presentation project completion

RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OFRESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OFBIODIVERSITY IN THE DENUDEDBIODIVERSITY IN THE DENUDED

HILLS OF BANSKHALIHILLS OF BANSKHALICHITTAGONGCHITTAGONG

Presentationby

RCBDH ProjectDhaka Ahsania Mission

• Location:The project is located inSadhanpur Beat in KalipurRange under ChittagongSouth Forest Division,covering an area of only 190ha.

• The hills have become totallydenuded due to humanintervention. The hills are nowcovered by bush of mitingabamboo (Bambusa tulda) andother shrubs. Yet……

Amid the bamboos andshrubs, natural regenerationof numerous native species(Amloki, Bohera, Batna,Dewa, Chapalish, Dharmara,Pisla, as well as somemedicinal plants such asUlat kombal and Tokmatakes place but they are cutat young stage by poorpeople of surroundingvillages who exclusivelydepend on the forest for theirsurvival.

Restoration and Conservation of Bio-diversityin the Denuded Hills of Banshkhali

• Location:The project is located inSadhanpur Beat in KalipurRange under ChittagongSouth Forest Division,covering an area of only 190ha.

• The hills have become totallydenuded due to humanintervention. The hills are nowcovered by bush of mitingabamboo (Bambusa tulda) andother shrubs. Yet……

Amid the bamboos andshrubs, natural regenerationof numerous native species(Amloki, Bohera, Batna,Dewa, Chapalish, Dharmara,Pisla, as well as somemedicinal plants such asUlat kombal and Tokmatakes place but they are cutat young stage by poorpeople of surroundingvillages who exclusivelydepend on the forest for theirsurvival.

Objective 1: Reduce Anthropogenic Pressure on theDenuded Hills of Banshkhali to allow natural regenerationof the forest cover.Objective 2: Establish a functional model for collaborativemanagement of the Banshkhali Denuded Hills.Objective 3: Strengthen capacity the Co-ManagementCouncil and Co-Management Committees as envisaged underthe Collaborative Management Model.Objective 4: Create alternative livelihood opportunities for theforest-dependent poor and extreme poor people to reducepressure on the hills and allow natural regeneration.

Objective 1: Reduce Anthropogenic Pressure on theDenuded Hills of Banshkhali to allow natural regenerationof the forest cover.Objective 2: Establish a functional model for collaborativemanagement of the Banshkhali Denuded Hills.Objective 3: Strengthen capacity the Co-ManagementCouncil and Co-Management Committees as envisaged underthe Collaborative Management Model.Objective 4: Create alternative livelihood opportunities for theforest-dependent poor and extreme poor people to reducepressure on the hills and allow natural regeneration.

Implementation Strategies• Identification, Mobilization and Institution

Building with the hill dependent-poor & ultrapoor people.

• Creation of alternative livelihood opportunities• Capacity building in selected livelihood

options.• Capacity Building of the Institutional

governance• Formation of Co-management structure• Capacity Building of Co-management

Committee members in Org. Dev., Financialmanagement

• Promote of homestead plantation.• Supply of improved smokeless Chulas• Provision of Non-formal education for Children

• Identification, Mobilization and InstitutionBuilding with the hill dependent-poor & ultrapoor people.

• Creation of alternative livelihood opportunities• Capacity building in selected livelihood

options.• Capacity Building of the Institutional

governance• Formation of Co-management structure• Capacity Building of Co-management

Committee members in Org. Dev., Financialmanagement

• Promote of homestead plantation.• Supply of improved smokeless Chulas• Provision of Non-formal education for Children

Promote natural regeneration of forestin the denuded hill of Sadhanpur beatthrough people’s participationProtect Forest that currently existProvide alternative livelihood options forforest dependent people Contribute towards reducing the impactof climate change through emissionreduction and carbon sequestration

Promote natural regeneration of forestin the denuded hill of Sadhanpur beatthrough people’s participationProtect Forest that currently existProvide alternative livelihood options forforest dependent people Contribute towards reducing the impactof climate change through emissionreduction and carbon sequestration

3 big Challenges Addressed3 big Challenges Addressed

1. Identification of the ProjectSite: The First FormidableChallenge

2. Finding an Office Space forStaff: The SecondChallenge

3. Pervasive Poverty: TheCentral Critical Challenge










Start upStart up

1. PRA Exercise with thecommunity People

2. Meeting with community3. Meeting with Forest

Department Officials4. Meeting with local

administration5. Local elected bodies6. Local leaders, elites,

educated people etc





educated people etc





educated people etc





educated people etc

Objective-01 : Institution building

Motivation, Awareness Raising and Mobilization ofForest-Dependent Poor People

Motivation, Awareness Raising and Mobilization ofForest-Dependent Poor People

Culminating in Institutional Developmentof Poor Forest –Dependent PeopleCulminating in Institutional Developmentof Poor Forest –Dependent People

26 Groupsformed with 760

households

26 Groupsformed with 760

households

Organizations of the ForestDependant Poor People

are Strengthened ThroughRegular Meetings.

