UNDP Bangladesh story
Pablakhali's 700-acre village common forest in Dighinala, Khagrachari, had been shrinking as the population grew, part of the deforestation, soil loss and biodiversity loss facing the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
What happened
Pablakhali's 700-acre village common forest in Dighinala, Khagrachari, had been shrinking as the population grew, part of the deforestation, soil loss and biodiversity loss facing the Chittagong Hill Tracts. “Even five years ago, people were reckless,” says mouza headman Bikash Chakma.
Who is affected
About 1,200 families in eight villages depend on the forest, at least 500 of them in extreme poverty. “I had no choice; I had to survive. Now I try not to collect anything except fish, crabs, and vegetables,” says Piroj Chakma.
What action is needed
In 2017 the Khagrachari District Council declared it a village common forest and signed an agreement with UNDP's Canada-funded biodiversity and ecosystem restoration project. Villagers now patrol it every day and take only fish, crabs, bamboo shoots and vegetables; a conservation group got training and alternative livelihoods.