ABSTRACT
H. Wood argues that any rural development strategy in Bangladesh requires detailed studies on the rural social and political-economic setting; and at present there is “a sheer lack of knowledge” in this respect. The government forests meet only about 15% requirement of timber and fuel wood in the country Forest Resources Management Project. There has been, as the Task Force noted, “an increasing consensus that forestry sector policy was ineffective in maintaining the sector’s contribution to the national economy”. Many analysts argue that there is “very limited scope to increase and develop the forests under traditional forest management” by the government. On the other hand, the village homestead forests have become the main source of wood supply in the country. The Bangladesh government has consistently blamed population increase and local people for the destruction of forests. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
