Whose benefit? role of Eco Park as policy Instrument in ensuring sustainable forest management in Bangladesh

This paper brings out the effects of eco park projects on the lives of tribal people and its sustainability with the help of some indicators such as the tribal people's access to their traditional or alternative livelihood; access to participation in decision making process; access to forest lands and resource use; and access to cultural and religious practices. Secondary materials have been used to analyse the available information. Other than this, a brief interview was employed with some related people to have hands on idea on the eco park issue from both the government and the people's perspective. The analysis shows that the tribal people are not accepting the eco park projects with its current implementation process, which is only to promote eco tourism as its core agenda. They are considering it as a tool to devastate the nature and disturb their traditional lifestyle. On the other hand, Government has a different view regarding the issue whereby it assures the alternative livelihood strategies for the tribal people as well as respect for their traditional cultural and religious practices and moreover, has promised to have no negative impact on the environment. This study concludes that the eco park project can bring sustainable forest management only if the authority involves tribal people in the planning and management stage in true sense and also respect their norms and values. Other than this, the government should also give them alternative livelihood strategies for survival and facilitate them to compete in the newly created job market in this sector. ii