Impacts of Participatory Forestry on Livelihoods of Ethnic People: Experience from Bangladesh

As a strategy of social development, the Bangladeshi government has attached the highest priority to participatory forestry (PF) since the early 1980s. In this article, we examine the impacts of PF on livelihoods of ethnic people, drawing empirical data from three villages involved in two PF projects. The projects have varying impacts on livelihoods of participating villagers. Disparities in income and forest conditions in the study villages were traced to factors including forest production technologies (agroforestry), the top-down approach of project management, failure to create awareness about project benefits, and the inability of project staff members to organize planters. Findings also indicate that PF projects are not sufficient to conserve and develop forests without assuring people's basic needs—food security and regular income sources. Meeting the diversified needs of people necessitates a long-term integrated plan that focuses on sustainable management of land, water, and other resources with a coordinated approach.