Rajshahi: Social afforestation initiatives in the Rajshahi region have positively impacted the lives of many individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, by offering them financial benefits through their involvement in tree planting and care.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the participatory social afforestation program has not only improved the livelihood conditions of poor and landless farmers but also increased their incomes. Beneficiaries receive profit shares after trees are sold following a decade of growth. Khairun Sundary, a 58-year-old resident of Badalpur village in Naogaon district, has been involved in these activities since 1993. Last year, she earned a profit share of approximately Taka 8.75 lakh from the forest department. Sundary expressed her satisfaction with the program, highlighting her commitment to nurturing and protecting the trees over the years.
Rebeka Khatun, another beneficiary from Parasheuly village, received a profit share of Taka 7.32 lakh, which she attributed to her dedicated efforts over 34 years. Similarly, Bano Bala from Pustailpara village garnered a profit of Taka 7.23 lakh last year, marking her success in the field of social afforestation after over three decades of hard work.
Rafiquzzaman Shah, the divisional forest officer, noted that the participatory afforestation efforts have been accelerated to motivate rural communities to plant and care for trees. The department runs various programs across 31 upazilas in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, and Naogaon districts. Beneficiaries are tasked with nurturing the saplings and receive a 55% share of the proceeds from tree sales after ten years, while landowners and local government institutions receive 20% and 5% shares, respectively.
In the past two years, beneficiaries have received approximately Taka 3.12 crore, with landowners and Union Parishads receiving Taka 40.35 lakh and Taka 24.85 lakh, respectively. These efforts align with the government’s poverty reduction goals and contribute to mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change in drought-prone areas.
The afforestation activities have encouraged people to plant saplings of various tree types in multiple locations, including homesteads, roadsides, and religious premises. DFO Rafiquzzaman Shah highlighted a five-year project initiated in 2020 aimed at conserving and enhancing biodiversity in the region, with a budget of Taka 35.13 crore. This project includes developing Altadighi National Park as a natural tourist destination and providing capacity-building support to over 4,150 individuals involved in social forestry.
Additionally, 3,250 households from ethnic minorities and low-income groups are receiving support for socio-economic development through forestry activities. The initiative plans to distribute six lakh saplings to poor communities and establish a 600-kilometer strip forest, among other goals.
Infrastructure improvements and the establishment of herbal orchards are also part of the project, with training provided to beneficiaries on various environmental and conservation topics.