About Sundarban and its management

Past History of Sundarban: In the 16^th century, the Sundarbans forests were the property of the local king or Zamindar who imposed levy on the extraction on wood from the forest. During the British period, the Crown assumed the proprietary right over the forest. Forests were leased under the ACT in 1830 to Europeans. This resulted in the progressive conversion of forests into agricultural land that continued up to 1875. A number of prominent British foresters visited the Sundarbans within 1863 to 1874 and succeeded in raising awareness in the colonial administration about the value of the forests. Their recommendations resulted in the introduction of a set of guidelines initiating the first conservation activities. Leasing out of forests land was thus stopped in 1875 and the remaining unleased forest was declared as Reserve Forests under the Forest Act of 1876. A Forest Management Division was established in 1879 at Khulna that regulated export of timber and was in charge of management. The Boundary of the Bangladesh portion of the forest has remained mostly unchanged for the last 125 years. The conservation effort received a boost when in 1977 the government set aside 139700 hectares for three wildlife sanctuaries under the Wildlife Act of 1973.    

Present Sundarban- The World Heritage, Pride of Bangladesh: If we say beautification of forests, then always goes eyes towards Sundarban, which is the world heritage site. It is the largest mangrove forest in the world and also home the Royal Bengal Tiger. There are three wildlife sanctuaries say Sundarbvan East, Sundarban South and Sundarban West declared within the larger Sundarban Reserve Forests. The unique arrays of natural mangrove forest, creeks, meandering streams, rivers, estuaries and spectacular wildlife make it a feasted for all eyes. This Sundarban is located in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. From Khulna city Sundarban is reachable by boat. It is approximately 73 km away from Khulna city. The total area of Sundarban Reserve Forests are approximately 6,01,700 hectares. Within the boundary of this Reserve Forest are found the three Windlife Sanctuaries, and it is total of 1,39,698 hectares of land covered. In the Sundarban Royal Bengal Tiger is the king of the forests. Addition to that Spotted Deer’s, Iriwaddy Dolphin, and Estuarine Crocodiles are also available in that forests area. A rich avifauna that comprises about 50% of birds known in Bangladesh, which are migrant and also seasonal birds. This wild nature is very much enjoyable to the visitors. In the winter season, local and also foreign visitors gather Sundarban for watching the natural beautification and also Royal Bengal Tiger. The forest is comprised of plant species that can grow on salty and withstand periodic inundation. The main species are Sundari, Gewa and Goran, with a total of 334 plant species. About 289 terrestrial fanual species and 219 aquatic faunal species have been recorded. Prominent and important mammal species includes the Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted Deer, Macaque, Wild Boar, Jackal and Indian Fishing Cats. The Reserve Forests and Sanctuaries have a rich bird population of 315 species of which 84 are migratory.

Different Places to visit Sundarban:

1.Karamjal: It is the major entry point to visit Sundarban. This place is located in the Mongla Port, about 5 km distance from the port. Here visitor centre is the good place for a half-day visit to get an overall idea and feel about Sundarban. THe main arttraction of this place is mangrove arboretum, Deer and Crocodile rearing centre, obervation tower and also viewing the dolphin jumping in the Passur River on the way to Karamjal.

2.Katka: This is one of the most breath taking spots in the region. it is also the best spot to see the Spotted Deer that graze around in herds or even the Royal Bengal Tiger stalking down the shores of the beaches, crossing one of the canals, or simply snoozing, Katka is 150 km from Khulna city and 100 km from Mongla. One can travel to Katka from Mongla or Khulna Forest Ghat via various hired water vessels like speedboats, cabin cruisers, sea truck or launch. The main attraction of this place are spotted deer’s, jamtola watchtower to view wildlife, Tiger spotting etc.

1.  Kachikhali: This is one of the suitable places, where one can visit Kachikhali. It is 14 km east of Katka. There is an isolated sea deep beach inside the forest. The Sundarban Esat Wildlife Sancturay manages this site. The main attraction of this place is Virgin beach, night canoeing etc.

2.  Nilkomol: This is known as “Hiron Point” located in the southern part of the Sundarbans. It is 80 km away from Mongla port and 130 km from Khulna. Only water way is available to reach that palce. The main attractions of this place are king Cobra, Otter, Spooted Deer, Tiger spotting.

