Draft National Forestry Policy, 2015
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
1Preamble
2Context
3Purpose
4Key Forestry Sector Challenges
5Objectives
6Strategy
7Epilogue
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Nature is vitally linked to the way of life in Bangladesh and forests as renewable resource sustain natural environment by providing provisioning, supportive and regulatory ecosystem functions and services to communities, the country and beyond. Main guiding principles of the revised national forestry policy, having six principal objectives, focus on sustainably managed forest ecosystems, contributing to the country’s environmental, climate and food security for the peoples’ welfare, with co-benefits of biodiversity conservation and climate change.
The following specific national forestry policy statements, grouped in eighteen broad themes, emanate from the policy strategy as detailed in Section 6:
1 Sustainable Forest Management
1.1The country’s terrestrial and aquatic forest ecosystems will be managed sustainably and the first charge on the public forests will be of neighboring forest dependent communities for meeting their socio-ecological and subsistence needs, without jeopardizing the fulfillment of similar needs of future generations.
1.2 Relevant international conventions, treaties and protocols signed by the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) will be adhered to while innovating and implementing forest and Protected Area (PA) management.
1.3 The current ban on clear felling in the state natural forests will continue. However, sustainable forest management practices including cleaning, coppicing, thinning and other silvicultural operations will regularly be taken up for encouraging natural regeneration for forest ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation.
1.4 In order to effectively address biodiversity conservation and climate change, attempts will be made to bring one-fifth of the country's total geographical area under forest and tree coverby the year 2035.
2 Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation
2.1Biodiversity conservation will be aligned to national development goals by integrating into the country’s development planning. Synergy will be established with relevant international conventions, treaties and protocols that deal with biodiversity and forests conservation, climate change, food security, environment, sustainable development and livelihood.
2.2Identified landscapes of PAsand their corridors as priority habitats of biodiversity will be conserved, expanded and sustainably managed for in situ biodiversity conservation. The conservation of priority biodiversity sites, species and genetic diversity will be supported in order to ensure the country’s wellbeing by mitigating the adverse impacts of natural disasters.Co-management of identified PAs will be implemented for sustainability of PA conservation in association with key stakeholders.
2.3PA network will be strengthened for in situ biodiversity conservation by expanding it to 20% of the state forest area in all bio-geographical zones of the country by 2035.
2.4Land-based public development initiatives including infrastructure planning and implementation will avoid fragmentation of wildlife and biodiversity habitats and minimize environmental damage.
2.5Ex situ biodiversity conservation will be promoted by sustainably managing and expanding zoos, botanical gardens, wildlife rescue centers, and other categories of PAs. Germplasm will be conserved for which research facilities will be upgraded in institutions such as Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) and Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI).Bio-safety standards will be adopted to deal with invasive alien species, genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms.
2.6Technical assistance and facilitation will be provided by Forest Department (FD)for Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) including village/mauza common forests and other biodiversity conservation initiatives of indigenous community.
2.7A Wildlife and Nature Conservation Wing, alongwith a crime control unit and an international cooperation unit, will be developedwithin FD.
2.8Threats and drivers of forestland and biodiversity loss will be identified and mitigated by strengthening enforcement of provisions of wildlife and forest Acts and Rules, and by forging key stakeholders collaboration with relevant agencies.
2.9Human-wildlife conflicts in and around PAs and other state forests will be minimised by adopting collaborative management and negotiation tools, and participatory biodiversity conservation practices.
2.10The occurrence of flagship fauna, their habitats and foraging behaviors, and home ranges will be considered while identifying and declaring a new PA and/or re-gazetting an existing PA. Marine and coastal PAs would particularly be focused as a solution to mitigate natural disasters and other threats facing marine and coastal environment and local community.
2.11Level of illegally traded wildlife will be reduced, and national and international commitment and collaboration will be expanded and strengthened for combating wildlife poaching and trafficking.
