CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Forest management is defined in the glossary of technical term as the practical application of the scientific, technical and economic principle of forestry (BCFT). “It is that branch of forestry whose function is the organizing of a forest property for management and maintenance, by ordering in time and places the various operations necessary for the conservation, protection and improvement of the forest on the one hand, and the controlled harvesting of the forest on the other” (Prokash, 1986). Forest management by implication is not a basic subject; it is the practical application of science, technology and economics to a forest estate for the achievement of certain objectives- mainly production of wood- timber and industrial raw material, and other forest products such as resin, gum, bark etc. It is base on the knowledge of a number of basic subjects/sciences, such as Silviculture, Ecology, Geology, Pedology, Botany, Mensuration, Pathology, Economics, Finance, etc. Management of forest broadly involves three main tasks, viz., (i) Control of composition and structure of growing stock, (ii) Harvesting and marketing of forest produce, and (iii) Administration of forest property and personnel (Prokash, 1986).
For smooth and proper management of the forests, forest management plans are necessary. A management plan is a written scheme of management aiming at continuity of policy, action and controlling the treatment of a forest. The management of forest on Government land is the responsibility of Forest Department, which is under the ministry of Environment and Forest. To manage the forest and plantation, a management plan prescription used as a means of enforcing scientific and mandatory regulation in a systematic manner continuously.
Broadly, a management plan involves:
Ø Survey and assessment of past result, fact, resources and constraints.
Ø Analysis of facts with respects to prospects leading to conclusion on policy, objects of management for long-term plan.
Ø A plan for control of prescriptions for maintenances of roads and collection of new facts by research and new techniques.
Thus during the preparation of working plan, the result of the past management plan needs to be examined to decide on how far the prescription of the previous management plan should be followed and where and what direction, modification are necessary and advisable.
This management plan is prepared for the management unit of Sylhet North-1 range of Sylhet Forest Division. Necessary care and attention is given to make a well-prepared plan. This is prepared for ten years period and to be revise every ten years.
1: About Forest of Sylhet District:
The management of forests on Government lands is the responsibility of the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The forests of Bangladesh have been under management for well over a century. Although plantations were established in Sylhet since 1922, the pace of plantation forestry did not accelerate until 1950 when under the Ahmed Working Scheme; natural forests converted into plantation forest. This practice persisted until the early 90s when the government finally put a stop to natural forest conversion in lieu of preservation for posterity and biodiversity considerations.
1.1 Brief History
In Sylhet forest Division, the forests were started to be reserved after the report submitted by Mr. G.C. Sankey, Settlement officer in the year 1914. Raghunandan Hill was the first to be declared reserved forest in 1914. From the time of first reservation in 1914 until the year 1937, there was no regular working plan for the forests of the present Sylhet Forest Division. The first working plan was prepared in 1938 by N.N. Das to cover the period of 1938-1947. Under the Ahmed’s Working Scheme, a system was introduced in 1950 for conservation of selected natural forest areas for artificial regeneration. In the working plan for 1963-1982, conversion accelerated from about 220 ha per year to around 800 ha per year by 1984. In 1973-74, short rotation plantations of Malakana (Paraserianthes falcataria) were started for producing logs for peeler and pulpwood on a 15-year rotation. This was continued until 1986.
The working plans were evolved into management plans staring in 1991, with the preparation of first forest management plan by J.H. Choudhury for the period 1991-92 to 2000-01.
The Sylhet Forest Division extended over four districts, namely Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Moulovibazar, and Hobiganj under the central circle of the Forest Department. The area of the Sylhet Forest Division is between 23055’ and 25002’ North latitude and between 90055’ and 92030’ East longitude (Canonizado, 1998)
The division is bounded by the Khasia and Jainta Hills of India on the North; Patharia Hills, Tripura and Assam in the East; the international boundary with Tripura State of India and Brahmanbaria District in the West.
Tilagarh reserve was brought under a working scheme for the working of its fuelwood in accordance with the inspection note of the Conservator of Forests dated 29th October 1928. Tilahghar was declared as the reserved forest under Assam Forest Act in 1937 vides notification number 4192-G.J. dated September 27, 1937. (Choudhury, J.K. et al.2004)
1.2. The Management Organization
The chief executive officer of the Division is the territorial DFO (Divisional Forest Office) who reports directly to the Conservator of Forest (Central Circle). Currently the DFO is assist by three Assistant Conservators of Forest (ACF). There are 11 operational ranges, namely Raghunandan, Satchari, Habiganj-1, Habiganj-2, Moulovibazar, Kulaura, Juri-1, Juri-2, North Sylhet-1, North Sylhet-2, and Sunamanj, which are subdivided into 47 beats. Each range office is headed by a Forest Ranger. A Deputy Ranger or Forester is in charge of each beat. In each beat, there are 2-3 Forest Guards for petrol. For better protection of the forests, some forest camps also have established in remote areas of the forests. Moreover, there are four Special Petrol Parties headed by a Deputy Ranger with a good no. of Forest Guards, who patrol the high ways round the clock (Canonizado, 1998).
There were originally two (2) operational ranges, which are subdivided into 11 beats. Among them 6 beat in north Sylhet Range-1 have 6 beats, namely Khdimnogar, Ranikhai, Vatrai, Tilaghar, Saluticor, and Hilakudi beat.A Deputy Ranger or Forester is in charge of each beat. In each beat, then 2-3 Forest Guards for patrol.
1.3 Silvicultural Programs
The Ranges carry out prescribed silvicultural operations for planting, early thinning commercial thinning, and regeneration cutting, together with maintenance operations to beat-up newly planted areas, eliminates weeds and climbers, fertilization, planting of soil enhancing leguminous species, and other growth improving operations.
1.4 Conservation of Protected Areas
There are two protected areas in NS-1 Ranges covering a total of 1,907 acres.
They are:
1. Khadimnagor National Park in Khadim Nagar Beat with an area of 1,795 acres
2. Tilagarh Eco-park covering an area of 112 acre.
It made up largely of over mature long-rotation plantations that have evolved into what looks today like a natural forest with a variety of natural species setting in.
1.5 Participatory Forestry
Participatory forestry in Sylhet District largely confined under the “Thana Afforestation and Nursery Development Project”, which completed in June 1997. This project involves FD participation in strip plantations. An expanded participatory forestry program was started in 1998 through the ADB-funded Forestry Sector Project includeing strip plantations, woodlots in unused tea estates, and woodlots in the buffer zone of protected areas. In 2004-2005 under the project of Nera Pahar Plantation of Greater Sylhet, a total of 160 hectares plantation raised in Sari, of which 100 ha short rotation plantation and 60 ha of agroforestry.
1.6 Environmental Program
There is no exclusive environmental programme under the current management plan except the management of protected areas.