3.  Mandarbaria: Mandarbaria is an isolated island tucked away in the south-west corner of the Sundarban and though a bit hard to access due to deep estuaries can be reached by launch or speedboat from Dublar Char or Nilkomol.

4.  Dublar Char: This is 25 km southwest of Katka and 35 km away from Nilkomol and can be accessed by launch, speedboat and Jali boat. For fishing Fisherman’s access this place and it is called the fisher’s island. The main attractions of this place are various species of fish and crabs, Rassh Mela on November, Local fish processing procedures.

Type of Forests in Bnagladesh

Types of Forest: There are four types of forests, which have been managed, are as follows: -

1.Mangrove Forests
2.Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests
3.Tropical moist deciduous Forests
4.Village Forests

1. Mangrove Forests:

Natural Mangrove Forests

The largest single tract of natural mangrove forest is the Sundarban. It consists of a total of 6,01,700 hectare which is 4.07% of total landmass of the country and 40% of total forestland.

Sundarban harbours 334 species of trees, shrubs and epyphites and 269 species of wild animals. World-renowned Royal Bengal Tiger is the magnificent animal of the Sundarban. 1,39,700 hectare forest land of Sundarban is declared as World Heritage Site where three wildlife sanctuaries viz.Sundarban East, Sundarban West and Sundarban South wildlife sanctuaries are located. The forest inventory of 1998 exhibits that there are 12.26 million cubic meter timber is available from the species of Sundri (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Baen (Avecennia officinalis), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum), Passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) etc with 15cm and above diameter.

Sundri is the most important tree species in the Sundarban which is distributed over 73% of the reserve. Extent of Sundri is followed by Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Baen (Avecinnia offcecinalis), Passur (Xylocarpur mekongensis), Keora (Sonneratia apetala) etc. There are some other non-wood forest products like Golpata (Nypa fruticans), honey, wax, fish, crab etc which are also of high value. Sundarban is a unique habitat for a number of wildlife. Among them some mammals are Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Monkey (Macaca mulatta), Indian Fishing cat (Felis viverrina), Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata), Spotted Deer (Axis axis) etc. Reptiles like Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator), Rock Python (Python molurus) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) etc. are found in the Sundarban.

ii. Mangrove Plantation

Mangrove afforestation along the entire southern coastal frontier is an innovation of foresters. During 1960-61, Government undertook afforestation programme along the shore land of coastal districts. This initiative got mementum from 1980-81 with the aid of development partners and afforestation programs are extended over foreshore islands, embankments and along the open coasts.

Since 1960-61 upto 1999-2000, 142,835 hectare of mangrove plantations have been raised under a number of coastal afforestation projects. The present net area of mangrove plantation is 132,000 hectare after losing some area due to natural calamities.

2.Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests

Tropical evergreen and semi evergreen forests are extended over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet totaling an area of 6,70,000 hectare which is 4.54% of total landmass of the country and 44% of national forest land. Depending on topography, soil and climate these area are categorized as i) Tropical wet evergreen forests and ii) Tropical semi-evergreen forests.

The hill forests are abundant with numerous plant as well as animal species. Some important flora are Garjan (Dipterocarpus spp.), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Telsur (Hopea odorata), Tali (Palaquium polyanthrum), Kamdeb (Callophyllum polyanthum), Uriam (Mangifera sylvatica), Jarul (Legarstromia speciosa), Civit (Swintonia floribunda), Toon (Cedrela toona), Bandorhola (Duabanga grandiflora) etc. Moreover there are bamboo, cane, climbers and fern etc. in these forests.

These forests are brought under plantation programme since 1871. At present, plantation activities are being conducted under development projects. Some valuable plantation species are Teak (Tectona grandis), Gamar (Gmelina arborea), Mehogani (Swietenia spp), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Jarul (Legarstromia speciosa), Koroi (Albizzia spp), Chikrassi (Chikrassia tabularis), Pynkado (Xylia dolabriformis), Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba), Telsur (Hopea odorata) etc.

