Empirical Findings on the Forest Law and Policy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Forest and forest resources are one of the important factors for the conservation and development of the envi-ronment and environmental resources in Bangladesh.It is observed that these natural resources of our country are not prop-erly utilized but it is often exploited due to over population, unwise use of natural resources etc. To cope with these prob-lems, some important legal foundations have already been passed for effective role in the development of forest and forest resources of Bangladesh.The study finds that most of the forest laws and policies are originated from the rule of British colonial authorities. In this regard, some significant amendments of the laws are made after the partition of the Indian sub-continent and a few are also amended after the independence of Bangladesh. In 1990s, some important integrated Acts such as the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 and its Rules, 1997 and the Environment Court, 2000 etc., are passed for the development and conservation of the environment of Bangladesh which enormously carried out for the pro-tection of the forest and forest resources in Bangladesh. There are some limitations such as lack of enforcement, non-coordination, corruptions, outdated laws, insufficient penal provisions etc., which makes hindrance to the implementation of the forest laws and policies in Bangladesh. It is suggested that the policy implications framed in this study should strictly be emphasized for the implementation as to bringing about sustainable forest environment and development of Bangladesh.