A political economy of forest resource use : case studies of social forestry in Bangladesh

• Main Author: Khan, N. A.
• Published: Swansea University 1995
• Subjects: 338.1
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.637786

The political economy of forest use in Bangladesh provides the context for an analysis of social forestry (hereafter, SF) programmes of the government. SF is viewed in this thesis within the wider history of forest use and not as an isolated technical strategy for afforestation. The history is marked by a progressive emphasis on commercial interests. The consequences have been: the monetization of forest use; downgrading of the scope for community management of forests; the curtailment of local rights; and the systematic alienation of local people from forest management. These particular attributes of commercialization have added fuel to conflict between the state and local communities. Public antipathy to the state's role in forest commercialization undermined the state's attempt to continue public sector forestry management singlehandedly. Some form of public participation was required. SF was launched with the stated goal of empowering local communities in forest management and as an answer to alienation problem. But SF's achievements have been insignificant. Its marginal performance can be attributed to an unfavourable political-economic environment (referred to in the thesis as 'the frame'). The 'frame' includes the rural power structures; public policies and government offices; local government institutions; land ownership and tenurial arrangements; market (for forests products) and commercial agents; and international donor agencies. SF's performance is regulated by these variables, which are generally not conductive to achieving its lofty goals. Although the stated goals remain largely unrealised, SF does, however, further certain strategic but nonetheless tacit interests of the national government and international donors.