No. of Meetings held : 576

3 Village level Federations

1 Union level Federation

26 Groups

Federation MembersParticipate in Regular

Meetings.73 Meetings are held during

the reported Period

Community LeadersAnd Religious Leaders

are Taken On-board30 Meetings are held with

Imams and Purohits

Alliance Building:Bringing On-boardthe Next Generation


Orientation for SchoolChildren held in DifferentBoys and Girls schools



Involving Students inEco-Club3 Clubs are Functioning

Community AwarenessRaising and Mobilizationthrough Multi-mediaChannels




Leaflets distributed in PlacesOf Public gathering, BazarsAnd Schools. The Leaflet isRead with Interest.Result– No fire setting in theHills This Year

Coordination Meeting withForest Department

Officials held Every Month

Achievement of Institution building•Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the forestdependent poor people do not go to the hillsfor resource extraction.•Fire setting was done every year before theinitiation of the project , no incidence ofsetting fire was observed last year.•Visit to the core zone by resource extractorsor vested interest groups have been reducedto zero level.•Eco-clubs have been formed with youths.They have been given necessary educationand motivation to instill in them theimportance and value of forest and bio-diversity conservation.•School and Madrasa students have beenmade aware of the importance of forest andbio-diversity conservation; now they aretaking part in all activities undertaken by theproject.

60

80

100

120

Some Comparative Scenario

•Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the forestdependent poor people do not go to the hillsfor resource extraction.•Fire setting was done every year before theinitiation of the project , no incidence ofsetting fire was observed last year.•Visit to the core zone by resource extractorsor vested interest groups have been reducedto zero level.•Eco-clubs have been formed with youths.They have been given necessary educationand motivation to instill in them theimportance and value of forest and bio-diversity conservation.•School and Madrasa students have beenmade aware of the importance of forest andbio-diversity conservation; now they aretaking part in all activities undertaken by theproject.

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Extaction Fire Core ZoneMobility

Previous Present

Specific Challenges

Although the project site was clearly delineated in the Sadhanpur Beat mapcontained in the project document, locating it in the field posed a serious problemdue to reluctance of the Forest Department (FD) officials to assist in the process.They evaded by simply saying that they did not get any official letter from the HeadOffice. Two attempts were made by Dr. Huda to get FD assistance; he even met theConservator of Forests (CF) in Chittagong, but no assistance came through. Another challenge was to find a suitable office space for the programme atSadhanpur. Initially the FD agreed to let the project use one of their dilapidatedbuildings in the Range office premises but later declined. Sadhanpur Union parisadalso agreed to rent out two rooms but declined due to opposition by some Wardmembers. Finally, an office space, though not suitable, was rented in Gunagoribazaar.The most critical challenge faced was addressing the pervasive poverty of theforest dependent people who survive by selling fuel wood collected from the hills.Authority of AF as well as DAM to work in a Reserve Forest was questioned bythe Forest Department after the area was declared as a Reserve Forest.

Although the project site was clearly delineated in the Sadhanpur Beat mapcontained in the project document, locating it in the field posed a serious problemdue to reluctance of the Forest Department (FD) officials to assist in the process.They evaded by simply saying that they did not get any official letter from the HeadOffice. Two attempts were made by Dr. Huda to get FD assistance; he even met theConservator of Forests (CF) in Chittagong, but no assistance came through. Another challenge was to find a suitable office space for the programme atSadhanpur. Initially the FD agreed to let the project use one of their dilapidatedbuildings in the Range office premises but later declined. Sadhanpur Union parisadalso agreed to rent out two rooms but declined due to opposition by some Wardmembers. Finally, an office space, though not suitable, was rented in Gunagoribazaar.The most critical challenge faced was addressing the pervasive poverty of theforest dependent people who survive by selling fuel wood collected from the hills.Authority of AF as well as DAM to work in a Reserve Forest was questioned bythe Forest Department after the area was declared as a Reserve Forest.

Specific Challenges Contd…

Pressure from politically affiliated people hampered smooth functioning ofactivities and created a sense of uncertainty. The project needed cooperation of all concerned for smooth function, however,such cooperation was not received. Till today, some misapprehension and gaps intrust building exist, in some cases among local level government officials. Level ofcooperation has increased over time but that has been possible due primarily toactive role of the project staff who pursued them repeatedly and sought theirhelp. The Co-Management Committee exhibited more interest on the funds allocatedfor CMC and they were insistent on spending the fund on projects of their ownchoice which may not be related to forest protection and bio-diversityConservation.• The Co-management Committee was not interested in preparing theManagement Plan unless and until the allocated Fund was placed in Co-management Committee account.

