Impact of Co-management on Rural Development: Evidence from Community Survey in and Around Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

Community involvement in protected area management is a recent initiative in Bangladesh. It was started with two major goals of checking forest degradation and enhancing the community development. In this section, we focused on the latter by conducting an exploratory community survey in and around Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 302 randomly selected members of the Forest User Groups (FUGs) were interviewed, 23 % being the female. A satisfactory level of development has been observed in the socio-economic conditions of the community as the impact of the new management strategy. The provision of incentives in terms of training for Alternative Income Generating (AIG) activities and allotment of available vacant lands for agriculture had significant contribution to the increase in the community's annual income. Empowerment and improved social dignity of women participants signifies the introduction of the co-management approach there. Lack of accurately need-based AIG options, inequality and inequity in the distribution of trainings among the FUG members and absence of pro-people manners of the local Co-management Committee were identified as the key incongruities, which need to be addressed properly for achieving the absolute success of the participatory programs of protected area management in Bangladesh.