Threats to Himchari National Park of Bangladesh: An Integrated Conservation Approa

The Himchari National Park was highly rich in floral diversity and acted as a greenbelt against tropical cyclones in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The park has been degraded severely and now consists of isolated patches of trees, and is primarily dominated by scattered scrub vegetation. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the factors causing the degradation. Based on empirical data collected through personal interviews and focus group discussions, it was revealed that conversion of forest land, clearing and level of hills, rampant over-exploitation of the forest resources, overload of tourism, Rohingya flux, exotic plantations and ineffective ecomanagement were identified as the main causal factors of the degradation. An integrated conservation approach was developed with the help of the respondents considering the local ground.