Mymensingh Sal Forest Ecopark Sparks Livelihood Concerns

The natural Sal forest located in Santoshpur, under Phulbaria upazila in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, has historically possessed a vast and sprawling geographical footprint. According to verified records, this vital forest once extended across more than three and a half thousand acres, representing a massive natural ecosystem within the region. Over the course of time, however, the expanse of this once-mighty natural Sal forest has suffered severe depletion, shrinking dramatically until it is currently reduced to a mere fifty acres of surviving woodland.

In a significant administrative development regarding this remaining woodland, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has officially intervened. Acting under the legal framework of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, the ministry has formally declared a specific portion of this forested region as an ecopark. This newly designated ecopark encompasses a total area of five hundred and sixty-five acres, aiming to alter the management, protection, and official status of the land within the Santoshpur forest area.

Despite the official conservation objectives behind establishing the ecopark, the declaration has generated considerable anxiety regarding the local agrarian population. Specifically, the livelihood security of local farmers living and working in the Phulbaria upazila region has emerged as a central issue of concern. These residents and cultivators now face profound uncertainties about how the new ecopark regulations and management boundaries will impact their daily survival, agricultural practices, and traditional connection to the land.

The ecological landscape of Santoshpur is deeply intertwined with local socio-economic structures, particularly through initiatives managed by the Forest Department. Under the established social afforestation and agroforestry programs administered by the Forest Department, approximately one thousand and five hundred families are directly connected to the region. These families rely heavily on the programmatic framework provided by the department for their ongoing subsistence, community stability, and economic engagement with the forested terrain.

Beyond immediate household participation, the broader economic footprint of the Santoshpur forest is substantial and far-reaching for the local community. The region surrounding this vital natural Sal forest sustains a bustling commercial ecosystem, generating approximately three hundred crore Bangladeshi Taka in economic activities annually. This massive financial turnover highlights the critical economic weight that the forest carries, underscoring why any policy shifts, such as the creation of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ecopark, provoke such acute anxiety among the dependent populace.