CHAPTER FOUR
Result and Discussion
4.1. Present Status or Facilities of Modhutila Ecopark:
Huge amount of tourism facility present in this park. In the season (march-September) large amount of tourist visit this area only for recreation. Tourist came from sherpur districts and from other districts, for arrange picnic. Sometimes shooting parties come here and many fair arrange inside the park.
About ten picnic spot, ten large umbrellas, a watchful rest house, star bridge, lake, boating facility, mini zoo etc.
4.2. Present Status of Tourist:
Modhutila Ecopark is very popular picnic spot in greater Mymenshing region and the tourists are very frequent here. Tourists are available all round the year, but tourist arrivals increases in holydays and park season (March-September). My study finds that the tourist are coming in present more then past year and tourist from another districts increasing day by day. Day by day no. visitor increasing, in previous four years, Tourist visited in Modhutila Ecopark in last four year shown in following chart:
Chart 4.1: Status of tourist
(Source: leasing authority)
4.3. Occupation of Tourist in the Modhutila Ecopark:
Most of the tourist visit in sinter season and in holyday. They are common businessman also other visitors come here to spend their leisure period. From study, at least 2000-2500 peoples visit the area in the pick season (winter) and in summer at least 900 tourists visit this place per day. From study, I have found the highest 22.22% of tourist is businessman. Only the lowest 6.67% of the tourists are driver. The students enter here to complete their study tour and also come here for recreation. Following pie chart show the occupational demography of the tourist.
Chart 4.2: Status of occupation of tourist
Source: From field survey
4.4. Attraction for Visiting this Site:
Modhutila Ecopark is the favorite tourist place for the people of this area, due to presence of natural features, lake, small hilly area and forest. People come here to enjoy the natural environment, small hilly area, lake and mini zoo. This place is filled with various planted tree species, which provide a green environment and natural condition. This green environment attracts most of tourist in this site. I have made study about 45 tourists to know their choice, among them 48.88% tourist like green environment. Following pie chart show the major tourist attracting features chosen by tourist.
Chart 4.3: Attraction for visiting
4.5. Purpose of Visit:
Most of the tourist visit different famous place for passes their leisure period or holiday with friends, family and relatives. Modhutila Ecopark is a place where tourist come for get some pleasant and enjoy crowd free environment. Also student of various institutions came here to complete their study tour. From my study, I found that maximum people come here to spend their leisure period. Another purpose of visiting this park is shown in the following pie chart:
Chart 4.4: Purposes for visit
Source: From field survey
4.6. Accommodation Facility of This Area:
This area located in village, where no electricity and other civic facility. There is no accommodation facility in this area. Generally people don’t pass night in this area; they back Sherpur town or their home. A rest house provides by Forest Department inside the park, but that is for day, here is no facility to stay at night.
4.7. Sanitation Facility inside the Park:
Sanitation facility provide by park authority is moderate. About 30 public toilets provide by park authority in different place of park. This park is new established so the environment of park is not dirty. Wastage of tourist such as bottle, cane bag etc, after use of tourist local poor people collect these and remove from park. As a result park area became clean. I have surveyed there on 45 tourists to know the sanitation facility of the park. Among them only 11.11% tourists are not satisfied about sanitation facility of the park. Following pie chart show the present situation of sanitation facility:
Chart 4.5: Sanitation facility
Source: From field survey
4.8. Socio Economic Condition of Local People:
I have visited two villages around the park, that’s affected directly by park. About 1500 families directly or indirectly affected by this park. I try to know the socioeconomic condition as well as their monthly income, income from park, their educational facilities, and effect of establishment of this park. I have found that, about 45% of household directly affected by park for their daily income. Some family totally depends on park for their livelihood.