The latest forest inventory shows that a total of 23,93 million cubic meter forest produces are available there. Among the mammals Elephant (Elephas maximus), monkey (Macaca mulatta), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Barking Deer ( Muntiacus muntjak), Samvar (Cervus unicolor), and Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus). Among the reptiles King cobra (Ophiophagus hanna) Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator) and Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) are remarkable.

3.Tropical moist deciduous Forests:

The Central and northern districts covering an area of 1,20,000 ha about 0.81% of total land mass of the country and 7.8% of the country’s forest land are bestowed with Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests. This forest is intermingled with the neighbouring settlements and fragmented into smaller patches. Sal (Shorea robusta) is the main species there with other associates like Koroi (Albizzia procera), Azuli (Dillenia pentagyna), Sonalu (Cassia fistula), Bohera (Terminalia belerica), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Kanchan (Bauhinia acuminata), Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa), Jam (Syzygium spp) etc.

A recent forest inventory encountered that 3.75 million cubic meter wood available in the sal forests.

Presently participatory forestry programme are being implemented here under the social forestry initiatives. Among the mammals, Jackel (Canis aureus), Monkey (Macaca mulatta), Wild cat (Felis chaus) etc. are found there and among the reptiles Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) and common cobra are remark.

4.Village Forests:

Tree coverage in the village forests are 2,70,000 hectare which acts as the source of a remarkable portion of national demand of forest produces. The latest inventory exhibits that a total of 54.7 million cubic meter forest produces are available in this village forests.

Background of forest in Bnagladesh: In South Asia, Bangladesh is located in the northeastern part. It is situated between 20° 34' and 26° 38' north latitude and between 88° 01' and 92° 41' east longitude. It lays on active delta of three major rivers viz Padma, Meghna and Jamuna and their numerous tributaries. The country covers an area of 1,47,570 sq.km and bounded by India from the west, north and most of east. Myanmar lies on the southeastern edge and Bay of Bengal on the south.

A small tracts of higher land occur in Sylhet, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) regions. The southwestern region consists of a large number of dead and Cut-off Rivers. The coastal part of Bangladesh includes the famous Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. A number of depressed basins are found in the district of greater Mymensingh and Sylhet, which are inundated by fresh water during the monsoon that gradually dry out during the dry winter season. These depressed basins are known as ‘Haor’.

Climate of Bangladesh is sub-tropical and monsoon rainfall varies from 1200-3500mm. Rice is the major cereal crop while jute, sugarcane, and tea are the main cash crops. Other important crops are wheat, tobacco, pulses, vegetable and tree fruits. Garments, raw and manufactured jute goods, tea, fish, and, hides and skins are the chief exports.

Bangladesh is noted for its estuarine environment, yet less than 10% of its total water flow originates from its own catchments and rest comes from India, Nepal and Bhutan. Normally, 20% of the country gets flooded during the monsoon period.

Land & Forest Areas: Of the total area of Bangladesh, agricultural land makes up 65% of its geographic surface, forest lands account for almost 17%, while urban areas are 8% of the area. Water and other land use account for the remaining 10%. The total forestland includes classified and unclassified state lands and homestead forests and tea/rubber gardens. In case of private forests, the data represent the tree-covered areas.

Of the 2.52 million hectare Forest Land, Forest Department manages 1.52 million hectare which includes Reserved, Protected and Acquired forest and Mangrove forest on the newly accreted land in estuaries of major rivers. The remaining 0.73 million hectare of land designated as Unclassed State Forest (USF) are under the control of Ministry of Land. Village forests (homestead land) form the most productive tree resource base in the country and accounts for 0.27 million hectare.

Present Practicies in forest Management

Present activities in forest Management Practices: The present activities in forest management are agroforestry, homestead plantation, strip plantation, participatory forestry on encroached forest, Social forestry activities, mangrove afforestation on newly accreted land in the coastal area, conservation area management to preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity, development of resources information management system (RIMS) etc. These activities are stated below in detail:

Resource Information Management System: Bangladesh Forest Department initiated the Resource Information Management System (RIMS) during 1984-85 under the auspices of IDA funded Second Forestry Project. The main objective of the RIMS was to produce reports and maps relevant to all aspects of the management plan, silvicultural prescriptions and to provide information on present and predicted yields from relevant operations. This was designed as an aid to intensive forest resource management of all Forest Divisions through management plans and also in perspective planning in forestry. Thus the RIMS is a two way information system. The raw data are supplied to the computer from the field divisions. The processed information are sent back to the field Divisions from the RIMS Unit. After performing operations, the data on new situation are fed to the computer for updating the database.

