An Assignment on

"Forest Landscape Restoration in Bangladesh:

Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities"

Course title – Forest Resource Management

Course No – FES 511

Submitted by Submitted to,

Md. Asraful Huda Dr. Swapan Kumar Sarker
Session: 2018-2019 Professor
Registration No: Dept. of FES, SUST
2018631069

Date of Submission: 5Th October 2024

Department of Forestry & Environmental Science

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology
Sylhet – 3114, Bangladesh
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Table of Contents
Abstract..................................................................................................3
Introduction........................................................................................... 3
Concept of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)...............................4
Applications of FLR in Other Countries.............................................4
Application of FLR in Bangladesh.......................................................5
Challenges of FLR Application in Bangladesh....................................6
Opportunities of FLR in Bangladesh...................................................7
Conclusion and Recommendations.......................................................9
Reference..............................................................................................10

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Abstract:

Bangladesh's important attempt to address the severe forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, and
climate vulnerability is called Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). Bangladesh's forest
resources continue to suffer threats from deforestation, illegal logging, and changing agricultural
practices, particularly in regions like the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh has
responded by pledging to use the Bonn Challenge to restore 0.75 million hectares of forest. FLR
balances the demands of human populations and ecosystems by integrating environmental
restoration with socioeconomic development, including multiple stakeholders. Bangladesh may
learn a lot from successful overseas examples like FLR initiatives in Brazil, Rwanda, and
Ethiopia. However, institutional, financial, and social obstacles, such as convoluted
administration, a dearth of long-term finance, and a low level of local community involvement,
impede FLR in Bangladesh. Opportunities are provided by social forestry initiatives,
community-based forest management, and cutting-edge restoration methods like agroforestry,
notwithstanding these obstacles. These strategies can serve national and international
environmental goals while enhancing biodiversity, climate resilience, and local livelihoods. To
effectively execute FLR and attain sustainable development, Bangladesh needs to give priority to
long-term funding, institutional reforms, and community involvement.

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Introduction:
A key tactic for restoring damaged forest ecosystems while also enhancing residents' quality of
life and climate change resistance is forest landscape restoration or FLR. The goal of FLR, which
was first conceived in 2001, is to improve human well-being and restore ecological integrity by
using a comprehensive, landscape-oriented approach. Adaptive management, stakeholder
participation, and ecosystem service equilibrium are given top priority by FLR. To recognize the
importance of human-environment interactions, the restoration process considers local
livelihoods (Maginnis et al., 2012). Due to adverse effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and local
livelihoods, forest degradation and deforestation have gained global attention. A global answer to
these problems that balances environmental restoration with socioeconomic demands is Forest
Landscape Restoration (FLR). Bangladesh's susceptibility to climate change, dense population,
and depletion of forest resources, especially in areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and
Cox's Bazar, make FLR even more critical (Sarkar & Mukul, 2024).

FLR is more than just tree planting. It seeks to improve local livelihoods while restoring
ecological functioning and enhancing biodiversity. The strategy promotes a balance between
human activity and the environment by integrating ecological, social, and economic issues. The
purpose of this project is to examine the global applications of forest loss and degradation,
understand the idea, and determine how Bangladesh might use FLR to address its forest
degradation problems.

Concepts of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR):

FLR is a comprehensive method aiming at restoring ecological functionality and promoting
human well-being within deforested and degraded environments. FLR considers the various
demands of ecosystems and the people who depend on them, as a contrast to mere reforestation.
According to Mansourian et al., FLR takes trade-offs between ecological restoration and
socioeconomic development into account while attempting to strike a balance between
ecological integrity and human livelihoods (Mansourian et al., 2017) . FLR is exceptional in

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simultaneously addressing environmental and socioeconomic concerns because of its integrated
strategy.

Initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge, which committed the world to restoring 150 million
hectares of degraded and cleared land by 2020 and then expanded to 350 million hectares by
2030, gave rise to the impetus for forest landscape restoration (FLR). Bangladesh pledged to
restore 0.75 million hectares of forest as part of the Bonn Challenge (Sarkar & Mukul, 2024). FLR
places a strong emphasis on multi-stakeholder involvement, collaborative governance, and forest
restoration within a landscape-level framework where both non-forest and forest aspects
contribute to the ultimate objective.

Application of FLR in other countries:

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) has been successfully applied in many different nations
throughout the world, proving the adaptability of the strategy in a range of ecological, social, and
political circumstances.

In Brazil, one of the most effective FLR programs to date is the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact,
which has brought together more than 250 partners to restore 15 million hectares of forest by the
year 2050. In addition to increasing biodiversity, this initiative has improved water security and
produced jobs (Mansourian et al., 2017).

