Abstract:
Cyclones and tidal surges are one of the ma.ior calamities that
batter the coastal areas of Bangladesh. They cause damage to the
infrastructure and loss of lives. Consolidated national and
international eff9rts towards cyclone disaster management has
resulted in development of several structural and non-structural
approach towards prevention and mitigation of adverse effects of
cyclone.
The concept of afforestation has been recognised as a nonstructural
measure against cyclone and tidal upsurge. Afforestation
pro.grammes can be implemented in two ways firstly, by the
employees of the Forest Department, secondly, by the people at the
grassroots level. In the latter case, which is more popular as
Social FOI'sstry "appr"oach, both ~overnment arid non-government
or~anisatiorlS are involved with the process.
In recent years, special attention has been given to such
programmes with a view to improve coastal environment as well as to
lJrotect enlbanknlent, properties and lives against cyclones and storm
surg;es.
The present study was conducted in order to understand the nature
and status of social forestry programmes of some selected nongovernment
organisations who are working in the coastal belt. The
specific ob.iectives of the study ,,'ere (i) to evaluate selected
social forestry pro.iects under implementation, (ii) to identify the
constraints and (iii) to suggest policy proposals to overcome the
existing constraints and to recommend more effective means for
successful social forestry projects.
A questionnaire survey on participants was conducted in the pro.iect
areas of three NGOs, namely, BRAC in Kutubdia, POUSH in Harbang and
UBINIG in Badarkhali. Detail interviews were taken of the concerned
official at the local and national level.
The study revealed that social forestry programmes have great
potentialities to generate employment opportunities for the rural
people, specially the women folk. At the same time, it can
contribute in reducing the extent of cyclonic damages. It can also
be highly effective in saving human lives during cyclone. Social
foregtry can also contribute in resisting large scale soil erosion
and protection of coastal embankments,
Some NGOs are working to increase the forest coverage in the
coastal area by organising the local people .to plant more trees in
their ho~esteads, along roads and over embankments and other fallow
lands. They are also providing technical support and supplyin'g
necessary inputs.
The study finally suggests that such projects should be extended in
other parts of the country to enrich and regenerate the forest
resource as well as to protect the vulnerable areas from cyclone
and tidal surge. In order to facilitate more effective and people
oriented approach, the involvement of the rural people in the
forestry programme is necessary right from the initial stage. The
benefit sharing mechanism' should be clearly defined and based upon
legal contracts. Selection of trees is and important issue. The
tree species should be selected after considering the wind
resistance capacity, soil condition and local demand.
The success of any such project will depend upon the presence of
sound national policy on forestry programme and involvement of
grassroots level populations and institutions in the process.
