:: Forest Department ::

Forestry is a long-term production system. It has manifold contribution towards the welfare of mankind. The multiple use of forest resources have been recognized from the advent of civilization. The Forestry sector contributes about 5% of the total GDP (Gross domestic product) of Bangladesh. This does not reflect the true contribution of this sector. The rural population uses fuelwood and other minor forest products practically free of cost. Forest also plays an important role in protecting watersheds, irrigation and hydraulic structure, also in keeping the rivers and ports navigable. It also plays key role in protecting the coastal areas from natural calamities. The role of forest in protecting the environment from pollution and its contribution towards bio-diversity is immense.

The participatory social forestry contributes towards rural poverty reduction significantly. In the last 3 years, out of total sale proceeds of timber and fuelwood about 308 (three hundred and eight) million taka has been distributed to 23561 participants. Social Forestry Rules have been framed to give the legal basis of benefit sharing system. Tree farming fund has been created from the 10% of the sale proceeds to create new resources on the same pieces of land involving the same participants, to ensure sustainability. The TFF operating committee has been established involving local government and Local Community Organization (LCO).

Apart from the sale proceeds, participants also get money from Forest Department for their labor input in the plantation activities. They also get periodic income from agriculture crops grown between the trees both in forest and marginal land. The participants also get thinning and pruning outputs in many places.

Employment generation

In 2001-2002, about 2% (two percent) of the total manpower of the country was engaged in the forestry sector. Many people actually benefited directly from forestry-related activities e.g. in wood based industry, saw milling, furniture making, establishing private nursery, logging, extraction and in afforestation programs. Besides this in Sundarban millions of people are dependant on the the mangrove forest for their livelihood (e.g mawali, bawali, fisherman etc).

Fuel wood

Fuelwood is the major wood product required today, Bangladesh needs over 8.0 million cubic meter fuelwood every year. Domestic cooking uses an estimated 63%, which is 5.1 million cubic meter annually. Industrial and commercial use is also significant, which is 2.9 million cubic meter annually. According to Forestry Master Plan, village household supply about 75% of the fuelwood in the country where as government forestry program provides the rest 25%.
Due to limited alternative sources of energy the rural people are mainly dependant on fuelwood for cooking and other household activities. The Government of Bangladesh took many initiatives to provide the consumer an additional supply of fuelwood for the future.

Major Forest Produces and Revenue Earned During 2000 - 2003 (click to view)

NWFP (Non Wood Forest Products) Some of the important non-wood forest products are listed below :
	Bamboo (Melocanna baccifera, Bambusa tulda etc.)Plays a very crucial role in our rural economy and is a singular essential material for construction of temporary house / shelter for the rural people, especially for the hilly tribal people.
	Sungrass (Imperata spp.)The most common roofing / thatching material for temporary low -cost housing in the villages and forest terrain's of Bangladesh.
	Cane (Calamus viminalis,Calamus guruba)Used for domestic purposes by the rural people, but more so, for sophisticated furniture making & luxury souvenir articles.
	Pati Pata / Murta (Clinogynae dichotoma)This is an excellent material for floor-mats (Pati), which is extensively used by the poor villagers and also as a luxury item for the rich people. This is also exported by the cottage industries as a finished product.
	Gol-Pata (Nypa fruticans)This is a very popular and essential thatching / roofing material for poor people, around Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts and fetches handsome revenue for the Forest Department.
	Leaves, Bark & Fruits"Kurus pata'' Holarrhena antidysenterica is very popular for medicinal use. Horitaki (Terminalia chebula), Amlaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Bohera (Terminalia belerica) popularly called "Trifala" (Myrabolum) are used as medicine in the country.
	HoneyUsed as food, drink, beverage and also as a medicine in the country.
	Shells, Conch-Shells, oysters etcConsiderable quantity of shells, oysters, conchshells are collected by local inhabitants, as a means of livelihood in the coastal forest-belts, like Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Moheshkhali, Barisal, Patuakhali, Sundarbans etc. These are highly priced by tourists as souvenir articles and as such may be exported.
	Fish ResourcesIn rivers flowing inside forest areas like Sundarbans, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet (as well as in the coastal belts and offshore islands under the jurisdiction of Forest Department) considerable quantity of different types of fish (both sweet-water and saline fish) are harvested by local fishermen, for which the Forest Department earns revenue.