Increase capacity of CPG members to protect forests: Speakers

Forest officials and environmentalists today underscored the need to increase the efficiency of Community Patrol Group (CPG) members to conserve forest and protect it from encroachers.

They also proposed a set of recommendations in this regard.

The recommendation and proposal came up in a meeting held yesterday (March 23, 2022) organised by the Arannayk Foundation on the occasion of "Co-Management Day" to remember the CPG members who died in attacks by loggers during their routine patrols to protect the forests.

Six CPG members died so far, as per the foundation data.

Md Jahidul Kabir, deputy chief conservator of forest attended the programme as chief guest while Rakibul Hasan Mukul, executive director of Arannayk Foundation moderated the programme.

Thanking the CPG members for their sacrifice in protecting forest, Jahidul Kabir said, "I recommend organising a national workshop for CPG members to enhance their efficiency to conserve forest".

Speakers also emphasised increasing the coordination between CPG members and Forest Department, ensuring decent allowances for CPG members so that they are encouraged in protecting the forest.

Apart from this, the co-management committee (CMC) across the country took part in the programme virtually.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, senior Forest Management Specialist of Arannayk Foundation chaired the programme.

On March 23, 2008, Rafikul Islam, a CPG member died in an attack by loggers during his patrol with forest staff in Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary.

Arannayk Foundation has been observing the day in remembrance of CPG members who sacrificed their lives to protect the forest since then.