forest Management (JFM) separately.
	ii) Plots allotment to be made in vacant areas with responsibilities for growing trees.	60.0	40.0	10
	iii) Plot allotment to be made in vacant areas with responsibilities (community based) for taking care of large forest patch.	100.0	-	20
	C. Allotment size per family may be:				Minimum allocation of land per family with valid document may satisfy the settlers.
	i) 2.5 acres (or 1ha)	100.0	-	20
	ii) 5 acres	80.0	20.0	15
	iii) More than 5 acres	-	20.0	5
	Leasing period:				Settlers prefer initial leasing for 5 years and renewal period may be up to 15 years depending on the performance of settlers in allocated land but they require Semi-permanent Ownership Deed for not less than 50 years.
	a. Initial Leasing:
	i) 3-5 years	90.0	10.0	20
	ii) 10-15 years	60.0	40.0	10
	b. Renewal:
	i). Automatically	70.0	30.0	15
	ii). Depending on the performance of settlers	100.0	-	20
	c. Semi-permanent Ownership Deed:
	i) 20-30 years	50.0	50.0	10
	ii) 40-50 years	100.0	-	20
	E. Land and Product Use:				Settlers assured for proper and rational use of allocated land provided inputs like HYV seeds, fertilizer & pesticides will be available.
	Use of 50% agri-products by renting allocated land	50.0	50.0	10
	Use of 100% agri-products from own use of allocated land	100.0	-	20
	Selling of allocated land	-	100.0	5

- Maximum rank - 20
- Minimum rank - 5

Coastal resources are always controlled by the govt. forest services and their main objective is sustainable management of forest. Virtually, there exists no programme on sustainable management of coastal communities. There exists neither any govt. infrastructure nor any significant activity of NGO. Prudent to mention that settlers were never asked for their commitment how to maintain forest resources, what are their demands, how to make fair share of coastal resources or how to address for JFM. With these in view, settlers were organized to discuss among themselves regarding various issues of JFM. It was derived that only legal relationship with legal rights could be the essential part of a successful JFM. What is needed is to involve settlers in the systematic process of JFM, to create jobs for them and finally to transform them into dynamic citizens capable of contributing to the nation. An important concept derived from their discussion is that it is the settlers who can preserve allocated land always as land with tree cover indicating about greater opportunities for replacing mangroves through JFM. Their preferential ranking has been shown in table 4.

Table 4. Ranking for Joint Forest Management.

SI. No	Characteristics of problem	Percentage		Rank	Possible Solutions
SI. No	Characteristics of problem	Agreed	Dis-agreed	Rank	Possible Solutions
1.	Identification of plot size for JFM:				Settlers unanimously agreed that they may need at least 100-130 feet or 30-40m width for agri-plots in between shelter belts.
	- In case of allocating Agri-plots(AP) in between tree shelter belts (SB):
	i) SB - AP - SB 18' - 36' - 18' or 36'-72'-36'	25.0	75.0	5
	ii) 36'-108'-36' or more	100.0	-	20
2.	Identification of group size for JFM:				They prefer to have 50 settlers in a group so that they can resist any attack from outside.
	- In case of allocating settlers plot and forest patch separately:
	i) 10 settlers in a group	50.0	50.0	10
	ii) 20 settlers in a group	70.0	30.0	15
	iii) 50 settlers in a group	90.0	10.0	20
	iv) More than 50 settlers in a group	20.0	80.0	5
3.	Settlers rights and responsibilities in both cases:				Settlers assured not to cut trees but to keep allocated forest land always as land with tree cover by replacing mangroves with mesophytes on the availability of seedlings.
	Settlers right:
	i) Cutting trees	-	100.0	20
	ii) Collect fuel-wood, fodder fallow grazing etc. but taking care of trees.	100.0	-	20
4.	Resource replacement:
	i) To convert the land into agri-plots after felling trees	50.0	50.0	10
	ii) To replace with mesophytic tree species by respective settlers.	100.0	-	20
5.	Distribution of commercial produces after felling:				Concurrence was given by the settlers for 50:50 ratio in distributing commercial produces and also they expect all dry leaves, lops, tops etc. after felling as remuneration for taking care of trees.
	Govt.: Settler;
	i) 50: 50	100.0	-	20
	ii) 75: 25	20.0	80.0	5
	iii) 80: 20	10.0	90.0	5
	iv) 100% to the Govt.	-	100.0	20
	v) 100% to the settlers	-	100.0	20
6.	Authority of community management and JFM monitoring:				Settlers unanimously agreed that the SCDC will be responsible for the monitoring as well as for the development of school, bazar, prayer house, community center even in raising nurseries throughout coastal communities.
	i)Settlers themselves	60.0	40.0	10
	ii) Only Govt.	25.0	75.0	5
	iii) Settlers Community Development Committee (SCDC) by involving Govt., NGO & settlers.	100.0	-	20

