1. Forest industries:
In general the following major categories of forest product based industries are found in Bangladesh.
1. Sawmills
2. Manufacture of wood products including furniture
3. Production of hardboards, particleboards, chipboards, etc.
4. Manufacture of pulp, paper, newsprint and paper products
5. Match factories
6. Manufacturing of packaging paper
7. Production of various products from wood, bamboo, cane, patipata14, etc. as handicrafts (cottage industries
Most of the forest product based industries in Bangladesh used to be owned by the Government through corporations such as BFIDC and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). Recently (as of September 2007) the privatization commission is looking for buyers to sell out (Website of Privatization Commission) the following forest product based industries.
1. Chittagong Board Mills, Chittagong
2. Chittagong Cabinet Manufacturing Unit, Chittagong
3. Chittagong Chemical Complex, Patenga, Chittagong
4. Dhaka Cabinet Manufacturing Unit, Dhaka
5. Eastern Wood Works
6. Fidco Furniture Complex, Chittagong.
7. Karnafuly Rayon & Chemicals Ltd., Kaptai, Rangamati
8. Karnaphuli Timber Extraction Unit
9. Khulna Cabinet Manufacturing Unit, Khulna
10. Khulna Hardboard Mills Ltd., Khulna
11. Khulna Newsprint Mills Ltd., Khulna
12. Lumber Processing Complex
13. North Bengal Paper Mills Ltd., Pakshi, Pabna
14. Particle Board Veneering Plant
15. Sangu Matamuhuri Timber Extraction Unit
16. Sangu Velly Timber Industries
17. Sylhet Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd., Sylhet
18. Wood Treating Unit, Chittagong
19. Wood Treating Unit, Khulna
3. Some environmental issues related to the forestry:
Other environmental issues in Bangladesh that may have some impact on the forestry sector are described below.
11.1 Air pollution
Air pollution is a serious environmental problem in Bangladesh especially in four major cities namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. The Carbon Monoxide concentration in Dhaka
air is about 11ppm whereas the standard is 9 ppm. Similarly the lead concentration in Dhaka Air is 4.63 ug/m3 ppm whereas the standard is 0.5 -1 ug/m3 ppm. The concentration of Sulfur Dioxide in Dhaka commercial and residential areas is 472.9 ug/m3 and 63.5 ug/m3 respectively, whereas the standard is 40-60 ug/m3. General awareness about air pollution has triggered tree planting by the public in and around their residences. There will be a demand for specialized species that can serve different situations better. This in future may require the FD to look for or undertake research to identify specialized species of plants that are suitable to meet the context.
11.2.Water pollution
Water is considered polluted when its physical, chemical and microbiological state is altered from its natural state and it becomes unsuitable or less suitable for any safe use or consumption. The signs of water pollution are bad taste, odours, turbidity, etc. Besides these obvious signs, there are other kinds of pollution, which are not so visible. There are basically two types of pollution, namely natural and man-made. The common natural water pollution in Bangladesh is the presence of arsenic in ground water. The Government in the past had large scale programmes for sinking tube wells for supplying safe drinking water to rural people. Now these have turned out to be dangerous and are being painted red. The human engineered water pollution in Bangladesh is considerable such as waste water from urban areas released into rivers and streams; industrial wastes drained into the rivers and streams; the runoff from crop fields and tea gardens that is often heavily loaded with toxic components of insecticides, fertilizers used in excess, etc. Indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides, mostly in agricultural fields is a source of serious water pollution, especially for river and flood water. Polluted water adversely affects vegetation especially sensitive species such as Anisopter glabra,Alstonia scholaris, etc. Polluted water very seriously affects ground flora. Sometimes water loaded with industrial effluent very adversely affects the growth of the trees and even causes the death of many saplings. Since ground water in many of the areas of Bangladesh is arsenic impregnated, the present bias is for “Rain Water Harvest”. Emphasis is gradually increasing on surface water use. It is well APFSOS II: Bangladesh 73 speculated that this search for surface water, will lead to catchment management for water supply. Forestry is the key to catchment management. In future this is going to be an added dimension to the forestry sector. In the near future this water pollution problem is very likely to create a new demand for catchment management under the forestry sector.
11.3. Degrading forests and shrinking green landscapes
Degrading forests and the shrinking of green landscapes has become a concern among the public.
This will have a positive impact on the forestry sector in the near future. This may be in the form of a public demand asking the Government to cater for more and more of such sites such as city parks, community parks, etc.
11.4. Exotic species
The present trend in plantations is for fast growing species which are mostly exotic. Species such as Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, Eucalyptus spp, etc. are commonly used. Already planting of such exotic species is being questioned. During the last couple of years the FD has been criticized for raising pure plantations of single species, especially along the highways in Bangladesh. It is envisaged that this will grow still stronger and the FD may have to face serious criticisms if the existing trends continue. However participants under the Social Forestry Programme are interested in fast growing high yielding species. In the near future the FD will have to look for some sort of compromise limiting the use of fast growing high yielding exotic species in plantation establishment.
11.5. Outdoor recreation
With increased urbanization, outdoor recreation has become very popular. No doubt this change is bringing more and more revenue for the government but it has the impact of littering of parks and natural ecosystems. This will impact future forestry planning to increase recreation sites as well as to combat littering and pollution of these recreational sites.
11.6.Soil degradation
Over harvesting or depletion of vegetation is the root cause of soil degradation. It is established that the soils in most of the hill forests and Sal forest areas are degrading. Soil degradation is very serious in the case of USF lands in Chittagong Hill tracts. In future the forestry sector will have to address this issue.
11.7. Waste disposal
Since waste disposal can generate bio-gas it may have some impact on the forestry sector by reducing the pressure on fuel-wood. In rural areas bio-gas plants are gradually becoming popular. Some NGOs are promoting the establishment of small scale bio-gas plants by providing technical assistance and sometimes by extending small loans. Such endeavours being mostly in the rural areas have a direct impact on cutting back the demand on fuel-wood. Since these small scale biogas plants are closely associated with cow-dung and cattle, with the enhancing trend of house hold cattle rearing, there is every possibility that fodder demand will increase. In this situation fuelwood demand is expected to fall and in turn illegal collection fuel-wood from the forests especially from the Government forests may decline. With larger cattle populations the demand for forages especially from the adjoining Government forest will increase. This will have a definite impact on the forestry sector. Since this is an emerging phenomenon, it needs to be borne in mind while planning future forestry activities.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations:
Bangladesh is very rich with her diverse forest resources. But, both the in situ and ex situ programs to conserve, manage and use of forest resources are not adequate. Even, the existing conservation activities are not properly working. Hence, the conservation area should be increased significantly as well protection of the forest resources need to be more secured. Database on the status of the forest resources in different forest types should be established and updated continuously. Education and training of professionals and technicians in forest genetic resource conservation programs should be expanded.Curricula should be update according the needs of the society. More monetary allocation must be provided for all sorts of conservation programs through proper Government Institutes. In Bangladesh, the population pressure on forest resources is severe. Participatory approach with the local people must be considered in the conservation of forest resource.
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