The World Bank/WBI’s CBNRM Initiative

Case Received: February 4, 1998

Author: Subash Dasgupta and Farid Uddin Ahmed

Tribal areas are located in mainly three hill districts namely Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban situated in south-eastern part of Bangladesh boardering with India and Myanmar. Lying between Latitudes 210 11' - 230 45'N and longitudes 910 42' - 920 42'' E, the region occupies an area of the about 1.8 mha that constitutes 12% of the total land area of the country. The total population of Hill Tract region was 1,05,500 which is 0.7% of the country’s population. About 53% of the population are tribal belonging to 13 ethnically heterogeneous groups. More than 90% of the area is covered by hills and hillocks with only 1 lakh 29 thousand ha of cultivable land. The average population density is 82 person/km2 as against the national average of 800 person/km2. Once the area was rich with natural resources particularly different types of forest resources and these resources are key to survival of the tribal society. It is estimated that at the beginning of the century the tribal people dwelling in forest areas obtained about 80 to 90% of their income from minor forest produce which currently came down to 10 to 15% as they gradually became denunded due to uncontrolled felling and increasing human pressure. Since the1950s, the settlement of the non-tribal people was started in the hilly region which was unacceptable to the tribal people. Besides, in 1960, the largest artificial lake of the country was constructed in the hilly region covering 337 sq.km. by constructing dam in the river Karnafully. As a result, 50 thousand ha of plain land went under water making large number of tribal families rootless. The affected tribal people were forced to migrate in other areas of the hill region. Increasing population pressure due to settlement of non-tribals, indiscriminate deforestation depriving the tribal people of their source of income., pressure on natural resources and hence increasing dependence on shifting cultivation to meet their requirement, detachment of tribals from the country’s mainstream development activities created an atmosphere of political insurgency since 1974 and a sizeable portion of population took shelter in India giving political shape to the crisis.

The tribal economy is basically subsistence in nature primarily based on agriculture which is most underdeveloped and backward. Consequently, the productivity is low. They cultivate their land under input starved conditions, as they are poor and have little means available for production. Poverty limits not only their availability to make investment but also make them shy to approach financial institutions for credit.

The tribals attach great importance to their traditional values, morals and institutions. Most of them have an egalitarian ethos with a great concern to their community. In tribal areas, resources are mostly owned by the community as a whole. Hence, the decision on the use of available local resources is made by the community and not by the individual. The skills developed over centuries by tribals are suited to the particular environment in which they live. Given to the traditional skill endowments, the tribals are slow to accept new skills. Initiating massive development programs considering their traditions, ethics, community interests, attitudes behaviors and values was the prime concern of all successive governments in Bangladesh since political insurgency developed in 1974. The programme was undertaken in the deforested lands and land used under Slash-and-buru (Jhum) cultivation. The authors are directly involved with the programs to look after the technology transfer status and monitoring and evaluation of the whole programs.

Jhum cultivation (Slash-and-burn cultivation) is the most prevalent form of cultivation in the entire hill area of Bangladesh. The practice of shifting cultivation was found to be ecologically stable and sustainable when the fallow period was about 10-15 years. Recently, the erosion and soil fertility problems have become severe as the fallow period decreased, which is not enough for replacement of soil fertility through natural process. Shifting cultivation is largely responsible for siltation in the lakes of adjoining areas and continuous regression of valuable forest species. Besides, the forest area has reduced to 828745 ha in 1990 from 1215636 ha in 1980. Migration of tribals to other countries and from one region to another region within the hill areas; shifting cultivation; unsustainable, unproductive and wasteful use of land demanded introduction of a workable alternative community based-oriented farming system and a resettlement programs for rootless tribals.

Recognizing the importance of the situation, the government of Bangladesh established Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) in 1976 with a view to initiating multisectoral development projects for socio-economic upliftment through community empowerment and capacity building of tribal people, particularly rootless, by strenthening existing local institutionsand creating new infrastructural facilities. Among different project components upland settlement project ranked top in importance. A total of 2000 rootless Jhumia families-nomadic in nature are being rehabilitated under this project following of the community development approach. The project started in 1980 and each rehabilitated family was allotted 1.60 ha of land for rubber plantation, 0.80 ha. for horticulture and 25 decimal for homestead construction. Community village was established by grouping 50 families. A management committee comprising men, women and youth in each community village was constituted following election procedure. A person from each community village was selected to maintain liaison with other villages. The community is empowered by developing capacity building dynamics through involving them directly in participatory natural resource appraisal, need assessment, community envisioning, planning, implementation, review and replanning with the ultimate goal of improving their livelihoods. Community ownership of resources, spectrum of resources and skills, traditional institutions, extensive resources and limited manpower relatively to natural resources were considered as the key elements in developing programs. As a result of successful implementation of the programme, in 1997 they earned 1.16 million US dollars as proceeds from selling of 901.50 metric tons of rubber they produced. A quantity of 370 metric tons of unsold rubber has been brought forward from the last fiscal year to the yield of the current fiscal for disposal. A total of 40% of their earning goes to the upliftment of the socio-cultural conditions of the rehabiliated tribals by constructing schools, prayer house, health centre and slab latrine for every two families to ensure their sanitation. A total of 203 km link road was constructed to connect all the community villages with the main road. The major institutional changes that helped to bring such breakthrough were active participation of tribals in all activities, increased involvement of women in decision making, adequate modern institutional infrastructure facilities and arrangement for step-by-step introduction of modern technologies for improving the production capacity of the community. These changes have been bringing positive impacts in bio-physical, social, economical, political and ecological sustainability reflected in the restoration of soil fertility, arrest of erosion and leaching. As an outcome of the efforts the community is earning in a sustainable way with equity in labor utilization, asset ownership, food security and household consumption are in harmony. In December 1997, the government of Bangladesh signed an accord with tribal people to end the political insurgency of last 23 years. According the accord a three-tier local institutions headed by Regional Council to be formed very soon. The Regional Council headed by a member of tribal group will be responsible for the overall development of the tribal areas through proper utilization of huge natural resources following community approach towards development. A separate Ministry has been created at national level to look after the development activities of the tribal people.

The further institutional changes to be brought about are:

• Involvement of NGOs as development partners, making community more responsible and accountable, minimizing the role of exploitators and intermediaries, strong training programs providing equal training facilities both for men and women and youth and training for young tribal couples, initiating donor funded community empowerment projects formation of cooperative systems, strong marketing facilities, establishing strong linkage within community, etc.

• The task of agricultural development through community-based natural resource management is so complex and formidable that it needs imaginative and concerted effort and well designed thrust. The degree of success in tribal development depends upon the extent to which the tribals are involved in the formulation and the implementation of the programs and if the community could be involved directly in development, it will have the desired impact. Being impressed on success, the CHTDB has already undertaken its second phase involving about 1888 landless Jhumia families with a target of raising rubber plantation on an area of 1.6 thousand mha and horticulture garden in 0.4 thousand ha of deforested land.

• The replication of the case study would depend on the willingness of the government as it involves investment in initial stage and on a dedicated and efficient cadre of government servants. Development of right type of human relationship is the key to the development of the tribals. Mere technological and economical approaches would not be enough. They are necessary but must be supplemented by anthropological and socio-physical approach, Government agencies, voluntary organizations and research institutes should collaborate closely towards this end.