🌳 Forestry in Bangladesh: Present Status, Industries, Challenges & the Way Forward

1️⃣ Introduction

Bangladesh, an independent and sovereign nation since December 1971, is one of the world’s most densely populated countries — with over 170 million people today (2024), nearly 80% of whom live in rural villages scattered across the fertile delta of the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna rivers. Covering 147,570 sq. km, Bangladesh lies at the heart of the Bengal Basin, a region shaped by immense riverine sedimentation and home to rich biodiversity, fertile soils, and unique wetland ecosystems like haors and the world-renowned Sundarbans — the largest contiguous mangrove forest on Earth.

Forests here are far more than timber: they buffer floods, protect coastal communities from cyclones, store carbon, sustain biodiversity, and provide livelihoods for millions. Yet, population pressures, economic growth, and climate stress have put enormous strain on this natural asset. Today, sustainable forest management is not only an environmental issue but a core pillar for food security, disaster resilience, and socio-economic development.

2️⃣ Land Use & Forest Area

Bangladesh’s total land is used mainly for agriculture (~65%), with forests covering nearly 17% and urban areas about 8%. The Forest Department (FD) manages around 1.52 million hectares, including reserved, protected, and mangrove forests. Another 0.73 million hectares is designated Unclassed State Forest (USF), mainly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and village homestead forests cover an estimated 270,000 hectares, supplying much of the country’s daily wood fuel, timber, and bamboo needs.

📊 Forest Area Snapshot

Type	Approx. Area (ha)	% of Total Land
Reserved/Protected Forest	1.52 million	10.3%
Unclassed State Forest	0.73 million	4.9%
Village/Homestead Forest	0.27 million	1.8%
Total Forest Cover	~2.52 million	17%

(Source: Forest Department 2023)

3️⃣ Forest Departments & Research Bodies

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) leads forest governance. Its major wings are:

Forest Department (FD): Manages state forests, protected areas, and social forestry programs.
Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI): Conducts research on silviculture, plantation species, pest control, and climate resilience.
Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH): Catalogs and conserves the country’s plant biodiversity.
Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC): Runs rubber estates, timber extraction, and wood-based industries.

The Forest Department uses modern tools like the Resource Information Management System (RIMS) and GIS to monitor forest cover, plan sustainable harvesting, and manage conservation areas.

4️⃣ Types of Forests

Bangladesh’s forests are grouped into four major types, each with unique biodiversity and socio-economic value:

🌿 1) Mangrove Forests

The Sundarbans alone spans 601,700 ha, about 40% of all forest land.
A World Heritage Site and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Gangetic Dolphin, estuarine crocodile, and over 600 plant species.
Mangrove plantations (raised on coastal lands since the 1960s) add another 132,000 ha, protecting vulnerable coastlines from cyclones and erosion.

🌴 2) Tropical Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Forests

Spread across Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (~670,000 ha).
Dominated by Garjan, Telsur, Chapalish, and valuable bamboo and cane resources.
Important wildlife includes elephants, leopards, barking deer, and rare reptiles like the King Cobra.

🌾 3) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests

The Sal forests of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Tangail, and Dinajpur cover ~120,000 ha.
Sal (Shorea robusta) is the dominant species.
Now managed mostly through participatory forestry involving local communities.

🏡 4) Village Forests

Homestead trees, woodlots, strip plantations along roads and railways.
These provide about 50% of Bangladesh’s total timber, fuelwood, bamboo, and small poles — highlighting their critical contribution to rural livelihoods.

5️⃣ Forestry Practices: From Past to Present

Past Management

Scientific forestry began under British colonial rule in 1876, with revenue-focused extraction of valuable species like Sundri and Garjan. Early forest divisions like Chittagong (1872) and Sundarbans (1879) were managed for timber revenue.

Modern Management

Today, forestry emphasizes:

Conservation (wildlife habitat, biodiversity).
Sustainable harvesting guided by working plans and RIMS/GIS.
Community participation through Social and Participatory Forestry, Agroforestry, and Co-management Councils.
Climate adaptation: Mangrove afforestation, watershed protection, degraded land restoration.

