New Publication: Advisory Service for Sustainable Forest Resource Management

Posted on Monday, March 16th, 2020

Written by Ataharul Chowdhury

Although advisory services are considered as an essential component for supporting the livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in low-income regions, there are few studies related to advisory services for forest resource management, especially in Bangladesh. Ataharul Chowdhury has been collaborating on a doctoral study that was completed recently at the University of Hohenheim. Two of the outputs were published in two important peer-reviewed journals. In one paper, the authors examined a participatory forest management program in Madhupur Sal forest, Bangladesh, for its impact on capacity development of forest dwellers for managing forest resources sustainably. Extension services have been identified as one of the important factors to influence the level of capacities of the forest dwellers. The paper can be found online in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry Volume, 2019 15(1) called Developing capacity of forest users through participatory forest management: Evidence from Madhupur Sal forest in Bangladesh

In a pluralistic advisory system, many advisory organizations are working for sustainable development with their self-organized capacity and voluntary cooperation. The Participatory Forest Management (PFM) uses principles and strategy of a pluralistic advisory system in managing forest resources in Bangladesh. In another paper, the authors examine the management outcome of the organizational pluralism in a forest management context. It is expected that organizational pluralism will offer better services according to the needs of different clients. However, the findings of the paper reveal that only some Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and social organizations play active roles in meeting various demands of the resource-dependent forest dwellers. The study urges that public sector organizations take more proactive roles in integrating the important services and relational elements of NGOs and other social organizations with forest dwellers within the pluralistic system. A coordinated service would increase the availability of needs-based information and technologies for the forest dwellers. The paper can be found online in the Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension entitled, Assessment of a pluralistic advisory system: the case of Madhupur Sal Forest in Bangladesh.

 

News Archive