2.12Environmentally sound and socio-economically inclusive nature tourism will be promoted taking into consideration the carrying capacity of forests and PAs.
3 Forest Governance
3.1The diversity of socio-economic and environment conditions, in and around forests and PAs,where poverty is prevalent, will be recognized and steps taken to address by soliciting socio-political commitments in biodiversity conservation decision-making and field implementation.
3.2 Appropriate monitoring and evaluation, feedback, accountability, participation, transparency, social and environmental safeguards, and grievance redressal mechanismwill be developed and mainstreamedin theFD systems and processes to strengthen forest governance.
3.3 Discretionary powers with public forestry agencies will be rationalized in order to improve decision-makingand governance through inbuilt checks and balances.
4 Integrated Forest Management Planning
4.1No state forest and PA will be managed without an approved management plan. Integrated management planning and implementation, for all forests including PAsin a forest division, will provide for sustainable naturalresources management.
4.2By upgrading and empowering existing Resources Information Management System (RIMS) a new wing on Forest Resources Assessment and Monitoring with adequate skilled staffing will be created within FD for periodical collection, documentation and dissemination of reliable data, analyses of forest cover, and forest resource inventory and monitoring.
4.3Regular periodic forest ecosystems analyses including forestcarbonassessment and monitoring will be undertaken by employing appropriate technology. A central data base with suitableGeographical Information System and Management Information System will be developed and maintained for forest planning,management, and facilitating implementation of forestry programs.
5 Climate Resilient Plantations and Social Forestry by Forest Department
5.1Climate resilient afforestation, reforestation and social forestry will a priority on unused public lands and on forestlands. The scope of climate resilient afforestation, reforestation and social forestry will be expanded to include ecological restoration and rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystemsfor biodiversity conservationin gainful partnerships with forest-dependent communities.
5.2Social forestry program will be expanded and permanent nurseries and forestry training and information centers with adequate staffing will be established and maintained in all Upazilas.
5.3Efficient and sustainable increase in forest productivity will be achieved by using certified seeds for raising tree nurseries, planting of qualityseedlings andapplying best silvicultural practices.
5.4Integrated watershed management approach with gainful participation of local community will be designed and implemented in hill forests and in headwater reserves.
5.5Climate resilientafforestation, reforestation and social forestry in Unclassified State Forests (USF), and in coastal areas including newly accreted mud-flats and charlands will be given priority by involving local community. Coastal and other forest areas brought under plantations will not be leased out for non-forestry purposes.
5.6On-surface and below-ground water yield and soil conservation will be promoted through forest conservation and eco-restoration by applying updated forest science, appropriate technology and innovative methods.
6 Climate Change
6.1Climate resilience of forest ecosystems will be enhanced by strictly controlling conversion of forestland for non-forest land use :The state forestland will not be converted for non-forestry purposes without taking prior approval from the Prime Minister’s office,and also after vetting from the office of the President of Bangladesh.
6.2Critical forest ecosystems including the Sundarbans and the Coastal Greenbelt will be conservedto buffer the adverse impact of climate change induced natural disasters such ascyclones and storms.
6.3Degraded and unused public lands including coastlands and wetlands will be restored, consolidated and managed under collaborative and participatory afforestation, reforestation, social forestry and eco-restoration programs to sequester carbon and to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.
6.4Forest ecosystem-based disaster mitigation and risk reduction programs, including coastal embankments stabilization with participatory plantations of shrub and tree species, and integrated watershedmanagement in hilly and undulating areas,will be promoted.
7 Participatory and Collaborative Forest and Protected Area Management
7.1Forest-dependent communities will gainfully be involved in the joint protection, regeneration and conservation of forestsand PAs, wetlands,wildlife and trees.
7.2 Conflict-sensitive, climate resilient and conservation-linked livelihood development programs will be promoted by supporting effective forest and PA governance, and by supporting financial sustainability of forest-dependent communities.
