FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE ON AND CONSTRAINTS FACED DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Sal forests of Bangladesh have been severely damaged due to encroachment, over exploitation, uncontrolled commercial logging, illegal felling, overgrazing and collection of fuel wood as a source of energy by the people living in and around the forests. So, forest management with a strategy to include local people so as to improve Sal forests condition and livelihoods of local communities is the demand of time. In this connection, Integrated PA Comanagement (IPAC) project was launched by the Forest Department (FD) with the assistance from United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The aim of the project was to improve the livelihood of forest dependent community through greater access and control over local forests. Hence, the study was undertaken to identify the impact of co-management system on the livelihood of forest dependent community of Singra National Park (SNP) situated in northern Bangladesh. The data were collected through quantitative and qualitative methods. The finding indicates that comanagement approach has brought changes on the livelihood of forest dependent community and most of the changes have positive impacts on livelihoods. Now their livelihoods are stable, as most have substantial sources of securing income. The livelihood has improved due to the alternate income generating activities (IGA) like cow-rearing, vegetable farming, pig rearing, small grocery shops, handicrafts etc. provided to the community. However, the communities have experienced severe antagonistic relationships with forest officials. This factor affects their livelihoods. So, there is an immediate need to empower local participants, by which they can easily play the inner role in decision making and governing all the forest management activities for their sustainable livelihood.