Rwanda has included FLR as a tactic for reducing poverty and restoring the environment in
national plans. The effort by Rwanda to develop agroforestry and repair degraded farmlands
serves as an example of how FLR can help society economically by increasing agricultural
output and providing ecosystem services (Mansourian et al., 2017).

Ethiopia's Flood and Degradation Relief (FLR) programs, which are primarily focused on
conserving water and soil, have assisted in restoring damaged landscapes and lessening the
effects of climate change.

The Green India Mission, which seeks to improve forest quality and cover by including local
communities in restoration efforts, is the main emphasis of India's FLR programs. Community

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involvement is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability and addressing socioeconomic
demands in addition to environmental aims (Mansourian et al., 2017).

FLR has been included in more comprehensive environmental policy in industrialized nations.
Strong institutional frameworks are critical to the success of the Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program (CFLRP), which was developed in the United States and offered financial
support for restoration projects (Mansourian et al., 2017). These illustrations show that strong
governance institutions, financial support, and political will are frequently necessary for FLR to
succeed.

Application of FLR in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's high susceptibility to environmental degradation, climate change, and deforestation
make FLR essential. Many forests landscape Restoration (FLR) programs have focused on the
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), which house a large amount of Bangladesh's forested lands. There
are conflicts over land ownership, altering agricultural methods, and deforestation because of
poor management techniques in this region, which is home to several ethnic populations. Due to
poor management, illicit logging, shifting cultivation (known as Jhum in the area), and disputes
over land tenure, the area has historically seen significant deforestation and forest degradation.

As part of the Bonn Challenge, Bangladesh pledged in recent years to restore 0.75 million
hectares of forest to stop the trend of deforestation and rebuild ecosystems. The majority of FLR
in Bangladesh has been concentrated in regions like Cox's Bazar, where the Rohingya refugee
crisis since 2017 has severely damaged the forest (Tallis et al., 2019). Here, restoration efforts are
crucial for not just restoring ecosystems but also reducing conflicts between people and wildlife
and improving the standard of living for both host and refugee populations.

The planting of trees, the encouragement of social forestry, and the restoration of damaged land
have all been parts of Bangladesh's FLR strategy. The Sustainable Forests & Livelihoods
(SUFAL) Project, for example, is a national initiative funded by the World Bank that seeks to
improve community participation in forest management and restore important ecosystems. In
Bangladesh, social forestry has proved to be an effective technique, giving local people
economic benefits through sustainable resource use while including them in the maintenance and
restoration of wooded regions.

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Challenges of FLR application in Bangladesh:
FLR initiatives have accelerated in Bangladesh, especially in ecologically delicate and degraded
areas like Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Due to the region's historical
biodiversity and the livelihoods of 12 ethnic communities dependent on forest resources, the
CHT, which makes up over one-third of the nation's forest area, offers a special potential for
FLR However, poor management, land disputes, and shifting agriculture methods have resulted
in the degraded state of much of this region's forest (Sarkar & Mukul, 2024). There have been
initiatives to create community-based forest management plans and reintroduce native species.
FLR operations have been focused on Cox's Bazar, particularly after the 2017 surge of Rohingya
refugees.

FLR's use in Bangladesh is beset by several obstacles, even though its significance is
increasingly acknowledged:

1. Institutional Complexity and Land Tenure Conflicts: The institutional landscape of the CHT,
for example, is complicated and includes both formal and traditional institutions. The efforts to
recognize Indigenous land rights have been impeded by historical land disputes, imprecise
jurisdictional borders, and a lack of acknowledgment of those rights. Large-scale restoration
projects are challenging to accomplish because of the complexity of governance caused by the
absence of a single management framework (Chazdon et al., 2021).

2. Resource and Funding Constraints: In Bangladesh, FLR initiatives frequently face financial
resource constraints. Despite the allocation of international financing from organizations like the
World Bank and FAO, the necessary restoration effort cannot be fully met with this cash.
Securing long-term funding for upkeep and monitoring is another issue that many initiatives
have (Mansourian et al., 2017).

3. Social and Cultural Barriers: Effective FLR requires the participation of local people,
especially indigenous groups in the CHT. Nevertheless, the absence of these groups from
decision-making procedures frequently restricts their participation and jeopardizes the long-term

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viability of restoration initiatives. Transitioning to sustainable land-use systems through FLR
programs is hampered by changing farming techniques that are ingrained in cultural traditions.

4. Climate Change Impacts: Bangladesh faces significant threats from climate change, including
increasing sea levels, more frequent cyclones, and altered precipitation patterns. Due to the need
for regenerated landscapes to be adaptable to future climate shifts, these variables worsen forest
degradation and make restoration efforts more difficult (Mansourian et al., 2017).

