A diagnosis of existing logging bans in Bangladesh

Imposing logging ban has become widespread in the tropics. Bangladesh government enforced logging bans in 1970s and 1980s to halt deforestation. Such bans have been considered as a strategy to protect and conserve forests although success requires rigorous analysis. In this paper, the performances of the existing logging bans in Bangladesh are examined to assess their effectiveness. Responses of forest management systems, policies, production and governance in attaining the objectives of logging bans are thoroughly addressed and investigated. From this study it is evident that unwise implementations of logging bans have failed to secure forest conservation and production related objectives of the government. Based on the findings, five future directives are advised: (I) continuation of bans in critical natural forests, (II) reinitiating of management practices in the plantations, (III) introducing multipurpose forestry in the protected area co-management systems, (IV) adoption of adaptive community based forest management, and (V) ensure good forest governance.