Technical Report - doi: 10.3832/ifor0578-005 ©iForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry ficant rate, nearly close to destruction (Safa Deforestation, land conversion and illegal 2004, Alam et al. 2008). As a consequence, about 36% of the Sal forests original cover logging in Bangladesh: the case of the Sal existed in 1985, and more recent estimates mentioned that this figure dropped down to (Shorea robusta) forests only 10% (Alam et al. 2008, FAO 2003). Several researches dealing with deforesta- tion have been undertaken, focusing on both Kazi Kamrul Islam, Noriko Sato the microeconomic (Repetto 1988, Gillis 1988) and macroeconomic causes of rapid deforestation in the tropics (Shafik 1994, Bangladesh, with a forest cover estimated at 17.08% of all land surface area, Capistrano & Kiker 1995, Khan & McDo- has experienced massive degradation of its natural resources and a conside- nald 1995). However, the relevance of un- rable change in its land cover. While deforestation in Bangladesh is obviously a derstanding the deforestation systems goes complex issue, one important aspect emerges from previous research findings beyond the capability to point out the in explaining deforestation: industrialization. This study focuses on the causes changes resulting from deforestation; it is of deforestation in Bangladesh, particularly in tropical moist deciduous Sal necessary to realize its causes and effects on forests, using multi levels factor analysis framework. Data were collected natural resources (Mena 2001). Scientists through questionnaire surveys, formal and informal discussions with local generally mention population pressure and people, expert interviews and literature reviews. The main findings of defore- rural poverty as a key element in explaining station framework show that illegal logging and forest land conversion were deforestation of Bangladesh. However, other the ultimate causes of Sal forests deforestation in Bangladesh. Illegal logging is scientists and environmental groups have a complex phenomenon and is being patronized by a local syndicate, functio- referred forest shrinkage to economical ning from behind the scenes. On the other hand, land conversion into different growth, national policies, and the harvesting commercial activities has direct influence on national policy and the predispo- of trees for firewood (Salam & Noguchi sing conditions of this country. Therefore, the immediate task of the nation 1998). Empirical support for these hypo- would be to stop illegal logging and land conversion of Sal forests. This can be theses is fundamentally applicable for all done by involving all relevant stakeholders in the form of effective forest forest types of Bangladesh. Deforestation in policy formulation and execution of strict environmental protection law. Bangladesh is obviously a complex issue and, moreover, scanty scientific studies have Keywords: Sal Forests, Deforestation, Land Tenure, Forest Policy, Corruptions been carried out to identify its deep causes, particularly in Sal forests, which is the most threatened ecosystem of the country (Safa Introduction of natural resources, such as forests, has 2004, Alam et al. 2008). At the background Deforestation is considered one of the old- been shown to be the major cause of defo- of such apocalyptic situation, this study has est problems of the world, and it is as old as restation in developing countries (Muna- been carried to deepen understanding of the the agricultural revolution 10 000 to 12 000 singhe 1993). About 50% of the original deforestation process through exploring the years ago (Mena 2001). People have always forest covering our globe has been cleared in sources and the underlying and immediate needed land for their own uses and have the last 40 years (FAO 1995, WWF 1998), causes of Sal forests deforestation. consequently cleared natural vegetation. and in developing countries about 1.5 billion Nowadays, global deforestation is under- people rely on firewood for cooking and Theoretical framework stood to be one of the key problems of cli- heating (Tucker 1999). A wide diversity of deforestation concepts, mate change (FAO 1995, Turner 1996, Cas- Bangladesh is a developing country having estimates, measurements and predictions sel-Gintz & Petschel-Held 2001, Gorte & 14.4 million hectares of total geographic were carried out throughout the world and Sheikh 2010). Moreover, the economic value area (GOB 2010, Islam 2005). Of them, the difficulty of the problem has taken some 13.36 million hectares are land surface, and studies to categorize the interaction of tro- 0.94 million hectares are rivers and other in- pical and sub-tropical deforestation causality Graduate School of Bioresources and land water bodies (Ahmed 1999, BBS 2001, into several groups (Zikri 2009). They can Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu Islam 2005). The country has only 17.08% be defined usually as proximate (or direct) University, Hakozaki, Higashi, 812-8581 (2.52 million ha) of total forest land (GOB causes and underlying causes of deforesta- Fukuoka (Japan) 2010), and the Sal forests cover about 0.12 tion (Rowe & Sharma 1992, Geist & Lambin million hectares, so representing 4.7% of the 2002). Besides these two categories, An- @ Kazi Kamrul Islam total forest area of Bangladesh (GOB 2010). gelsen & Kaimowitz (1999), and Contreras- ([email protected]) A few decades ago, Bangladesh was rich in Hermosilla (2000) added one more group of forest resources but a rapid population variables: sources (agents) of deforestation Received: Jan 27, 2011 - Accepted: Apr 12, growth, land conversion into different com- (Fig. 1). This study uses a narrow definition 2012 mercial activities, increased consumption of of Wunder (2000) of deforestation, which Citation: Islam KK, Sato N, 2012. energy and wood and maximum utilization refers to the clearing of forest habitats to be Deforestation, land conversion and illegal of natural resources have led to a rapid de- converted to non-forested areas, such as logging in Bangladesh: the case of the Sal gradation of forest resources (Alam et al. agriculture, bare soil, human settlement, in- (Shorea robusta) forests. iForest 5: 171-178 2008). The tropical moist deciduous Sal dustries, pastures, etc. and follows Angelsen [online 2012-06-25] URL: forests are a leading example of such degra- & Kaimowitz (1999) multilevel frameworks http://www.sisef.it/iforest/contents? dation (Ali et al. 2006), due to highly in- for explaining the causes of tropical moist id=ifor0578-005 creasing population that have sequentially deciduous forest, i.e., Sal forests deforesta- brought exploitation of the forest at a signi- tion. Communicated by: Renzo Motta © SISEF http://www.sisef.it/iforest/ 171 iForest (2012) 5: 171-178 Islam KK & Sato N - iForest 5: 171-178 Fig. 1 - Main causes of Sal Materials and Methods forests deforestation at va- rious levels. This framework Study area is adopted from Angelsen & Sal forests constitute about 10% of the Kaimowitz (1999) defo- total forest land (a total of 0.12 million ha) restation model. of Bangladesh (GOB 2010). Until the begin- ning of the 20th century, these forests existed as a continuous belt from the central and northern parts of Bangladesh. Nowadays, they exist mainly in the central part of this country, which is mainly located in the Gazipur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Tangail districts (Alam et al. 2008 - Fig. 2). The Sal forests ecosystem supports a rich and diverse variety of flora and fauna, though Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the dominant tree spe- cies (more than 80% in volume - Green 1981, Khan et al. 2007). Out of four catego- ries of forest type in Bangladesh, plain land Sal forests are the most endangered and threatened one, having already faced severe deforestation problems (Safa 2004, Ali et al. 2006). Therefore, this study was conducted at the Central Sal forests of Bangladesh (Fig. 2). Data Collection The study was based on different sources and methods for collecting primary and se- condary data, i.e., several data collection techniques. For primary data we used formal and informal discussion with local people, expert interviews, a case study and direct field observations. On the other hand, secon- dary/literature review were collected through field documents and project reports, peer-re- viewed journals, making use of Bangladesh Forest Department library, exploring reliable relevant online sources and related books. A random sample of 120 forest dependent people was selected (for case study) in equal number for each of the twelve Beats (lowest administrative unit of Forest Department) under the five Ranges (a range has one to several Beats) of the Madhupur Sal forest. Two ethnic minorities (Garo and Koch) have been living all over the Madhupur Sal forest area from time immemorial (Gain 2002). So, the sample population consisted of 60 ethnic and 60 non-ethnic forest dependent people of various ages, ranging from 22 to 65 years. Of the respondents engaged in the case study, about 85% were illiterate and only 10% were female. The majority of the re- spondents (about 63%) were day laborers and subsistence agriculture farmers. Further, this study covered the opinions of four “Range Officers” and the Assistant Conser- vator of Forest (ACF) in Madhupur Sal forest, together with eight scientists working on Sal forests (selection based on their pub- lished books/article/research on Sal forests). The whole study was conducted during the months of July-October 2010, and the case study was conducted in September-October 2010 by a research team consisting of three Fig. 2 - Forest cover map of Bangladesh and the study area. Source: GOB 2010. iForest (2012) 5: 171-178 172 © SISEF http://www.sisef.it/iforest/ Deforestation in Bangladesh members (two enumerators) and using a Tab. 1 - Population size, growth rate, density and poverty rate of major settlement near Sal semi-structured questionnaire whose purpose forests area of Bangladesh. (HCR): Head Count Rate in upper poverty levels. Sources: BBS was to collect information regarding so- 2007, Banglapedia 2010. cio-economic aspects of the households and causes of Sal forests deforestation in the Population Annual Population Poverty Location study area.