Along with the technological development RIMS Unit adopted Geographical Information System (GIS), a computer based data management, mapping and analyzing system of spatial information. Forest Department integrated GIS with the existing RIMS under the World Bank financed Forest Resources Management Project (FRMP) in mid 90’s. RIMS/GIS unit now is bestowed with modern GIS setup with state of the art and technology, software, computers, plotters, digitizers and experienced personnel as well.

Social Forestry

Social Forestry programs have been initiated with a view to meet the forest product requirements of local population and to reverse the process of ecological and climatic degradation through proper soil and water conservation and to improve the socio economic condition of the rural people.

Social Forestry programs have following objectives:

1.To meet the needs for fuelwood, small timber, bamboo, fodder and other minor forest produces on sustained basis.

2. To provide employment opportunities to the rural population.
3.To develop cottage industries in rural areas.
4.To utilize the available land to the best advantage according to its production capacity.
5.To provide efficient soil and water conservation.
6. To improve aesthetic value of the area and to meet the recreational needs of the population.

Social Forestry Achievements
From 1981 to 2003 under Social Forestry Programs are summarized which are as follows:

During last 22 years Woodlot / Block plantation work is done in 32,640 ha of land. Agroforestry plantation work is done in 8,778 ha of lands. Strip plantation works is done in 86,338 km (including WFP assisted part) roads, Rehabilitation of Jhumias are approximately 6,321 families, Village afforestation was done among 7,282 villages of the country. 168 million nos. of Institutional planting & Seedling distribution / sale is done. Establishment of SFNTC (Social Forestry Nursery and Trainig Center) is 98 Nos. Establishment of SFPC (Social Forestry Plantation Center) is 345 Nos. 1,77,261 persons got Training on Social Forestry works. Addition to that in every upazila, there is a Forest Department’s Nursery center. Moreover 12,000 private nurseries have been established throughout the country.

The benefit-sharing ratio for Social forestry plantations

1. For Agroforestry and Woodlot Plantations: The benefit-sharing ratio is Forest Dept.-45%, Participants-45% and Tree Farming Fund-10% of the total benefits.

2. For Linear Strip Plantations: The benefit-sharing ratio is Forest Dept.-10%, Participants-55%, Tree Farming Fund-10%, Land owning agency-20% and Local Union Parishad 5% of the total benefits.

3. For Sal coppices: The benefit-sharing ratio is Forest Dept.-65%, Participants-25% and Tree Farming Fund-10% of the total benefits.

Past Major Social Forestry Activities under development projects:

1. Sundarban Biodiversity Conservation Project (Currently suspended Loan No. 1643-BAN[SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1999-2006).

2. Forestry Sector Project (ADB Loan No. 1468-BAN[SF]; Duration: 1998-2004, EA: FD).

3. Forest Resources Management Project: Forest Directorate Component (IDA Grant and WFP Assistance Duration: 1992-2001 EA: FD)

4. Coastal Green Belt Project: (ADB Loan No.1353-BAN[SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1995-2002)

5. Upazila Afforestation and Nursery Development Project (ADB Loan No.0956-BAN [SF]; EA: FD; Duration 1989-1996)

6. Community Forestry Project (ADB Loan No. 555-BAN; EA:FD; Duration 1981-1988).

Agro Forestry

As a concept, Agroforestry is not new in forestry practice. Forest Department has been practicing this in the name of Taungya in the hill forest for last 100 years. But as a science for natural resource management, it is new. Agroforestry as the name implies is the practice of growing agriculture and forestry on the same land at same time to optimize the land utilization. In the plain land forest i.e. in Sal Forest, Forest Department is practicing this system for decades together on a participatory approach to replant the barren forestland and after harvest; a share will go to the participating members. This is a multipurpose approach to replant barren land with the help of participants and protect it by them to build up forest resources. At the end of the rotation, the shares of the harvested forest produces are distributed to the participants in accordance to an agreement with the participants.