5. Economic and Financial Constraints: One of the biggest challenges in long-term rehabilitation
initiatives is finding sustainable funding. Despite the government's pledges to the Bonn
Challenge, these objectives require steady budgetary backing. Large-scale, long-term FLR
initiatives are difficult to plan and carry out due to a reliance on donor money and short-term
project (Mansourian et al., 2017).

Opportunities of FLR in Bangladesh:

Despite the difficulties, there are several ways to improve FLR's performance in Bangladesh:

1. Integration of FLR with National Policies and Global Initiatives:

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the Bonn Challenge, two global
environmental goals that Bangladesh is committed to offer a solid foundation for the
advancement of FLR activities. These worldwide platforms provide opportunities for
collaboration with foreign organizations, access to money, and technical expertise. Large-scale
restoration efforts require political will and responsibility, both of which they
strengthen (Mansourian et al., 2017).

2. Community-Based Forest Management

FLR in Bangladesh offers great promise, one of which is the possibility of community-based
forest management (CBFM). This strategy prioritizes local people's participation in decision-
making, forest management, and restoration initiatives. The government may alleviate
socioeconomic concerns and restore ecological integrity at the same time by allowing
communities to take ownership of restoration activities and coordinating FLR with local
livelihoods.

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3. Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities:

Through the growth of non-timber forest products, ecotourism, and agroforestry, FLR can
generate economic benefits. For instance, in Cox's Bazar, livelihood initiatives like planting
native species and creating nurseries can aid in restoration efforts while giving local and refugee
people a source of income

4. Scaling up Innovative Restoration Techniques:

In degraded areas, using climate-resilient plants and swift-growing native species can hasten the
recovery of forests and improve biodiversity. For example, planting native fruit trees in Cox's
Bazar has been suggested as a means of addressing nutritional needs and promoting forest
restoration.

5. Ecosystem Services and Climate Resilience:

To lessen the effects of climate change, ecosystem services including soil stabilization, carbon
sequestration, and water control are essential. FLR has the potential to improve these
services (Mansourian et al., 2017) . FLR can improve agricultural output, boost biodiversity, and
make areas more resilient to natural catastrophes like cyclones and floods by recovering
degraded landscapes.

Conclusion and Restoration:

A comprehensive strategy for tackling Bangladesh's dual problems of environmental
deterioration and socioeconomic growth is provided by Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR).
Due to the nation's special susceptibility to climate change and its dependence on forest
resources, FLR is an essential tactic for boosting ecosystem resilience and promoting livelihoods.

But for FLR to succeed in Bangladesh, several issues need to be resolved. They include
involving local people, establishing long-term financial support, resolving institutional and
governance difficulties, and developing technical expertise. A multi-stakeholder approach
involving the government, local communities, foreign funders, and technical specialists is
necessary to address these difficulties.

Key recommendations for advancing FLR in Bangladesh include:

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  Strengthening Institutional Frameworks: To enable more transparent ownership and
management of forest resources, rewrite land tenure laws, and enhance governance
frameworks.
 Encouraging Community Engagement: Make sure that local communities and indigenous
groups actively participate in FLR initiatives, especially when it comes to benefit-sharing and
decision-making processes. This will empower them.
 Strengthening Financial Support: To guarantee the sustainability of FLR initiatives, get long-
term funding from global donors, multilateral organizations, and the commercial sector.
 Integrating Climate Resilience: Give priority to restoration techniques that can both enhance
ecosystem services and lessen the effects of climate change.
 Growing Social Forestry Programs: Extend effective agroforestry and social forestry models
that support local communities economically and aid in forest restoration.

Bangladesh can make great strides toward rebuilding its damaged landscapes and building a
more sustainable future for its people and ecosystems by tackling these crucial issues.

References:
Chazdon, R. L., Wilson, S. J., Brondizio, E., Guariguata, M. R., & Herbohn, J. (2021). Key challenges for
governing forest and landscape restoration across different contexts. Land Use Policy, 104, 104854.

Maginnis, S., Rietbergen-McCracken, J., & Sarre, A. (2012). The forest landscape restoration handbook.
Routledge.

Mansourian, S., Dudley, N., & Vallauri, D. (2017). Forest landscape restoration: Progress in the last decade and
remaining challenges. Ecological Restoration, 35(4), 281–288.

Sarkar, O. T., & Mukul, S. A. (2024). Challenges and Institutional Barriers to Forest and Landscape Restoration
in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Land, 13(4), 558.

Tallis, H., Huang, C., Herbohn, J. L., Holl, K., Mukul, S. A., & Morshed, K. A. M. (2019). Steps Toward Forest
Landscape Restoration in the Context of the Rohingya Influx: Creating Opportunities to Advance
Environmental, Humanitarian, and Development Progress in Bangladesh. CGD Policy Paper 148, July
2019.

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