2006
  • Non-ICIMOD publication

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Problems and prospects in the hilly watersheds of Bangladesh: Priorities for their conservation

  • Misbahuzzaman, K.
  • Summary

The forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh account for about 30% of the nation’s total forest area and represent the country’s most valuable watersheds. Their importance lies not only in providing soil and water conservation for sustainable natural resource management in this part of the country, but also in supporting the shifting cultivation subsistence farming of 13 forest-dwelling indigenous communities. Over the last two centuries land use in the area has undergone tremendous change, including the clear felling of forest trees to make way for establishment of mostly monoculture plantations of valuable timber species such as teak (Tectona grandis), fruit trees, and other economically important cash crops. Due to scarcity of land and flood havoc in other parts of the country almost every year, people have been migrating to the CHTs. Population explosion has necessitated an expansion of agricultural activities in the hilly landscape, which together with deforestation, is causing serious degradation in the watersheds. Watershed degradation has contributed to severe soil erosion and deterioration of water quality. However, in some parts of the area forest-user groups still maintain traditional ‘mauza reserves’ or the Village Common Forests (VCFs) that serve various livelihood needs. VCFs are crucial for watershed management as many of them contain the headwaters of streams, natural springs and other aquifers, and are large repositories of biodiversity. However, no attempts have been made by government agencies to formalize the management systems concerning VCFs. VCFs have been declining both in numbers and in size due to various factors concerning the sustainable livelihoods of hill people.

The present study has therefore been undertaken to explore the livelihood and resource conservation strategy of the people that live in VCF areas by interviewing them with semi-structured questionnaires, and to critically assess the relationship that exists between their indigenous knowledge of resource conservation in the watersheds and their livelihood patterns.
Traditionally, the communities practice a farming method called jhum, which basically involves cultivation of food crops in forest land through clearing and burning of undergrowth in the dry season, usually leaving a fallow period (3-15 years) between successive crops on the same piece of land. However, population pressure has necessitated higher production from an ever-shrinking land base for jhum (due to inclusion of jhum land in reserved forest). This has resulted in a gradually shortening fallow period that has dropped to as low as one year in some places. Thereby contributing to a sharp decline in jhum productivity and deterioration of forest ecosystems.

Successive governments have leased out big chunks of forest land to often wealthy individuals for cultivation of monoculture crops such as rubber. This policy was based on economic considerations only, ignoring people’s traditional user rights and values. Also, land parcels were distributed to ethnic communities to encourage monoculture-based farming. Unsystematic tillage in the hill slopes to establish monoculture plantations has led to serious land degradation.

The extent and intensity of exploitation of natural resources in the hilly landscape is an important controlling factor in the conservation of watersheds and sustainable livelihoods. Seasonality of resource extraction or harvesting of forest produce affects food security and plays a key role in controlling soil and water quality in the watersheds.

In the clear-felled natural forests, land preparation prior to establishment of plantation involves uprooting tree stumps and burning debris on the forest floor. This leads to serious soil erosion and depletion of soil moisture. The most serious problem with regard to gardening, particularly of pineapple, citrus fruits, and some root crops such as ginger and turmeric, is the direct exposure of soil surface to heavy downpour and surface run-off. This results in top soil erosion, which not only leads to a gradually diminishing harvest of crops, but ultimately renders the land virtually useless for cultivation or plantation purposes.

Bangladesh has lagged behind its neighbours in the promotion of watershed management largely because the subject has failed to receive adequate attention from relevant policy makers and major international development partners. The reported increase in sedimentation and soil erosion in the CHTs, however, has significantly increased the level of concern in the government. The Forestry Department is planning to introduce participatory agro-forestry in the degraded land through adopting cropping models that would involve cultivation of crops by exposure of surface soil between rows of trees.

The key focus of this study identification of indigenous resource conservation and livelihood techniques. The system is examined from a holistic point of view that includes biophysical and socio-politico-cultural dimensions. The study carefully evaluates and compares the ethno-ecological knowledge and resource management practices in a VCF with those in government-rehabilitated areas. A comparative assessment on resource use between the VCF and the rehabilitated communities has been conducted and impacts on watershed conservation and local livelihoods have been examined. Existing plantation establishment or forest management techniques are also compared.

The indigenous techniques of jhum cultivation such as terracing, minimum tillage, controlled burning of debris, mulching and gully control through vegetative cover appeared to have a time-tested and proven positive impact on soil and water conservation. The presence of good understorey vegetation, which includes many medicinal herbs is the primary indicator of good site conditions where they prevail in the VCF areas. Harvesting of forest products from the VCFs is only permitted by village leaders for internal use, and not for commercial sale. One striking example of plant conservation is that only the local kabiraj or medicine men who treat the sick are permitted to enter VCFs for collection of medicinal herbs. Generally people in the VCF communities have been found to be meticulous in gathering forest produce or hunting animals. They do not harvest or hunt anything in short supply and they strictly maintain seasonality in harvesting. Respondents who were familiar with 'Sloping Agricultural Land Technology' or 'SALT' appeared to have shown interest in this as it helps formation of natural terraces through gradual stabilization of soil as farming progresses in contoured lines of hedgerows among forest trees. Therefore, if VCF areas remain protected and the communities that look after them are given better living conditions, for example through introduction of suitable farming technology, the hilly watersheds may in parts save themselves from further degradation. The sustainability of VCFs is threatened by population pressure, scarcity of agricultural land etc. These threats will have to be met primarily by the villagers themselves, although external agencies can extend a helping hand. Awareness and capacity building seem to be the important measures for helping sustainability of the VCFs. Ultimately, the tenurial security of the VCFs will be crucial in their long-term sustenance and will require the political support of the government.

  • Published in:
    Sustainable Sloping Lands and Watershed Management Conference 12-15 December 2006 Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
  • Language:
    English
  • Published Year:
    2006
  • Publisher Name: