Draft National Forestry Policy, 2016

Draft National Forestry Policy, 2016

Table of Contents

Page Number

National Forestry Policy1

Annexes

Annex-1Preamble6

Annex-2Context7

Annex-3Purpose8

Annex-4Key Forestry Sector Challenges9

Annex-5Strategy10

Annex-6Epilogue19

National Forestry Policy

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.Key forestry sector challenges facing the country relate to forest degradation, deforestation and forestland diversion in a growing economy: main proximate drivers are high population pressure and its growth with poverty in its many dimensions; expanding cultivation, urbanization and industrialization; lack of political will to conserve forests; and inadequate investment for forest protection and development.

Rapid loss of resilience in forest ecosystems not only adversely affects natural resource dependent communitiesy but also adversely impacts soil fertility, water quality and quantity, air quality, carbon sequestration capacity of forests, biodiversity including wildlife, and wetlands and fisheries - all leading to declining natural resource capital with emerging environmental concerns such as climate change, forestland conversion and biodiversity loss. Main forestry sector challenges are categorized in the Annex-4under institutional, environmental and socio-economic issues,to be addressed as imperatives in the country’s overall development process, and for forestry sector planning and priority implementation.

The vision of the National Forestry Policy is: “Restore and maintain the country’s environmental integrity, increase and stabilize forest cover to at least 20% of the country’s geographical area, address the emerging challenges of climate change and sustainable flow of ecosystem services, and ensure food securityand poverty alleviation by addressing biodiversity conservation through sustainably managed forests, wildlife and other ecosystems including protected areas (PAs), social and community forests, coastal forests including mangroves and charland plantations, wetlands, homesteads and other tree cover.” Principal objectives of the revised forest policy are eight-fold as enumerated below:

1. Restore and conserve the country’s environmentalintegrity,climate change resilience and food security,by addressing biodiversity conservation through sustainably managed forests,wildlife and other related ecosystems.
2. Enhance climate resilience of existing forest ecosystems by strictly controlling conversion of forestland for non-forest use, and completing forests consolidation and planning process with proper forest records, maps and management plans.
3. Enhance biodiversity conservation by mitigating identified threats and drivers of biodiversity loss and forest degradation, and expanding and sustainably managing identified landscapes of protected areas and wildlife corridors.
4. Innovate and implement collaborative and participatory public and private socialforestry for enhanced forests productivity with positive climate change, poverty alleviation and socio-economic benefits for the local communitiesy,the nation and beyond.
5. Restore and sustainably manage degraded and marginal areas including coasts and wetlands under climate resilient afforestation, reforestation, rehabilitation and ecological restoration with co-benefits of meeting local community needs, and reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) through enhanced forest carbon sequestration.
6. Launch and sustain a country-wide conservation movement by involving people, especially women, youth and indigenous people to promote climate resilient private tree growing, and forgeing innovative conservation partnerships with the private sector, civil society and conservation NGOs for combating forestland encroachment, and checking deforestation and forest degradation, besides controlling wildlife poaching and trafficking.
7. Meet the requirements of all relevant international agreements, conventions and protocols to which the Government of Bangladesh is a signatory.
8. Monitor the state of forest, biodiversity and ecosystem services to provide relevant information needed to the Government and its agencies, and other stakeholders by building forestry research, analysis and institutional capacity.

The following specific national forestry policy statements, grouped in nine broad themes, emanate from the policy strategyframeworkasanalyzed in detail in the Annexes1-6.

1 Sustainable Forest Management

1.1The country’sforest ecosystems will be managed sustainably, whereas 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.Forestry sector will no more be treated as a revenue earning sector, and forest-dependent communities will gainfully be involved in the joint protection, regeneration and conservation of forestsandPAs, wetlands,wildlife and trees. 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.

1.2 The current ban on clear felling in the state natural forests will continue but 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.No state forest and PA will be managed without an approved management plan. Integrated management planning and implementation, for all forests including PAs in a forest division, will provide for sustainable natural resources management, including water and soil conservation, through forest conservation and eco-restoration by applying updated forest technology, and innovative and collaborative management.

2 Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation

2.1Identified landscapes of PAsandselectwildlifecorridors, as priority habitats of biodiversity will be conserved, expanded and sustainably managed for in situ biodiversity conservation. PA network will be strengthened for in situ biodiversity conservation by expanding it to 20% of the state forest areaby 2035in all bio-geographical zones of the country.Ex situ biodiversity conservation will be promoted by sustainably managing and expanding zoos, botanical gardens, wildlife rescue centers, and other categories of PAs.The 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 community. A Wildlife and Nature Conservation Wing, along with an operational crime control unit and an international cooperation unit, will be developed within Forest Department (FD).

2.2Land-based public development initiatives including infrastructure planning and implementation will avoid fragmentation of wildlife and biodiversity habitats and minimize environmental damage. 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, and genetically and living modified organisms. Co-management of identified PAsand forests will be implemented for sustainability of PA conservation in association with key stakeholders including indigenous people.

2.3Threats 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 meaningful collaboration with relevant agenciesand key stakeholders.Human-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. Level 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.

2.4Environmentally sound and socio-economically inclusive nature tourism, related to the landscapes of forest ecosystems, PAs, wildlife, wilderness and natural sites, and indigenous community culture will be promoted keeping in view the carrying capacity ofnature.Eco-tourism facilities and visitor management will be compatible with nature conservation by and shallmakeing positive contributions to the welfare of indigenous community and forest ecosystem health.

3 International Conventions, Protocols andAgreements

3.1 Relevant international conventions, treaties and protocols signed by the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) will be adhered to while innovating and implementing biodiversity, forest and PA management,andappropriate institutional arrangements will be made to meet their requirements.Synergy will be established with relevant international conventions, treaties and protocols that deal with biodiversity and forests conservation, climate change, food security, environment, and sustainable development.