Pressure from politically affiliated people hampered smooth functioning ofactivities and created a sense of uncertainty. The project needed cooperation of all concerned for smooth function, however,such cooperation was not received. Till today, some misapprehension and gaps intrust building exist, in some cases among local level government officials. Level ofcooperation has increased over time but that has been possible due primarily toactive role of the project staff who pursued them repeatedly and sought theirhelp. The Co-Management Committee exhibited more interest on the funds allocatedfor CMC and they were insistent on spending the fund on projects of their ownchoice which may not be related to forest protection and bio-diversityConservation.• The Co-management Committee was not interested in preparing theManagement Plan unless and until the allocated Fund was placed in Co-management Committee account.

Objective-02 :Establishment of Functional Model of Co-management Committee

Step Toward GainingSupports of Local powerStructure And GovernmentInstitutions

Step Toward GainingSupports of Local powerStructure And GovernmentInstitutions

Two tierStructure : Co-management Council

And Co-management CommitteeFormed

Co- management Committee was insistent ondisbursement of Funds specifically allocated for theCommittee The Committee, as it appears, is willing to spend the fundon projects of their own choice which may not be related toforest protection and bio-diversity Conservation.• The Committee was not interested in preparing theManagement Plan unless the allocated Fund was placed inCo-management Committee account.

Specific Challenges of functionalCollaborative management

Specific Challenges of functionalCollaborative management

Co- management Committee was insistent ondisbursement of Funds specifically allocated for theCommittee The Committee, as it appears, is willing to spend the fundon projects of their own choice which may not be related toforest protection and bio-diversity Conservation.• The Committee was not interested in preparing theManagement Plan unless the allocated Fund was placed inCo-management Committee account.

Objective-03 :Strengthen the Competencies ofCo-Management Committee

Strengthening Capacity ofthe Co-managementCommittee

Strengthening Capacity ofthe Co-managementCommittee

• Training

Orientation Training onCo-managementModel, Roles andFunctionsheld for Co-managementCommitteeMembers

CMC Meeting held-2Site area visit by CMC-2

CMC Meeting held-2Site area visit by CMC-2

Objective-04 :Alternative Livelihood Options tothe Poor Forest dependant People

Cheque Handover

• Providing AlternativeLivelihood Options for theGroup members

• Providing AlternativeLivelihood Options for theGroup members

StatusofFederationwiseRLF/IGAProgram Name of Federation IGA Name Number Amount(BDT) TotalMiddle Sadhanpur Federation Paddy Cultivation 4 19000 105000Vegetable Cultivation 6 19000Rickshaw/Van 1 5000Patti Bunan 10 25000

StatusofFederationwiseRLF/IGAProgram

Patti Bunan 10 25000Small Trading 9 37000South Sadhanpur Federation Vegetable Cultivation 17 51000 154000Small Trading 9 35000Paddy Cultivation 5 11500Milk cow rearing 1 1000Fish Culture 1 5000Patti Bunan 14 21500Hand fan making 1 5000Muri trading 1 3000Nursery Development 1 6000Pottery 3 15000North Sadhanpur Federation Vegetable Cultivation 6 17000 108500Mora Bunan 1 2000Paddy Cultivation 8 23000Rickshaw/Van 1 5000Small Trading 6 19000Patti Bunan 22 42500Grand Total 127 367500 367500

Promoting Income throughMat making

Income Generation throughNursery

Group savings Status up to November 2011

3875, 4%

99329, 96%

MaleFemale

Promoting Income from fruitbearer trees /bamboo/Timbertrees

Promoting Income from fruitbearer trees /bamboo/Timbertrees

Skill Development Training

Sl. Name of training Participants

01 Sewing/Tailoring Training 15

02 Nursery Dev. Training 11

03 Bamboo and Cane made Handicrafts 17

04 Improved cooking stove makingtraining

02

Total 45

Mitigating Climate Change : A StepTowards Reducing Carbon Emission

Production by Group Membersafter Receiving Training

Group Members ReceivingTraining on Production

176151

ICS Supply and Set up

supply set up

Resource constraint was the major challenge. Adequate funds were notallocated in the budget for livelihood support; even after making certainadjustments within the existing budget the amount that could be gleanedfrom different heads was meager. This allocated fund was used to providesome support to the organized group members to build their confidenceand strengthen their cohesiveness. The formed group members who are the primary stakeholders of theproject demanded an increase in fund allocation for alternative incomegeneration Since the project has a small amount of revolving fund for AIGA,increased demand could not be met .

