National ownership and sustainability of forest monitoring depend on institutional capacities to meet the forest information needs of users. This requires continuous strengthening of human capacities in the technical fields of forest monitoring, programme management, administration and operation. In addition, forest monitoring is a complex multi and trans-disciplinary process in which numerous professionals from different academic backgrounds with different technical skills and experiences collaborate closely.

Since 2011, FAO, with the financial support from the UN-REDD Programme and USAID, has been working on strengthening collaboration and establishing partnerships between the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and national entities involved in forestry research and education. With the aim to foster the sustainability of forest monitoring, FAO supports the promotion of collaboration with different research units and universities. In this context, stronger collaborations encourage young scientists to become interested or even enthusiastic about forest monitoring.

“Stronger partnerships between national entities involved in forestry and greenhouse gas inventory will contribute to improve the data quality and decision making for climate change mitigation” said Anatoli Poultouchidou, Forestry and Climate Change Specialist.

Over the past 3 years, more than 100 trainings and workshops were organized with technical support from FAO for building technical know-how of forest-related topics, supporting government and academic institutions to develop stronger technical capacity and promoting future collaborations. A stronger and active collaboration between BFD and academic entities is crucial to build skilled manpower to manage and promote forestry sustainably.

In September and October 2018, FAO took steps to transfer equipment, training materials and manuals as well as to provide trainings to three universities (Khulna, Chittagong and SUST universities). The same equipment as the one used by the Bangladesh Forest Inventory was transferred to the universities. It will ensure the methodologies and approaches used under the successful Bangladesh Forests Inventory are taught in universities, to ensure that the new and future generation of foresters will have the necessary expertise and to ensure the sustainability of the process.

The Bangladesh Forest Inventory offers excellent vocational training and educational opportunities for students and young experts in the early stages of their careers. They can engage in various functions to further develop their knowledge and expertise not only of national forest monitoring, but also of the forest resources of their country. Under the Bangladesh Forest Inventory, 24 Master Students from three universities were involved in the field measurement activities all over the country.

“Master students showed a real enthusiasm and motivation to be part of the Bangladesh Forest Inventory and the Bangladesh forest Department looks for future collaboration” said Rakibul Mukul, Conservator of Forests, Central Circle, Bangladesh Forest Department.

In October 2018, over 200 theses from master students in forestry were uploaded under the Bangladesh Forest Information Library to ensure the visibility of their research to the forestry community. Data sharing and accessibility is crucial to build on the existing and best benefits from existing forestry research and innovations. In addition, this contributes to the future development of forestry research and enhancing forestry capacities and building the future capacities of the country in forestry.