Why we need social forestry | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
June 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
Why we need social forestry

Thoughts

Md. Arafat Rahman
11 January, 2022, 10:40 am
Last modified: 11 January, 2022, 02:10 pm

Related News

  • Old Dhaka markets overflow with juicy summer fruits
  • Litchi starts appearing in Rajshahi markets
  • Why eating fruits on an empty stomach in the morning may not be ideal
  • Govt takes initiative to restore 5 lost plant species
  • NBR slashes import tax on fruits

Why we need social forestry

Social forestry is supposed to ensure social and economic benefits to the landless, poor, widows and destitute rural people. But sadly we still do not see any such projects where the underprivileged people of the society are include

Md. Arafat Rahman
11 January, 2022, 10:40 am
Last modified: 11 January, 2022, 02:10 pm
Md Arafat Rahman.
Md Arafat Rahman.

When planting trees in a certain area involves the local people, which eventually has an impact on their economic, ecological and social development, it is called social forestry. The purpose of it is not only to plant and take care of the trees but also to ensure that the planters can earn a decent living until the fruits of the planted trees are reaped. 

According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), social forestry includes activities based on government efforts to encourage and support group-based afforestation, that support employment and wage-based development.

In Bangladesh, social forestry was introduced with institutional forest extension activities. The tree-planting campaign initially started for one day just after the independence of Bangladesh but later increased to one week, one month and lastly, three months. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The program was initially very limited and did not have much impact on the people. It failed to change the attitude of the extension workers or the minds of the people. Maybe that's the reason the landless people are kept away from the afforestation activities.

Later in 1982, some entrepreneurs like Mahbubul Alam, Dr Muhammad Yunus and Professor Alim took up a social forestry project in Bangladesh. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the project was designed for two remote hills called Betagi and Pamora in the remote area of ​​Rangunia Upazila of Chittagong district. 

The main component of the project was: 1. planting trees alongside roads, railways and embankments, 2. establishment of tree planting and agroforestry demonstration farms in the barren forest lands through initiatives to supply fuelwood, 3. establishment of a Social Forestry Training Institute, 4. provide training and equipment to employees as institutional support, 5. training arrangements to create awareness among different classes of people, and 6. establishment of regional and divisional offices in the project area. 

Following the success of the group-based afforestation project, the Asian Development Bank approved the Thana afforestation and nursery development project. The objective of the project was to create a forest by involving the local people in the deforested Shalban, establishing agroforestry farms in the uncovered evicted Shalban, forestation on the lands outside the Water Development Board area, development of former group based forest growth centres, upgrading and maintenance of Forestry Extension Nursery and Training Center (FENTC), production and distribution of saplings during the project period, training of village leaders, local supervisors, thana agricultural officers and planting assistants, gardeners, staff and officers of the forest department, the establishment of more nurseries in Thana Complex, creation of slum forest along roads, railways and canal embankments, production and distribution of saplings in newly formed Thana Nurseries and setting up of private nurseries through training and financial assistance to entrepreneurs.

A pilot project, funded by International Development Association is going to be developed under the Extension Branch of the Forest Department. Under this project, participatory agroforestry activities will be started. The objective of this project is to reduce the loss of life and property due to cyclones by planting more trees in the project area. Green belt construction will be implemented by involving non-governmental organisations and increasing coastal tree planting activities among the local population.

Agroforestry is another good example of social forestry as it includes the community, with the aim of harmonizing agriculture and forest use. Its main purpose is to grow fast-growing plants with crops or fruits. And sustainable land management strategy can be an important step towards this. This is basically simultaneous use of the same land for a variety of agricultural activities, including agroforestry, forest and animal husbandry activities. Although it is a traditional practice, depending on the location of the land, region and environment, this method can be turned into a more realistic and dynamic model. 

Although agroforestry is relatively widespread in Bangladesh, its management is very poor. While the tree selection and planting techniques are followed, the problem is- we are largely dependent on the vegetation growing around the homestead. Because of rapid population growth and urbanisation, the agrarian system is rapidly declining. In many cases, about 10% of the home plants are cut down every year without planting new trees. Recently, emphasis has been laid on planting more and more varieties of trees in the vicinity of agricultural lands. 

Again, social forestry is supposed to ensure social and economic benefits to the landless, poor, widows and destitute rural people. From the adoption and implementation of afforestation plans and maintenance, control and management of forest resources, to the distribution of dividends and reforestation- they should be actively involved. The main objective of social forestry is to help the poor to become self-reliant by creating employment opportunities and to meet their food, fodder, fuel, furniture and capital needs. But sadly we still do not see any such projects where the underprivileged people of the society are included.  

The government brought social forestry into the legal framework with the incorporation of the 1927 Forest Act. To further strengthen social forestry, the government introduced the Social Forestry Rules. Apart from this, investment opportunities have been created for the local people for afforestation in the government forest lands. 

However, large scale social forestry in Bangladesh has not yet achieved significant success due to the lack of participation of local people. The active participation of the public, especially women, must be ensured for the management of forest resources. Because, without their participation, the entire idea of social forestry is fruitless. 


The author is a columnist andworks as an Assistant Officer at the Career and Professional Development Services Department of the Southeast University. He can be reached atarafatrahman373@gmail.com. 

Top News

social forestry / plants / Fruits

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infographics: TBS
    Lengthy legal road ahead to repatriate Saifuzzaman's wealth from UK
  • From fact-checker to fact-checked: CA Press Wing’s turn in the hot seat
    From fact-checker to fact-checked: CA Press Wing’s turn in the hot seat
  • Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner showing part of its registration "VT-ANB" in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
    Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290

MOST VIEWED

  • Keir Starmer declines to meet CA Yunus: FT report
    Keir Starmer declines to meet CA Yunus: FT report
  • Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner showing part of its registration "VT-ANB" in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
    Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290
  • Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    UK crime agency now freezes assets of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman: AJ
  • File Photo of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus: UNB
    Prof Yunus to receive Harmony Award from King Charles today
  • Infofgraphics: TBS
    DGHS issues 11-point directive to prevent spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Bangladesh mulls settlements with tycoons over offshore wealth: BB governor tells FT

Related News

  • Old Dhaka markets overflow with juicy summer fruits
  • Litchi starts appearing in Rajshahi markets
  • Why eating fruits on an empty stomach in the morning may not be ideal
  • Govt takes initiative to restore 5 lost plant species
  • NBR slashes import tax on fruits

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

1d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

2d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

3d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

5d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

Banks' estimates were wrong: Bangladesh Bank spokesperson

Banks' estimates were wrong: Bangladesh Bank spokesperson

7h | Podcast
What exactly happened to the ill-fated Boeing aircraft?

What exactly happened to the ill-fated Boeing aircraft?

8h | TBS World
Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28

Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28

9h | TBS Insight
Curfew imposed for second night in Los Angeles

Curfew imposed for second night in Los Angeles

9h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net