4 Climate ResilientForestry

4.1Climate resilient afforestation and, reforestationand social forestry will be a priority on unused public lands and degraded forestlands, and their scope will be expanded to include ecological restoration and rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystemsfor biodiversity conservationingainful partnerships with forest-dependentcommunities.Social forestry will be expanded by establishing permanent nurseries and forestry training and information centers with adequate staffing in all the Upazilas. Technical assistance and extension services will be provided for private nursery development and tree growing. Social 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 communitiesy, women and children.

4.2Integrated watershed management approach with gainful participation of local community will be designed and implemented in the hill and undulating forests.Climateresilientforestconservation,afforestation, reforestation and social forestry in the forest areas outside reserve forests (RFs) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and in coastal forest and khas lands including newly accreted mud-flats and charlands will be given priority by involving local community with priority being given to poor, vulnerable and indigenous community by following the Social Forestry Rules, 2004 (amended in 2010 and 2011). Forest ecosystem-based natural disaster mitigation and risk reduction programs, including coastal embankments stabilization with participatory plantations of shrub and tree species will be promoted. Thecritical forest and wetland ecosystems in the Sundarbans, CHT and the Coastal Greenbelt will be restored, consolidated and conserved to buffer the adverse impact of climate change induced natural disasters such as cyclones, storms, floods and landslides. Social and environmental safeguards including the rights of indigenous community and their free, prior and informed consent will be mainstreamed.

4.3Climate 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,andalso after vetting from bythe office of the President of Bangladesh.Coastaland other forest areas brought under plantations will not be leased out for non-forestry purposes. Degraded 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. The climate vulnerability of coastal and forest dependent communities will be reduced through climate resilient plantation forestry including agroforestry.

5 Forest and Wildlife Protection

5.1Forest and PA ecosystems will be protected and maintained by motivating forestry personnel and gainfully associating local community, wherever feasible. Strict enforcement of applicable Acts and Rules will be taken up to curb illegal tree felling, forest fire,forestgrazing, wildlife poaching and trafficking, andencroachmenton forestland and in PAs. Demand for illegally traded timber and wildlife will be reduced through international and national cooperation and collaboration. The GOB will improve coordination and will 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.Participatory agroforestry and silvi-horticulture systems will be promoted particularly in forestlands and PAs affected by encroachments and other unsustainable land-use practices.

5.2The protection, restoration, and sustainablemanagementand conservation of the biodiversity of the Sundarbans Reserved Forests will be ensuredfor the wellbeing of the nation and beyond. The conservation of coastal plantations and 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 with forest and wildlife offence cases will be sensitized on towildlife and forest protection issues.

6 Commercial Forestry

6.1The increasing gap in demand-supply of timber and non-timber forest produce will be met by expanding the extent and productivity of plantations and trees growing on unused public and private lands.Efficient and sustainable increase in forest productivity will be achieved by using certified seeds for raising tree nurseries, planting of quality seedlings and applying best silvicultural practices. Plantations of Mmedicinal plants plantations on unused public and private land, and herbal medicine processing will be promoted by associating local communities and appropriate service providers. Herbal value chains with focus on medicinal plants and animal products, storage and processing, and marketing and sales will be developed and implemented. Alternative sources of renewable energy including biogas and solar energy, and improved cooking stoves will be promoted.

6.2Import for timber and non-timber forest products will be rationalized to cater increasing demand. Forest based, labor intensive value addition enterprises including processing of imported timber for exportable furniture and souvenirs will be promoted and incentivized. Modernization of forest-based industries will be taken up to ensure effective utilization of forest-based raw materials and to reduce wastage. Efficient forest products markets will be facilitated through supportive regulatory and legal framework. Wood and non-wood based export and import will be rationalized based on field evidence of sustainable raw material supply and demand of the forest-resource dependent industry. The certification of forest products traded in the competitive global market will be ensured for their origin from sustainably managed forests.

6.3Forest-based industries will be motivated and facilitated to employ the state of the art technology to produce and/or procure raw material for meeting their own requirements by reaching out to private sector and individuals. The 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. Support 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.

7 Forestry Research,Monitoring, Education,Training,Extension and Communication

7.1Scientific forestry research with focus on current and emerging forestry, biodiversity and climate changeissueswill be improved by strengthening BFRI,BNH,andpublic and private universities having forestry and environmental science disciplines.CloseBFD-BFRI linkages will be maintained for forestry research design, development and field implementation.

7.2 By 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. Regular periodic forest ecosystems analyses including forestcarbonassessment and monitoring will be undertaken by employing modern 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.

7.3Institutional and techno-managerial capacity will be built amongst public forestry institutions, conservation NGOs, civil society, and forest dependent community. 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. Forestry, environmentand climate change as natural 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. Forestry curriculum will regularly be updated with focus on emerging forestry subjects and climate change.

7.4Forest 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. Technical and extension assistance through Forestry Extension, Nursery and Training Centers (FENTCs)and Social Forestry Plantation Centers (SFPCs)will be provided to private nursery and tree growers.Forestry extension under Social Forestry Wing will be strengthened to develop Sabuj Clubs at union parishad or village level as a main civil society institution for the promotion of private nursery and tree growing, and raising awareness on climate change. National and local communication campaigns will be taken up to build awareness and pride among the people about the country’sbiodiversityrich forests and. Schools and colleges will be approached for making students aware on offorestry, environment and climate change issues. Partnerships will be encouraged on forestry extension and communication by establishing linkages with private sector and non-government organizations.Conservation-linked livelihood development will be encouraged by promoting forest and non-forest based enterprises by employing mass communication, electronic and print media.