With a view to provide better information between people, tree and forest resources, a national consultation on ‘Socioeconomic Survey Design for the Bangladesh forest Inventory (BFI)’ was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Bangladesh on 28th February 2017 at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BSS) conference room, Agargaon, Dhaka.
A total of 45 participants from 14 government and non-government organizations participated in this workshop including the representatives from the Bangladesh Forest Department, SilvaCarbon Bangladesh, USAID Bangladesh, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Arannayk Foundation, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences of the University of Chittagong, FAO-Bangladesh, and UNDP-Bangladesh. The programme is financially supported by USAID.

Mr Md. Amir Hossain, BSS Director General and Professor Dr Syed Shahadat Hossain, Institute of Statistical Research and Training , University of Dhaka attended as Chief Guest and Special Guest, respectively. Mr. Zahiruddin Ahmed, Conservator of Forest, Central Circle, BFD, chaired the consultation on socioeconomic monitoring of the BFI.

Mr. Rakibul Hassan Mukul, Project Director, UNREDD National Program Bangladesh, addressed the welcome speech of the consultation.

Chief Guest and Director General, BBS – Mr Hossain highlighted that the quantification of forest ecosystem services is very crucial in order to overcome the lack of appropriate methodology and technical expertise in Bangladesh. As a result, tree and forest related services have not been properly reflected in the national statistics in Bangladesh. To better plan, manage and protect our forests, relationship among human, trees and forests need to be well understood.

Dr Illias Animon, Socio-Economic Expert from FAO Headquarters, shared the FAO latest publication related to ‘Socioeconomic Survey Structure’ and explained the importance of the integration of biophysical and socioeconomic information. Nikhil Chakma from FAO Bangladesh presented examples of integration of socioeconomic and biophysical criteria, indicators and variables. In his remarks, survey design expert Professor Dr Mahfuzur Rahman explained socioeconomic survey design for the BFI. After technical a session, participants discussed specific topics: (1) Identifying the potential indicators and variables for the socioeconomic survey, (2) Categorizing the weaknesses of the survey design presented and finally, (3) Suggesting ways to improve the design.

The socio-economic component of the Bangladesh Forest Inventory will start in the coming months. It will provide a better understanding about the relationships between households, tree and forest resources at national scale. Such information is crucial for better-informed decisions in forest management and conservation.