IMPACT OF SOCIAL FORESTRY ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF NEARBY POOR PEOPLE OF DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

A field survey was conducted in Dinajpur of Bangladesh to evaluate the impact of social forestry activities on the livelihood of the beneficiaries. This study attempts to assess the activities, cost, benefits and social impacts of livelihood of social forestry on socioeconomic condition of the beneficiaries. The study was conducted during the period of January 2019 to October 2019 at five different roadsides of Dinajpur district which were planted under social forestry program. Those were i) Dinajpur Government College to Dosmile Road, ii) Dosmile to Birganj Road, iii) Dinajpur to Birol Road, iv) Dinajpur to Chirirbander Road, v) Dinajpur to Fulbari Road. Experimental unit of the survey was 20 m strip on both sides for measurement of growth of planted species. To collect the social data, 15 participants out of 75 beneficiaries from each location were surveyed. Therefore, total 75 beneficiaries were interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire to collect necessary information following the objectives of the study. Collected data were analysed by Descriptive method of statistics. Most (73.33 %) of the beneficiaries involved in that program were influenced by the Forest Department. This study showed majority of the beneficiaries (73.3%) were in the old age having average farm size of 18.75 ha. Most of the respondents (14.9 %) depended on agriculture for their livelihood. Majority (61.33 %) of them had medium annual income. Women (16 %) also participated in the social forestry program. The respondent farmers planted different species of wood trees namely Akashmoni, Mangium, Eucalyptus, Mahagony, Neem, Raintree, etc. Among the planted species Akashmoni (24 %) was most planted, preferred and profitable species. The species were planted in the months of May to July because it was the best time for planting most of saplings. Age of the planted saplings was in the range of 4-6 months. Based on the trees and tree products wood based cottage industries were established in the surrounding areas of social forestry program and generated employment and income opportunity for the local people. Due to the involvement in social forestry plantation, illegal felling of trees, encroachment etc. were reduced significantly. Some people changed their profession from theft to tree guards. By using the pruning materials and fallen leaves, they met their fuel wood demand and reduced their expenditure in purchasing fuel wood. They also used the pruned leaves as fodder for their cattle. After selling the final products, the beneficiaries got a fixed amount of money mentioned in the agreement deed which was done by the Forest Department. They met their essential needs using that money such as loan payment, children education, food buying, old house repairing, etc. They also faced several problems during implementing the program such as illegal felling, encroachment, damaged by cattle and natural disaster.