8 Forest and Wildlife Protection
8.1Forest and PA ecosystems will be protected and maintained by motivating forestry personnel and gainfully associating local community, wherever feasible.
8.2Strict enforcement of applicable Acts and Rules will be taken up to curb illegal tree felling, forest fire,forest grazing, wildlife poaching and trafficking, and to prevent encroachment on forestland and in PAs.
8.3Demand for illegally traded timber and wildlife will be reduced through international and national cooperation and collaboration.
8.4 The GOB will improve coordination and prioritize wildlife trafficking across enforcement, regulatory and intelligence agencies. Trafficking in wildlife will be integrated with other relevant GOB efforts to combat transnational organized crime.
8.5 The protection of coastal forests and the Sundarbans mangroves will be augmented by strengthening institutional mechanism and coordination with relevant law enforcement agencies including Coast Guards, Navy, Police and Bangladesh Border Guards.Judiciary responsible for dealing forest and wildlife offence cases will be sensitized on wildlife and forest protection issues.
8.6Participatory agroforestry and silvi-horticulture systems will be promoted particularly in forestlands and PAs affected by encroachments and other unsustainable land-use practices.
8.7Attempts will be made to employ modern technology in the monitoring and protection of forests and PAs.
9 Forest-based Industries
9.1The increasing gap in demand-supply of timber and non-timber forest produce will be met by increasing the extent and productivity of plantations and tree growing on unused public and private lands.
9.2Import for timber and non-timber forest products will be rationalized to cater increasing demand. Value addition enterprises including processing of imported timber for exportable furniture and souvenirs will be promoted.
9.3Modernization of forest-based industries will be taken up to ensure effective utilization of forest-based raw materials and to reduce wastage.
9.4Efficient forest products markets will be facilitated through supportive regulatory and legal framework.
9.5Alternative sources of renewable energy including biogas and solar energy, and improved cooking stoves will be promoted.
9.6Forest-based industries will be motivated and facilitated to employ state of art technology, and to produce and/or procure raw material for meeting their own requirements by reaching out to private sector and individuals.
9.7The practice of supply of subsidized forest produce from the state forests to forest-based industry will be discouraged. The supply of wood and non-wood materials for forest-based industry will be facilitated from non-state forests and trees.
9.8Support to women, youth and indigenous community will be provided for setting up forest-based cottage and small enterprises for value addition and generating employment opportunities locally.
9.9Based on field evidence of sustainable raw material supply and demand, forest-resource dependent industry, and non-wood and wood-based export and import will be rationalized.
9.10The certification of forest products traded in the competitive global market will be ensured for their origin from the sustainably managed forests.
10 Climate Resilient Private Tree Growing
10.1Technical assistance and extension services will be provided for privatenursery development and tree growing.
10.2Social forestry, afforestation, reforestation, medicinal plantation, agroforestry, recreation and urban forestry, fruit bearing tree-based horticulture, and eco-restoration will be taken up in unused public and private lands.Silvi-horticultural practices with focus on fruit bearing tree species will be promoted to supplement nutrition of rural poor including indigenous community, women and children.
10.3Private tree felling and timber transit will be facilitated as private tree growing expands for meeting wood and non-wood demand of industry and people.
11 Herbal Forestry
11.1Medicinal plantations on unused public and private land, and herbal medicine processing will be promoted by associating local communities and appropriateservice providers.
11.2 Herbal value chains with focus on medicinal plants and animal products, storage and processing, and marketing and sales will be developed and implemented.
12 Forestry Research
12.1Scientific forestry research with focus on current and emerging forestry, biodiversity and climate change themes will be improved by strengthening BFRI, BNH and public and private universities having forestry and environmental science disciplines.
12.2Close FD-BFRI linkages will be maintained for forestry research design, development and field implementation.
13 Forestry Education and Training
13.1 Forestry, environmentand climate change asnatural science disciplines will be included in agricultural and other public and private universities and institutions with a provision for adequate funding for forestry education and human resource development.
