Afforestation began with settlement of two ethnic communities, Khasia and Tipra on three acres of land in Lawachara in 1925 during the British rule.

As a result of forestation the entire 1,521 hectares area became a huge forest. There are 167 varieties of trees including Segun, Malakan, Lohakath, Raktan and associated species. Bird watchers from all over the country rush here for unique experience.

The forest coverage has decreased by about 15 per cent, forest thickness and abundance of tall trees by about 60 per cent compared to pre-liberation period. Abundance of herbs, shrubs and sungrass has also decreased by about 80 per cent due to clearing and claiming of forest land for plantations. Except for birds, the abundance of major wildlife has also decreased by about 80 per cent, according to a survey conducted by Nishorgo Support Project (NSP) of Forest Department during May-July, 2004.

Many wildlife species have become locally extinct including bear, goyal, titir, Kedu bagh leopard and sambar deer. In addition there are a few locally endangered species such as small deer, Holook Gibbon, Honuman, Dhanesh, parrot, wild fowl, hedge-log, doves, turtle (2 species) and laudoga snake. Plant species of Kumbir pata and Muli bamboo have also become endangered.

Hoolock Gibbons are rare and endangered species. It is only found in four countries in the world. The animals never touch the ground. They live in the higher canopy of forests and survive on leaves and fruits. With increasing tree felling, Hoolock Gibbons and other animals living in upper canopy are finding it difficult to survive at Lawachara as elsewhere. Now there is less than 180 Capped Langurs living in Bangladesh. Without healthy growth of Malakana, Lohakath, Segun, Raktan and associated trees, these animals will not survive for long. Given the rate at which the trees are felled every year and the rate at which the population of Hoolock Gibbon is declining, the shy and harmless animal is likely to disappear from Bangladesh in near future.

The prevailing extreme poverty in the locality, unemployment coupled with weak law enforcement has made poor people become reliant on forest resources for meeting their needs. Scarcity of resources is also an underlying cause for dependence on forest resources.

There are six tea estates around the park, of which four border the park i.e. Fulbari, Khaiachara, Jakchara, Gilachara tea estate, and the other two namely Bharaura tea garden and Noorjahan tea estate are nearby. These tea estates have a substantial number of unemployed inhabitants; some of them enter into the national park and exploit forest resources. Sometimes, the illegal loggers use Bharaura, Jakchara and Gilachara tea estates as routes for transporting illegally felled trees to Srimangal.

The government declared Lawachara National Park as protected area in 1996. Our protected area network is the smallest in the world on a per capita basis. The environmentalists opined that the park should be developed as one of the best spots of tourist attraction in the country through protection of bio-diversity and ecology.

The Nishorgo Programme of the Forest Department funded by USAID is working to develop a process of co-management of protected areas since February 24 last year. Local elite, union parishad (UP) leaders, NGO groups, representatives of 19 stakeholder groups, officials of the Forest Department, Department of Agriculture Extension, Social Welfare Department, Livestock and Fisheries departments and members of law enforcement authorities will be involved in it. The co-management committee will consist of stakeholders and government.

Two ethnic communities, Khasia and Tipra live within and around Lawachara NP. They live in two villages inside the park -- Magurchara and Lawachara punjis. According to a survey of NSP, the main occupation of Khasia community is betel leaf cultivation. During our visit we observed, the vines had been grown on trees which they used as a climbing support. The management practice included pruning of tree branches and weeding areas adjoining each vine. This activity reduced bio-diversity value of the allocated area and contributed to habitat loss. Ethnic forest villagers are also involved in part with extortion of forest resources and responsible for causing harm to the forest. Ninety-seven per cent of households of tribal community are poor or extreme poor.

But hopes are not lost altogether. Efforts are being made to reduce their dependence on forest. Besides, betel leaf cultivation they have no source of substitute income. People are being mobilised and motivated by the NSP to form a Community Development School (CDS) for improvement of their lifestyle. They are being motivated to take up alternative income generating activities such as mushroom cultivation, fisheries and nursery. Women will also be involved in the activities. Initially, four Khasia youths have taken training in fisheries. The CDS will also work in health sector and introduce improved technology in agriculture. The headman of Khasia punji will be involved in the protected area management. Under a pilot co-management effort of NSP, a functional co-management council will be developed through discussion with the people living in and around the forest. The headman of the punji will be a council member. It is now in the final stage. There will be 50 councillors.