Scaling up REDD+ strategies in Bangladesh: a forest dependence study in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) have already been recognized as helping to mitigate global climate change and to conserve forest biodiversity as well as to improve rural livelihoods. Determining the nature and degree of the local peoples' dependence on the forest can be an important aid to implementation of REDD+ in Bangladesh. The research aims to find out the nature and degree of forest dependence of the local peoples living in the tropical semi-evergreen forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh as well as to determine the tradeoffs between forest use and REDD+. The average revenue per household from selling forest products in the study area was 13,473 taka per year including revenues from timber, firewood, bamboo, medicinal plants, mammals and nuts, of which timber sales generated the largest revenue. Looking at the total extraction of forest products, the study found that 92% of the firewood is consumed directly by households, followed by timber 33%, bamboo 33%, medicinal plants 22%, mammals 3% and nuts 2%. At the strategy point of REDD+ implementation in the CHT of Bangladesh, the alternative livelihoods of forest-dependent peoples include culture of plantations, agricultural intensification, and small business development. Dependence on the forest for medicinal, religious and food purposes is fundamental, while extraction of timber, bamboo and vegetables from the forest could be sacrificed. The present study confirms that for REDD+ implementation, appropriate cash compensation should be provided to the forest-dependent people for traditional forest use foregone. This study will be useful to policy makers concerned with REDD+ strategies and natural forest conservation in Bangladesh.