13.2Forestry curriculum will regularly be updated with focus on emerging forestry subjects and climate change.
13.3 Institutional and techno-managerial capacity will be built amongst public forestry institutions, conservation NGOs, civil society, and forest dependent community.
13.4 Existing training facilities at Forest Training Academy, Forest Development and Training Center, and Forest Science and Technology Institutes will be restructured and strengthened with qualified faculty, and adequate budget and logistic support.
14 Forestry Extension and Communication
14.1Forest extension and communication strategy comprising appropriate conservation messages, briefs and tools with particular focus on gender and indigenous community affirmatives will be developed and implemented in consultation with key stakeholders.
14.2Extension through Forestry Extension, Nursery and Training Centers (FENTCs)and Social Forestry Plantation Centers (SFPCs), and technical assistance will be provided to private nursery and tree growers.Forestry extension under Social Forestry Wing will be strengthened.
14.3National and local communication campaigns will be taken up to build awareness and pride among the people about the country rich forests and biodiversity. Schools and colleges will be approached for making students aware on forestry, environment and climate change issues.
14.4Partnerships will be encouraged on forestry extension and communication by establishing linkages with private sector and non-government organizations.
14.5Conservation-linked livelihood development will be encouraged by promoting forest and non-forest based enterprises by employing mass communication, electronic and print media.
15 Nature Tourism
15.1Environmentally sound and socio-economically inclusive nature tourism, related to the landscapes of forest ecosystems, PAs, wildlife, wilderness and natural sites, and indigenous culture will be promoted keeping in view the carrying capacity of nature.
15.2 Nature tourism facilities and visitor management will be compatible with nature conservation by making positive contributions to the welfare of local community and forest landscapes.
16 Conservation Financing
16.1Forestry sector will no more be treated as a revenue earning sector in order to restore and maintain the country’s ecological, climate and food security.
16.2Forest-carbon financing and other Payment for Environmental Services opportunities will be strengthened by implementing national REDD+ strategy and formulating forest-carbon financing proposalson A/R CDM, REDD+ and other evolving mechanisms for donor assistance.
16.3Existing GOB Entry Fee and Tree Farming Fund guidelines will be revised and implemented as important conservation financing options.
16.4Conservation financing including payment of ecosystem services (carbon, eco-tourism, water yield, etc.) will be attracted from donors and other relevant organizations.
16.5Protection of forest ecosystems services, including but not limited to water yield, carbon, eco-tourism, wildlife and biodiversity, will be taken up by following payment of ecosystem services principle and other evolving valuation methods.
17 Legal Framework
17.1Laws, rules, regulations and administrative orders relating to the forestry sector will be amended and if necessary, new laws and rules will be promulgated in consonance with the forestry policy goals and objectives.
18 Personnel Management
18.1Government policies in respect of recruitment, posting and management of professional cadre and non-cadre foresters, forest scientists and public forest industry staff will aim at motivating them and enhancing their professional competence required for taking up higher responsibilities timely and regularly.
18.2Human resources planning will be carried out for all public agencies active in forestry sector. Recruitment and training of forestry personnel will be taken up regularly every year after assessing total requirement, vacant posts and retirement vacancies. The existing vacant posts will be assessed and filled up on priority basis.
18.3The organograms of public sector forestry organizations will be updated regularly keeping in view required man power and emerging responsibilities emerging due to multi-tasking in the context of evolving global, national and local forestrysituations.
18.4Existing human resources will be strengthened to be nationally and globally competitive. Main basis of promotion and posting will be performance, professionalism, commitment, efficiency and integrity.
Contextual changes in global and national forest and climate change environment are expected to influence the proposed strategies. The forestry planners and implementers may in future face constraints in forestry program formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy strategies and outcomes. Continued evidence-based research, analyses and information sharing are necessary for successful forest policy updating and implementation.