Livelihood Development of Forest-dependent Communities in and around Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (LDFC-CWS)

Background and Rationale

The Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is a 7764 ha Protected Area (PA), covering Chunati and Jaldi Ranges of Chittagong South Forest Division. Till recent past, the problem of forest degradation and deforestation was particularly high in the area. According to Forest Department (FD) estimates, approximately 50,000 people live in and around the wildlife sanctuary. Large tracts of forest land have been denuded and numerous species of flora and fauna are lost over the last few decades. The sanctuary is threatened by the destruction of its natural resources and by conversion into other forms of land use. The local people cultivate different agricultural crops in this area and use forest products such as wood as fuel or sell it to earn an income. On the other hand, CWS is a part of natural habitat of the globally threatened Asian Elephant. Therefore, restoration and conservation of the CWS is of particular importance for the conservation of Asian Elephant and also for other fauna and flora of the sanctuary. Moreover, CWS has considerable potential for carbon sequestration and trading.

Forest Department (FD) in collaboration with GIZ is implementing a project entitled ‘Management of Natural Resources and Community Forestry, Chunati’ (hereinafter the ‘Chunati Project’), which aims at strengthening protection and enrichment of forest plantations and developing a model for carbon trading through carbon sequestration at the CWSThe project has four components: (a) Income generating measures (i.e., livelihood development), (b) Forest management, (c) Environmental education and awareness building, (d) Sustainable forest management (aiming at carbon trading).

Arannayk Foundation is mandated to managing the livelihood development component (sub-project) of the project, which aims to contribute towards livelihood improvement of the forest dependent people living in and around the CWS so that their dependence on forest resources are reduced and they become involved in forest conservation.

Objectives

The project (sub-project) aims to improve the livelihood of about 1,500 forest dependant families located in and around the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar districts so that the local people are less dependent on the non-sustainable use of forest resources.

The specific objectives of this sub-project are the following:

1. Promotion of alternative livelihood of the forest dependent poor people of the project area through development of their skills, institutions and access to capital and market.

2. Establishment of a Google earth/Remote Sensing data based monitoring system to track forest cover change over time for the CWS to help assess the impact of the livelihood development program.

3. A monitoring system for the biodiversity of wild fauna of the CWS is established and the outputs (biodiversity related information and photographs) are published in the “Bio-Track” database to help assess the impact of the forest management and livelihood development interventions of the project.

Outputs

It is expected to work directly with 1500 households anticipating that the following results will be achieved within the period of 34 months:

I. 60 Community based organizations (CBO) of the forest dependant poor and ultra-poor households are formed in 60 villages in and around the CWS

II. 1500 beneficiaries (at least 50% female) acquired technical skill for alternative income generating activities (for at least one AIGA per beneficiary).

III. 1500 benhouseholds received critical input support (e.g. seed/seedling/sapling) to practice vegetable cultivation and tree planting in their homestead and for installation of improved cook stove for their daily cooking

IV. A revolving fund is established in 60 CBOs, along with operational guidelines for the revolving fund

V. 5 cooperatives are established, functionalized and institutionalized

VI. Sustainable livelihood of 1,000 households are ensured through income generating activities with microfinance support from the revolving fund

VII. Community people have increased awareness on the protection of forest and wildlife in CWS.

VIII. A Google Earth/Remote Sensing data based monitoring system to track forest cover change in CWS is in place.

IX. A monitoring system for biodiversity of wild fauna is established for the CWS and the outputs (information, photographs) of the monitoring are published in ‘Bio-Track (national database on biodiversity of protected areas of Bangladesh).

Activities

A. Livelihood development and capacity building of forest dependent communities

1. Identification of poor and ultra poor forest dependent households and organizing them as community based organizations (CBO).

2. Awareness and capacity building of the beneficiaries and institutional development of the CBOs and other co-management organizations (CMC, People Forum, etc.).

3. Identification of promising alternative income generating activities for the beneficiaries.

4. Skill development training of beneficiaries on different income generating activities.

5. Identification of existing market link for local products.

6. Setting up of producer’s cooperative and marketing channel.

7. Setting up of revolving fund at the co-management organization level.

8. Development of operational guideline for revolving fund management system adapted to needs and capacities of forest dependent beneficiaries willing to engage in alternative income generating activities.

9. Installation of improved cook stove at the beneficiary household level.

10. Vegetable gardening and tree planting at the home stead of the beneficiaries.

11. National and international day observation and awareness raising activities on forest, biodiversity and climate change related issues.

B. Biodiversity monitoring in Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Sampling framework/trails establishment based on Google earth map of the site and field visit

2. Baseline survey: data collection (photograph, video) through trail visit and camera trapping (for nocturnal animals) at monthly intervals throughout Year-1

3. Repeat survey in Year-3.

4. Publication of a booklet on the biodiversity of the CWS incorporating existing floral information generated by the FD-GIZ project

5. Posting of the biodiversity data and photographs of the CWS in the web-based national biodiversity database, Bio-Track.

6. Awareness raising/educational material development for general public and school children of the project area based on the information and photographs generated through the wildlife survey at CWS.

C. Establishment of a Google Earth/Remote Sensing data based monitoring system to track forest cover change over time

1. Demarcation of project area and sub-areas (based on forest condition and land-use) in the GIS map through field survey

2. Capturing historical images, and collection of relevant RS data of the project area for different dates (eg. 1989/90, 2000, 2011)

3. Image analysis for baseline scenario (vegetation cover) using appropriate software

4. Repeat survey (image acquisition and analysis) at the end of the project period

Institutional Arrangements

A competent NGO dealing with livelihood improvement of the communities preferably from the project area (Chunati, Lohagara, Chakaria, Banskhali) having experience of forests and biodiversity conservation will be engaged for the implementation of the project. The NGO may form a consortium with other qualified organization but the role of each partner in the consortium must be mentioned. The implementing entity will submit quarterly and annual progress reports (both technical and financial) and work plans to the Arannayk Foundation. Arannayk Foundation will provide technical backstopping and monitoring support to the implementing entity and will liaise with, and report to, the GIZ.

Project duration: The duration of the project shall be 34 months effective from the date of project implementation.

Budget: The tentative budget of the proposed project is BDT 49.00 million which includes establishment of a revolving fund worth BDT 7.50 million.