This concept is doing well in the ‘Sal Forest’ of Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensing, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dinajpur. New programs of agroforestry have been incorporated in the ADB aided Forestry Sector Project launched by the Forest Department. In this project 6450 hectare of new plantations will be raised on the degraded Sal Forest and another 5400 hectare will be raised on the harvested land of old Agroforestry plantations.

The Betagi-Pomora Agroforestry Experience: When one talks about agroforestry advances in Bangladesh, the experiences gained in the two hilly villages of Rangunia Thana, Chittagong district are invariably mentioned. The Betagi-Pomora project aimed at achieving three goals:

1) To regenerate denuded hills by planting trees
2) To rehabilitate the landless farmers and
3) To protect the forest from the illegal felling with the help of the settlers.

The project began functioning at Betagi with 82 landless families in 1979; later in 1980 with another 144 families, settled at Pomora. The Betagi-Pomora project has been widely acclaimed in a number of studies as a success story of social forestry. The criteria for selection of landless farmers were as follows:

1.Having no land at all,
2.possessing a homestead only, or
3.possessing a homestead, pond, and other land that together do not exceed 40 decimals

Initially a 4-acre plot was given lease to all settlers of the two villages on a temporary lease basis with some conditions.

The economic conditions of the settlers have significantly improved since the inception of the project. Their income has actually increased three times which is very encouraging. More than half of the income comes from agroforestry products.

Another rehabilitition project for the tribal families in Bandarban, sharon para launched in 1981. Only landless farmers of the Hill Tract were selected. Each selected farmer family was allocated 2 ha. of land, 1.8 ha for farm land and 0.2ha for homestead. Each of these families was allowed to raise agricultural crops in between the rows of forest trees over an area of 5 ha. The land use permit was awarded to the farmers permanently which helped to win their confidence in the program. The farmers ha enjoy all outputs from the allocated 5. In addition they are given 25% of the revenue from the thinning as well as 10% of the final harvest from the 5 ha of plantation in which they are employed as labors at rate of Tk. 30 a day. This rehabilitation program is reported to be a successful one in parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts particularly in Sharon Para.

Participatory Forestry:From last two decades there has been a gradual shift in the forest management approach adopted by Forest Department i.e from its traditional custodian role to a more participatory approach. Accordingly the provision of people’s participation in protecting the natural forest and afforesting the degraded and encroached forestland with benefit sharing mechanism has been developed and people’s participation has been ensured.

The ADB funded Community Forestry Project implemented in the seven northern districts from 1981 to 1987 paved the foundation of Participatory forestry in Bangladesh. Following this other ADB funded project named ‘Thana afforestation and nursery development project’, ‘Green Belt project’ were implemented and now ‘Forestry sector project’ is being implemented throughout the country. Major components of this project are: Woodlot, Agro forestry and Strip plantations etc.

NWFP (Non Wood Forest Products): Some of the important non-wood forest products are listed below: -

1.Bamboo (Melocanna baccifera, Bambusa tulda etc.)Plays a very crucial role in our rural economy and is a singular essential material for construction of temporary house / shelter for the rural people, especially for the hilly tribal people.

2.Sungrass (Imperata spp.)The most common roofing / thatching material for temporary low -cost housing in the villages and forest terrain's of Bangladesh.

3.Cane (Calamus viminalis,Calamus guruba)Used for domestic purposes by the rural people, but more so, for sophisticated furniture making & luxury souvenir articles.

4.Pati Pata / Murta (Clinogynae dichotoma)This is an excellent material for floor-mats (Pati), which is extensively used by the poor villagers and also as a luxury item for the rich people. This is also exported by the cottage industries as a finished product.

5.Gol-Pata (Nypa fruticans) This is a very popular and essential thatching / roofing material for poor people, around Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts and fetches handsome revenue for the Forest Department.

6.Leaves, Bark & Fruits"Kurus pata'' Holarrhena antidysenterica is very popular for medicinal use. Horitaki (Terminalia chebula), Amlaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Bohera (Terminalia belerica) popularly called "Trifala" (Myrabolum) are used as medicine in the country.

7.HoneyUsed as food, drink, beverage and also as a medicine in the country.

