FEPPCAR

Forests are the beauty of nature and are important geographical and ecological factor. Hundreds of thousand species of flora and fauna and micro-organisms are living together with complementary benefits for the years together. They protect the soil and water resources and balance atmospheric ingredients. Forest resources are estimated by the area they occupy and the timber they contain. About 28% of the land on the earth is covered by forests which may be an area equal to the size of North and South America. But at present time, extraction of forest resources for structural uses, industrial and agricultural extension and forest fires are destroying large areas of forests every year which has created an alarming situation for the world environment. Major threats are deforestation, atmospheric pollution and narrowing of the genetic bases of plants and animals. When forests are destroyed, much more than trees is lost.

Forest harbor many animals and plants that depend on their environment for survival. Many of these species, their potential value to society and their ecological importance have yet to be discovered. Untapped treasures include possible crops, pharmaceuticals, timbers, fibres, pulp, soil-restoring vegetation, petroleum substances and countless other products and amenities. If destruction of forests continue at the present rates, new sources of scientific information are likely to be lost and inestimable biological wealth destroyed.

Since, forests play a vital role in developing economy, improving the environment, and increasing well-being; it is concerned with safeguarding the present and future generations. The multifaceted importance of forests and the long time required to grow them make the rational use, conservation and increasing of forest resources, a national and global task.

Conservation measures have already been taken, and every year both national and global organizations are giving a great afford and spending huge money and labor to save and restore the forest ecosystems. But in most of the cases, especially, in the densly populated tropical countries the success is very poor. This may be due to lack of proper planning, management and sufficient knowledge about the habit and habitat of the forest flora and fauna of a specific phytogeographical region or locality.

In 1960s the forests covered about 17% area of Bangladesh. With the increase of the population forest area has been declined very alarmingly at 6.8% now. This depletion caused serious effect on environment and landscape. The hills, which were dense tropical forests, are now denuded places. Topsoil has been eroded, river and water basins are raised and flora and fauna are effected, increased the natural calamities like flood drought, epidemics, cyclones and hurricanes.

Although millions of foreign currency & GOB Fund was spent for massive afforestation for the last few decades but practically its success is questionable. The Govt.’s Forest Department and different public, private and NGOs took many programs under the head “Plant more trees” every year as a great revolution. The whole program needs a review and re-organization for practical use and success of the investment.

Present Status

We exploited the forests but did not take any appropriate measures for immediate re-plantation. So-called plantations were made with exotic species like Eucalyptus, Acacias, Mangium, Epil epil and Molaccana etc. without considering their natural habitat and ecology. Many of them are of Xerophytes, which have no or little value in forest establishment, subsoil water reiteration, land productivity and economic benefits.

Plantations done with forest species in the plains and roadsides but in forest areas with exotic species and did not considered ecological aspects of microbes, plants and animals. Mahogany and Acacias in the hills, teak, Gamar and Chickrassi etc. in the plains, bamboos in the shady forests and plantation raised even under the high tension power distribution lines etc. in a very unplanned and illogical ways without any aim or national benefit.

Forests planning should have specific aims like land utilization, productivity and forest crops production, species selection, environment consideration, quick regeneration, definite cropping period, implementation of secondary forestry practices like thinning, loping, manuring, pest control and in time harvesting etc. But if it is observed closely, nothing is followed and hardly be found trees those will give timber rather than firewood, which is a great wastage of national property.

Colonial Forest Act and rules still exist for extraction and transit of forest produced. Even private planters need to obtain permission for extraction and utilization of their own trees from the Forest Department sacrificing their wealth. For that reason people are discouraged in establishing plantations there.

To establish forests, there should have appropriate knowledge about the behavior and adaptation of the species and the local environment where the afforetation is to be done. However, FEPPCAR is doing indepth research to make a progress in establishing sustainable forestry for both economic and environmental benefits.