The Forestry Master Plan (1993, under revision) sets the strategic roadmap: enhancing forest cover, rational land use, expanding protected areas, and empowering local communities.

6️⃣ Special Practices

🔵 Social Forestry

Started in the 1980s to:

Supply fuelwood and small timber to rural households.
Create jobs through roadside, embankment, and strip plantations.
Improve soil and water conservation.

Millions of farmers now participate under benefit-sharing rules.

🟢 Agroforestry

Combines crops with trees on the same land.

Sal forests in Tangail, Mymensingh, and Dinajpur use Taungya methods for replanting.
New programs under ADB-funded projects aim to plant 12,000+ hectares with community farmers.

🟡 Participatory Forestry

Community-based co-management protects forests and ensures locals receive a share of benefits. This has proved successful in degraded Sal forests and coastal belts.

7️⃣ Protected Areas

Protected Areas now cover about 10.7% of forest land, including:

Wildlife Sanctuaries (e.g., Sundarbans East, West, South).
National Parks (e.g., Lawachara, Bhawal, Madhupur).
Game Reserves for sustainable wildlife populations.

8️⃣ Forest-Based Industries

Major sectors include:

Sawmills (6,000+ units, mostly informal).
Furniture & wood crafts (40,000+ SMEs).
Pulp & paper (Karnafuli, Sylhet, Khulna).
Panel boards & hardboards (Khulna Hardboard Mills).
Bamboo, cane, pati-pata crafts (support thousands of rural artisans).

Many state-run units are under privatization for efficiency and modernization. The BFIDC manages timber extraction, rubber estates, and allied industries.

9️⃣ Environmental Issues & Challenges

🌍 Air Pollution:
High urban air pollution boosts demand for urban forests, roadside plantations, and green belts.

💧 Water Pollution:
Arsenic in groundwater, agrochemical runoff, and industrial effluents threaten watersheds. Forestry is key to catchment protection.

🌳 Shrinking Green Cover:
Encroachment, illegal logging, and land-use change cause annual forest loss (~2,500–3,000 ha).

🌱 Exotic Species vs. Native:
Fast-growing exotics like Eucalyptus face ecological scrutiny. Research supports mixed plantations with resilient native species.

🏞️ Outdoor Recreation:
Eco-tourism is expanding but must balance revenue with ecosystem protection.

🧑‍🌾 Soil Degradation & Fuelwood Demand:
Depleted soils and overharvesting highlight the need for agroforestry, biogas expansion, and silvo-pasture systems.

🔟 Conclusions & Recommendations

1️⃣ Expand Protected Areas to at least 17% of forest land to meet global biodiversity targets.

2️⃣ Revitalize degraded forests through community-managed reforestation and agroforestry.

3️⃣ Modernize industries with certified supply chains, cleaner technology, and bamboo & rattan value chains.

4️⃣ Invest in data & technology: regular national inventories, drones, and remote sensing.

5️⃣ Enhance people’s participation with secure tenure, fair benefit-sharing, and local decision-making.

6️⃣ Strengthen forest education & research, update curricula, and expand training for field staff and community co-managers.

7️⃣ Access climate finance & carbon markets for mangrove restoration, REDD+, and nature-based solutions.

Forests are Bangladesh’s lifeline — a vital natural shield for people, rivers, wildlife, and the climate. A sustainable, community-driven approach to forestry is not just an option but a necessity for the future prosperity and resilience of this vibrant nation.

📚 Key References

Bangladesh Forest Department (2023)
FAO State of the World’s Forests
BFRI Annual Reports
IQAir Air Quality Report (2023)
World Bank & ADB Forestry Sector Projects
National Forest Inventory (under update)
IPCC AR6 Climate Impact Reports

Resource and Environmental Economics

Monday, July 7, 2025