8. Shells, Conch-Shells, oysters etc Considerable quantity of shells, oysters, conchshells are collected by local inhabitants, as a means of livelihood in the coastal forest-belts, like Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Moheshkhali, Barisal, Patuakhali, Sundarbans etc. These are highly priced by tourists as souvenir articles and as such may be exported.

9. Fish Resources In rivers flowing inside forest areas like Sundarbans, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet (as well as in the coastal belts and offshore islands under the jurisdiction of Forest Department) considerable quantity of different types of fish (both sweet-water and saline fish) are harvested by local fishermen, for which the Forest Department earns revenue.

Forest management in Bangladesh

Forest management in Bangladesh

Forest Resources are the important economy of Bangladesh. It is renewable resources which can provides timber, pulp, pole, fuel wood, food, medicine, and habitat for wildlife and primary base for biodiversity. It can also provides oxygen, controls or reduces the intensity of the cyclones and tidal surges in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, influences the rainfall, and sustained water yield in the river systems etc. Moreover these, forest are also used for hunting, and nature based tourism. Now a day, eco-tourism is the more attractive type of tourism, which could be an alternative mechanism for environmentally sustainable development without depleting the forest resources and its habitat and biodiversity. Considering all these, forest and consequently forest management is getting importance in the world with the passage of time. There are two types of Forest Management in Bangladesh.

1.  Past Forest Management

2.  Present Forest Management

Past Forest Management: Scientific forest management in this sub-continent was started during British rule by the appointment of Sir D. Brandis as the Inspector General of Forest in 1865. A separate forest department was created for Bengal in 1876. Chittagong Forest Division was the first division created in Bangladesh by British ruler in 872 and the Sundarban Forest Division was created in 1879. In those days, forests were managed primarily for revenue collection under the control of Revenue Department. Only valuable trees were extracted from the forest to get more revenue, Keeping in mind the importance of forest, a forest management plan or work plan is prepared for each forest division. This management plan guides forest manager to manage forest or to perform day-to-day work in the forest. This plan spells out where to cut trees, how much to cut and what to plant to cover up the cleared up forest etc. on annual basis.

Present Forest Management: There is a fundamental difference between past and present forest management in Bangladesh. It depends on its objectives and philosophy. Present forest management objectives are not only to produce timber only but also to provide clean air, clean water, and healthy habitat for wildlife and to act as a major source of biodiversity and nature-based tourism. The present philosophy of forest management is to involve people in the management and create an environment so that people can feel that they have also some stakes on trees growing on the forestland and to improve living standard of the people residing in the vicinity of the forests.

Present Management objectives: Through the assistances of ADB, UNDP and FAO, Present forest management plan is established under the guidance of Forestry Master Plan (FMP) in 1993. The objectives of present forest management are the following:

1.To enhance environment preservation and conservation.

2.To introduce rational forestland use.

3.To increase public participation and benefit from the forest.

4.To create forests on marginal and private lands.

5.To setup institutional strengthening.

6.To improve management practices.

7.To Improve efficient resource utilization.

Some Other Eco-tourism in forest management

12.Satchari National Park: The word “Satchari” refers to the seven streams that wind through this Protected Area. The natural beauty of this forest and its wildlife is very much enjoyable to the visitors by taking a stroll through any of the three designated hiking trails. This park is located in Chunaru Ghat Upazila under Hobiganj District. It is nearly 130 km northeast of Dhaka and approximately 60 km southwest of Srimongol city on the old Dhaka-Sylhet highway. The total area of this park is 243 hectares of land. This park is located within the larger 6,205 hectares of Raghundan Hills Reserve Forests. This park is established in 2005. It is a recent addition to the protected areas of Bangladesh. THe park is established to protect the patch of natural forest existing within its boundaries. In 2004, the Sanctuary was selected as one of the five pilot sites for co-management under the Forest Departments Nishorgo Program. The nature of this park area is tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests that covered the Sylhet division and ran down to the Chittagong Hill tracts. The identified species includes 24 mammals, 149 birds, 6 amphibians and 18 reptiles. The main attraction of this park is mammals include the Hoolock Gibbon, Capped langur, fishing Cat, Wild Boar and also Barking Deer.

12.