Specific Challenge of AIGAsSpecific Challenge of AIGAs

Resource constraint was the major challenge. Adequate funds were notallocated in the budget for livelihood support; even after making certainadjustments within the existing budget the amount that could be gleanedfrom different heads was meager. This allocated fund was used to providesome support to the organized group members to build their confidenceand strengthen their cohesiveness. The formed group members who are the primary stakeholders of theproject demanded an increase in fund allocation for alternative incomegeneration Since the project has a small amount of revolving fund for AIGA,increased demand could not be met .

True Story of Two WomenTrue Story of Two WomenMir Peka Begum, Wife of Md. Abdul Salam of villageSadahanpur of Duaripara union under Banskhali Upazila wasonce a forest dependent most marginalized poor women livingwith her husband and 3 female and 2 male children. Herhusband was a day laborer by profession but got work onlyoccasionally. She had no ability to educate her children yetadmitted 2 of the 5 children to a nearby school. Life becameharder, surviving at bare subsistence level even becamedifficult. Last resort, rather easy but risky, was going to theforest and illegally extract resources and sell as firewood in thelocal market. She started forest resource extraction but thateven did not ensure two meals a day.One day she heard the name of Purbo Duaripara biodiversityconservation group and became a member. After a few monthsshe received loan of taka 2500/ from South ShadhanpurFederation and started cultivating balsam apple in the 4decimal land which she took lease for a year. She startedgetting return within few weeks. She sold balsam apple in thelocal market and earned taka 500- 700 per week. The family didnot become rich but its food security was ensured apart fromlittle savings too. Now she is sending her children to schooland repaying her loan installments regularly..

01

Mir Peka Begum, Wife of Md. Abdul Salam of villageSadahanpur of Duaripara union under Banskhali Upazila wasonce a forest dependent most marginalized poor women livingwith her husband and 3 female and 2 male children. Herhusband was a day laborer by profession but got work onlyoccasionally. She had no ability to educate her children yetadmitted 2 of the 5 children to a nearby school. Life becameharder, surviving at bare subsistence level even becamedifficult. Last resort, rather easy but risky, was going to theforest and illegally extract resources and sell as firewood in thelocal market. She started forest resource extraction but thateven did not ensure two meals a day.One day she heard the name of Purbo Duaripara biodiversityconservation group and became a member. After a few monthsshe received loan of taka 2500/ from South ShadhanpurFederation and started cultivating balsam apple in the 4decimal land which she took lease for a year. She startedgetting return within few weeks. She sold balsam apple in thelocal market and earned taka 500- 700 per week. The family didnot become rich but its food security was ensured apart fromlittle savings too. Now she is sending her children to schooland repaying her loan installments regularly..

True Story of Two WomenTrue Story of Two Women

Tahera Begum, Wife of Md. Shah Alam ofvillage Sadahanpur of Purbo Peadapara Unionunder Banskhali Upazila got married about 13years back. She left her husband when hemarried again, second time. She was living inmiserable condition in her father’s house as herfather was also a marginalized poor. She usedto go to adjacent forest to cut saplings andsmall trees and sell those in the local market asfuel wood. The return was not great but keptthe family surviving.One day Tahere heard about Purbo Peadaparabiodiversity conservation group and became amember. She heard about the importance offorest and bio-diversity conservation in theregular group meetings. After few months, shereceived an amount of taka 3000/ as loan fromMiddle Sadhanpur Federation for alternativelivelihood and started making colorful anddesigned Pati and sold one Pati per week in thelocal market at about Taka 1000-1200. She madea profit of Taka 600/ per Pati.She is now living with confidence and dignity.

02

Tahera Begum, Wife of Md. Shah Alam ofvillage Sadahanpur of Purbo Peadapara Unionunder Banskhali Upazila got married about 13years back. She left her husband when hemarried again, second time. She was living inmiserable condition in her father’s house as herfather was also a marginalized poor. She usedto go to adjacent forest to cut saplings andsmall trees and sell those in the local market asfuel wood. The return was not great but keptthe family surviving.One day Tahere heard about Purbo Peadaparabiodiversity conservation group and became amember. She heard about the importance offorest and bio-diversity conservation in theregular group meetings. After few months, shereceived an amount of taka 3000/ as loan fromMiddle Sadhanpur Federation for alternativelivelihood and started making colorful anddesigned Pati and sold one Pati per week in thelocal market at about Taka 1000-1200. She madea profit of Taka 600/ per Pati.She is now living with confidence and dignity.

presentation project completion

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