Dhaka, Bangladesh – Forests cover 14.1 percent of Bangladesh’s land area and contribute 1.29 percent to the gross national income. These are two of the key findings from the Bangladesh Forest Inventory (BFI), presented today by the Forest Department.

The BFI, developed by the Forest Department with technical expertise from FAO and SilvaCarbon, and with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), details forest resources and the factors that influence changing demands and use. Hundreds of individuals from at least 36 government, academic, private, and non-government organizations contributed to the outcomes.

Key findings from the inventory were provided at a special international webinar, attended by the Honourable Secretary, Mr. Md. Ziaul Hasan, ndc., Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Honourable Additional Secretary, Mr. A. Shamim Al Razi, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Honourable Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Bangladesh Forest Department; and Dr. John Smith-Sreen, Director, Economic Growth Office, USAID Bangladesh. Government officials from a number of regional countries also attended, including Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Forests help to support the livelihoods of the poor, are crucial for environmental well-being, and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Comprehensive forest resource assessment supports effective planning, conservation, and management of this critical resource.

The BFI, which got underway in 2015, aims to be a permanent process of national tree and forest inventory and monitoring. Covering the biophysical and socio-economical aspects of tree and forests in Bangladesh, the BFI contributes to national plans and strategies, including the 7th Five Year Work Plan, as well as country investment plans. The BFI will provide data to support international reporting requirements, as well as six indicators under Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land.

FAO Representative in Bangladesh Robert. D Simpson emphasized the importance of the BFI’s contribution towards increased sustainable tree and forest management. “For the first time, we now have a clear idea of the national status of tree and forest resources, including trees outside forest areas, and their contribution to carbon initiatives,” he said. “The new information that the inventory provides will benefit many sectors – including agriculture, fisheries, and water – having a real impact on people’s livelihoods. It is important to continue to build upon this milestone achievement.”

Examples of some of the main findings:

• The BFI identified 390 tree species in Bangladesh.
• The total national above ground biomass of the country is 387 million tons. Mango (Mangifera indica), Sundri (Heritiera fomes), and Mehagoni (Swietenia mahagoni) are the top three species by biomass.
• The total value of primary tree and forest products was 3.1 percent of the 2017-18 national GDP.
• Trees and forests provide nine percent of the annual income in the Sundarbans and surrounding area. Fishery products (shrimp, fish, crab) contribute more than 50 percent.
• Based on a socioeconomic survey of 6 400 households, 65 percent of women are involved with collecting primary tree and forest products.
• Fifty four percent of people surveyed received medicinal benefits from tree and forests.
• Landslides or erosion affects 16 percent of the forest area, while human-caused encroachment and fire each affect 5 percent of the forest area.
• Carbon stocks are important to the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation. The highest carbon densities are in the Sylhet Division, especially in the soils pool. The largest above-ground carbon stock density is in the Barisal Division.
• Land management has a significant impact on carbon sequestered in soils. For example, forest soils have 38 percent higher carbon compared to other soils.

The complete report, deliverables, and knowledge materials can be found at:  http://bfis.bforest.gov.bd/bfi/#