- Maximum rank - 20
- Minimum rank - 5

Constraints to livelihood security of coastal dwellers

a. Biological constraints

The lack of high yielding salt tolerant varieties for crops, improved sources for live-stocks, fisheries and trees; higher rate of infestations than inland areas; occurrence of seasonal birds during harvest; free grazing of animals have been identified as important constraints to productivity.

b. Socio- economic constraints

The lack of cash and inadequate stock for annual food consumption is the general phenomenon for the livelihood of coastal rural stakeholders. Major constraints are the lack of agencies to provide basic services, lack of fertilizers, pesticides, storage facilities, power tillers, low price of agri-products, etc.

Specific occurrences, viz. recurrent terrorism from outside and unlawful trade of firewood, timber frequently in Mohammadpur and occasionally in Mohiuddin can be considered as site-specific constraints. The common constraint is the absence of legal right to forest land and hence absence of participatory mechanism can be defined as major livelihood security problem of the locality.

Promising approaches for livelihood security of coastal dwellers

Approach of:

Periodic leasing of forest land to the settlers and community based land-use monitoring;

Systematic involvement of settlers in PFM and develop mutual trust and relationship by providing land ownership and fair share of resources;

Introduction of income generation activities and transform settlers into dynamic citizens;

Sustainable community development, viz. access to education, basic social services, loan assistance etc.;

Undertake pilot schemes for intensification of agricultural practices, agri-business, marketing systems.

Settlers are the total assetless people of the society having neither their own land nor any resource. Above approaches are expected to provide them productive assets and resources leading to ensure their livelihood security provided that each step should be people-controlled, people-centered and people-driven.

Conclusion

Settlers perceptions regarding participatory move towards PFM and various aspects of their livelihood security have been accomplished.
Collected informations reflect that the future participatory programme will have to devote special attention to the sustainable improvement of coastal resource dependant populations for achieving sustainable PFM.
Situational analysis indicates that the land ownership is a limiting factor creating absolutely antagonistic relationship between associated components. Settlers unanimously agreed to participate with FD in a joint partnership programme even with 5 years initial land leasing period. Renewal or subsequent leasing as per respondents to be made through community based land-use monitoring system. In this regard, emphasis was provided to mutual trust and legal relationship which were identified as turning points to ensure livelihood security of coastal dwellers.
Finally, to initiate participatory reform process and to move towards PFM, it is recommended to introduce a practical land-tenure policy highlighting the security of land ownership right to the settlers.

References

Canonizado, J.A. 1999. Integrated forest management plan, Noakhali C/A Division (1999-2008), FRMP TA Component. Mandala Agril. Dev. Crop/FD/MOEF, 1999.

Hobley, M. 1996. Participatory forestry: The process of change in India and Nepal. Rural Development Forestry (RDF), Study Guide 3, RDFN/ODI. pp. 337.

^[1] Divisional Officer (Head), Plantation Trial Unit Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, P. O. Box # 20, Barisal 8200. Email: [email protected]