After almost two years of preparation, the Bangladesh Forest Inventory was launched on Saturday, 10 December 2016 on board the M.V. Tangur Haor, at Harbaria Ecotourism Center in the Sundarbans.

 “The Bangladesh Forest Inventory will provide valuable estimates on the state of the nation’s tree and forests. While the data estimate can never be 100% accurate, it will provides us a picture of the status of our tree and forest resources that will strengthen their management” said Mr Anwar Hossain Manju, MP and Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Forests and Chief Guest at the inauguration.

In Bangladesh, Forests and trees are of vital importance. They provide a wide range of economic and social benefits and support livelihood of millions. Value generated from the processing of forest products promote local and international investments and support national economic growth. In determining their extent and quality, information on species diversity, quantity of wood and fuel wood, forest cover and other important information related to the country’s natural resources will be gained, contributing to the national objectives related to climate change, soil stabilization and fertility, catchment management, food security, medicinal plants and energy.

The data from BFI will ultimately guide actions to improve forests on government and private lands, monitor current and proposed tree plantation activities and assist in determining what measures need to be taken to address the impact of climate change. In total, almost 2000 field inventory plots will be measured around the country with the first complete round of data completed by April 2018.

Mr Md. Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Department, Mr Talukder Abdul Khaleque, MP, Mr Md Faruque Hossain, Additional Divisional Commissioner, Mr Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Conservator of Forests, Mr Zaheer Iqbal, Deputy Conservator of Forests, and, Mr Matieu Henry, Chief Technical Advisor, FAO, along with other notable guests were also present at the event.

The BFI is implemented by the Bangladesh Forest Department under Ministry of Environment and Forest, with the technical support of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and SilvaCarbon and financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).