4.9. Family Size of the local People:
From my field survey, I have found family size of the people in this area is large because of insufficient facility of education. Most of the family has more then six member. Table-3 shows the family size of this area:
Table 4.1: Family size of respondent
| No. of member in the family | Number of family surveyed | Percentage (%) |
| 1-2 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 3-4 | 4 | 10 |
| 5-6 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 7-8 | 15 | 37.5 |
| 9-10 | 9 | 22.5 |
| 10+ | 6 | 5 |
| Total | 40 | 100 |
Source: field survey
4.10. Land Ownership of local people:
In this area most of the people are farmer, they are depend of agricultural farming for their income source. The amount of land of that people is not sufficient for that they have to think about alternate income source. Some of the people in this area are totally depend on park activities. I found some family who are depending on fisheries for daily income. From my study about 55% people have cropland, another type of land ownership are shown in the following pie chart:
Chart 4.6: Land ownership of the family
Source: field survey
4.11. Education Level of Local People:
I have found from my study maximum people of my study area are primary educated. After completing primary education they are not interested to continue their study, because of insufficient educational facility. Only three primary and one secondary school in this area. Also secondary school situated 5km far from my visited village. Following chart show the overall education level of my study area:
Chart 4.7: Education level of local people
Source: field survey
4.12. Sanitation Facility of local People:
There is no sufficient sanitation facility in my study area. I found from my survey only little amount of people use sanitary latrine. Maximum family use unsanitary latrine, because of their economic condition and lake of awareness. Present condition of sanitation facility of the area shown in following chart:
Chart 4.8: Sanitation facility of local people
4.13. Occupation of local People:
From my field survey I found maximum people of this area are farmer. They cultivate their own land or leasing land (locally called Barga). I found some family who are totally depending on park activities. They sale water, food, help tourist to cooking, provide guide etc. Some people in this area are service holder, the no. of service holder increasing day by day, due to increasing communication with other developed area. Some people of this area are hawker, they sale various things inside the park, I found that, in the park season (September-march) they earn about 200-250 BDT per day. A no. of shop inside and outside the park are established, they earn about 350-400 BDT per day in park season(September-march) After establishment of this park a no. of local people got employment in the park, they work as labor, guard and educated people are engaged in administration of the park. I have found maximum 30% peoples are farmer in my study area. Other occupation of the people is shown in following chart:
Chart 4.9: Occupation of local people
Source: field survey
4.14. Monthly Income of local Family:
I found that maximum people of this area are not well educated. Most of them are live on hand to mouth. It is not easy to explore their monthly income; I try to find out their approximate monthly income. I have surveyed about 40 families among them only 5 families income up to 10,000. Following table show the monthly income of that area
Table 4.2: Monthly income of local family
| Income range | Number of the families surveyed | Percentage (%) |
| <3000 | 2 | 5 |
| 3001-5000 | 4 | 10 |
| 5001-7000 | 9 | 22.5 |
| 7001-9000 | 20 | 50 |
| 9001-11000 | 5 | 12.5 |
| Total | 40 | 100 |
Source: field survey
4.15. Types of employment opportunity associated with Park:
In the pick season (September-March) of park, about 350-400 families are directly depend on the Park. This time they earn money from Park by selling water, dry food, ornament, different showpiece, and other things. Some people near the park earn money by helping tourist to cooking. About 24 families are engaged with leasing gate, boating facility, watch tower, Siso Park and picnic spot. Following table show the employment opportunity in the Park:
Table 4.3: Employment opportunity
| Category | No. of people engaged | |
| Small business
| Water | 30-40 people(assumption) |
| Dry food | 30-40 people(assumption | |
| Traditional ornament | 120 shops | |
| Showpiece | 100 shops | |
| others | 80 shops | |
| Medium size business | Restaurant | 4 restaurant(25people) |
| Transportation | 20 people | |
| Large size business (Leasing) | Gate | 12 families |
| Boating in lake | 2 families | |
| Watch tower | 3 families | |
| Siso Park | 2 families | |
| Picnic spot | 5 families | |
Source: from field survey
4.16. Contribution of Park in Monthly Income of local people:
From my field survey about 10-12% people totally depend on park activities. In park season (September-march) they can earn 300-350 BDT per day by selling water, food and other ornament to tourist. But in of f season of park they can’t earn such money. They have no another income source. Before establishment of park they were day labor. Park authority tried to provide permanent job for these people. Some people got leasing opportunity of park. They earn handsome money in park season (September-march). Contribution of park in monthly income of affected peoples is shown in following table:
Table 4.4: Contribution of park in monthly income
| Income percentage from Park. | No. of families surveyed | Percentage (%) |
| <20% | 2 | 5 |
| 21%-40% | 9 | 22.5 |
| 41%-60% | 13 | 32.5 |
| 61%-80% | 11 | 27.5 |
| 81%-100% | 5 | 12.5 |
| Total | 40 | 100 |
Source: field survey
4.17. Changes of Socioeconomic Condition of local People Due to the Establishment of Modhutila Ecopark:
In Nalitabari Upazila about six villages located in this area. Namely; Shomchura, Dhupakura, Puragaon, Badhkuchi, Lokkhikura, Burunga. The people of these villages are poor. A small quantity of people are educated, others are illiterate. Main income source is agricultural farming. But increasing family member is the main cause of their poverty. Now they have no sufficient land for cultivation, as a result they are depend on other illegal activities, such as collect wood from Indian forest and engaged with illegal export-import party. For that some times they are arrested and killed by BDR and CSF. After establishment of this ecopark, a huge no. of people got employment opportunity. In the park season (September-march) the people of surrounding two villages (Shomchura, Dhupakura) are totally depend on the park for their daily income activities. No. of people are engaged with the business of showpiece, ornament, food, water selling inside the park. Some people take lease different types of tourism facilities, such as gate, side view tower, lake, mini zoo, Siso Park and boating facility. Some people help tourist for cooking, especially woman are heavily involve with this activities. From Nanni market to park 12 km road under construction, a no. of peoples are engaged with the construction of this road. They got employment from road construction. From my study, I was informed that, after establishment of this park large no. of employment opportunity created for local people. Local Upazila Parishad informed me that after establishment of park unemployed people decrease last three years. Local unemployed young people get facilities to engage with the activities of park maintenance. From field survey I know positive socioeconomic change occur in this area. Following table show the changes of socioeconomic condition of this area:
Table 4.5: Change of local socioeconomic condition
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Percentages unemployed people | 21% | 17% | 13% |
| Percentages of education | 17% | 21% | 21.5% |
| Percentages of poor people (under poverty line) | 46% | 42% | 34% |
Source: Local Union Parishad & Banglapedia
Above table show the positive change in the study area after establishment of park.
4.18. Changes of Environment:
Before establishment of the park this area was barren, unproductive. Forest Department takes a social forestry program for insider but it is not successful. After rotation period of social forestry program, plantation programs are not taken. But at present no. of plantation program has been taken, which help to enrich the tree cover of this area.
4.19. Problems of Modhutila Ecopark:
From field survey and informal discussion with park authority, I have been found some problem of this park, although this park is very much prospectus for the development of this area. Various problems of this park area are given bellow:
a) Security problem: this area is hilly area with the border of India; as a result sometimes tourists are hearted by robber. Local police station is far from the park and park authority has no sufficient force to fight with them. Some tourists are cross the no mans land due to over curiosity, as a result they fall in unwanted problem.
b) Communication problem: communication is a major problem of this area. Park area is far from about 20km from Nalitabari Upazila. There is no well concrete road from Nalitabari Upazila. As a result some times tourist has to face a lot of problem.
c) Management of leasing authority: leasing facility is the equal right for all types of people. But local elites and political leader got the maximum facilities, and sometimes they produce quarrel with each other.
d) Elephant: Indian elephant is the most unsolvable problem in this area. At night a group of Indian elephant entre to village and destroy house, road, trees, garden, cropland. Some times they kill villagers. Every year al least one or two people killed by elephant.
e) Accommodation: in this area there is no accommodation facility, like rest house, mottle, restaurant etc for tourist. They have no opportunity to pass night in this area. Forest department rest house inside the park is only for day.
f) Shortage of man power of Forest Department: only two or three night is available for protecting for the park. It is not sufficient, and no. of member in the managerial body for park management is not satisfactory.
g) Government policy: Government policy is another significance problem for the management of this park. Due to the change of Government management policy and officials are change. For that, development activities of park hampered.
