Source : New Nation, Bangladesh, 05 Oct'06
By : Sheikh Arif Bulbon
  

Most people, who are out to fresh up their minds by the beauty of nature's bounty, visit Cox's Bazar, St Martin, Kuakata, Rangamati, hilly areas and other places of tourists' interests.

But exploring forest areas of the country are something different as spectacular plants and wildlife make a feast for all eyes. Nishorgo Programme financed by the USAID has created this opportunity by establishing the selected forest areas of the country as 'Protected Areas' and providing tour guides for the visitors.

Mehrin A Mahbub, Communication Officer of Nishorgo Support Project, said, "Lawachara National Park managed by the local stakeholders is such a 'Protected Area' under the Nishorgo Support Project. They were either dependent on forest resources or used to steal wood and other resources, are now taking full care of this protected area."

Lawachara National Park, located 8 kilometres east of Srimongal town under Kamalganj upazila in Maulavibazar, is a beautiful forest near Srimongal marked by diverse birds and the presence of the largest population of the critically endangered Hoolock Gibbon (Ulluk) in Bangladesh, she added.

Total area of the park is 1,250 hectres, which is located within the larger 2,740 hectres West Bhanugach Reserve Forest. Outstanding features of the park are- largest group of Hoolock Gibbon in the country, 155 species of birds identified, more than 20 species of wild orchids, easy access by road, presence of two ethnic minority communities and marked hiking trails of 1/2 hour, 1hour and 3 hours, she also said.

Lawachara National Park, country's most beautiful forest with 160 plants, 246 bird and 30 animal species, is part of the West Bhanugach Reserve Forest. The park was notified in 1996 under the Wildlife Act of 1974. From the turn of the century through the 1950s, the park's nature forest was gradually felled for plantations. The core area is an excellent compact forest of plantations dating from the 1920s, now evolving towards natural forest.

Mehrin further said that the park is now one of the 5 pilot sites of the Nishorgo Support Project. Local people have formed a government-recognised council to oversee the management of the park and the surrounding landscape.

The Lawachara forest is semi-green. The 20 mammal species include 6 primates, 246 birds, 4 amphibians and 6 reptiles. Notable species include the Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Slow Lorins, Pig-tailed Macaque, Orange-bellied Himalayan squirrel, Barking Deer and Masked Civet. Most notable plants include a variety of spectacular orchids, which bloom in abundance during the rainy season.

Raquibul Amin, Programme Officer of IUCN, said, "The specialty of this park is that it is the sanctuary of the critically endangered Hoolock Gibbon (Ulluk), seen in greater number in this safe area. Bangladesh is one of the only four countries including Myanmar, India and China, where this rare animal specie is still being natured."

Capped Langurs, Slow Lorins, Pig Tailed Macaques, Orange Bellied Himalayan Squirrels, Barking Deer and Masked Civets are also available in this park, although these species were largely seen throughout the country decades ago.

The most important plants in Lawachara National Park include a variety of eye-catching orchids, which bloom in abundance during the rainy season. The hardwoods growing in this forest are Garjan, Chanpaliosh, Jarul and Teak.

Mahbub Morshed, Sub-divisional Forest Officer, said, "Such parks and forests are facing risks from rising population as well as brick fields, which are swallowing fire-woods from them."

As the prices of land are raising in horse speed day by day, remote forests and protected areas are not even safe from the lustrous greed of the encroachers, he added.

After 1947, the then government brought private forests under state ownership. Natural forests of low commercial value were cleared for rising plantations of valuable species.

In course of time, encroachment of forestlands for habitation and cultivation led to shrinkage and degradation of natural forests. Communities dependent on forest resources were adversely affected with the continuation of this process.

In this context, the Forest Department developed a new vision for management of the protected areas in 2003 and launched the Nishorgo Programme to develop a model with the collaboration of local stakeholders in these areas.

The ECNEC approved a pilot co-management system in the protected areas in 2004 and the government started recopgnising it in the designated areas.

To protect the forest, under the co-management project a petrol team was formed where members are those who were involved in wood stealing in past life.

Md Tariqul Islam, Field Coordinator, said, "There are 20 members in each petrol team. The team was formed 1.5 years ago. They were conducted with illicit activities. They are living in two 'para's (neighbourhood places)- Muslim para and Tipra para under Dholubari area. They get Tk 75 per day. They are involved for the security of the forest."

Ahad, team leader of the team, said that within last 13 months, they caught 120 thieves and poachers. Five cows were given to the members of the team by the Nishorgo Project."

Tariqul Islam said, "A co-management council was formed. Present members of the council are 55. There are 8 committees under the co-management council. The Nishorgo Support Project would be closed in 2008. During this time period, members of the petrol team would be habitiated to save the resources of the forest."

Getting Lawachara National Park from Dhaka, daily bus services (AC- Tk 250, non-AC- TK 200) are available from Dhaka to Srimongal every hour from Sayedabad Bus Terminal and take about 3.5 hours. Train services (Tk 200, 4.5 hours) are also available twice daily. Car drive takes 3.5 hours from Dhaka on highway N2, turn right at Mirpur junction towards Srimongal. From Srimongal anybody can hire any transport to go to the park, which is only 8 kilometres from the city centre.

Accommodation facilities are abundant in Srimongal. Facilities include entry-level Tea Town Guest House (phone: 08626-370, Tk 250 to Tk 500), mid level Sandya Hotel (phone: 08626-243, Tk 400 to Tk 750) and high-end Tea Resort (phone: 08626-207, Tk 1500 to Tk 3,000). Lodging is also available at BTRI Rest House (phone: 08262-225, Tk 300 to Tk 400). A good number of restaurants in the city offer different choices of meals.