Site: systemwide, Bangladesh
Type of partnership: Enabling activity for small business development in support of conservation
Website(s): http://www.nishorgo.org
http://www.nishorgo.org/nishorgo_support_project.asp
Contact Name: Mr. Shamsur Rahman
Phone: 88 (02) 8813820
Email: bforest@citechco.net
Address: Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Circle, Forest Department, Banbhaban, Mahakhali Dhaka.
Description: The Bangladesh Forest Department has created a new Protected Areas Management Program entitled "Nishorgo". USAID is providing financial assistance to the Program through Nishorgo Support Project. More than 50% of Bangladesh’s forest has disappeared in the last 30 years and today, the forests in sanctuaries and national parks – collectively known as "Protected Areas" -- are critically threatened. At this rate of degradation, many unique flora and fauna will be lost forever. As a response, the Forest Department has created a new Protected Areas Management Program entitled "Nishorgo". USAID is providing financial assistance to the Program through Nishorgo Support Project. The Nishorgo Program is a comprehensive effort to improve the management of the country's Protected Areas. Nishorgo focuses on building partnership between the Forest Department and key local, regional and national stakeholders that can assist in conservation efforts.

The Nishorgo Support Project works closely with the Forest Department and key conservation stakeholders to develop and implement a co-management approach to help conserve the country's large tracts of Protected Areas, where partnerships for conservation are essential. The Project is working at five initial pilot sites to begin adapting a Protected Area co-management
approach for Bangladesh. Initial sites include the Lawachara National Park, the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary and Satchuri Reserve Forest (proposed as a new Wildlife Sanctuary), the Teknaf Game Reserve and the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Nishorgo Program aims to protect and conserve Bangladesh's forests and biodiversity for future generations. At the heart of Nishorgo is a focus on building partnerships between the Forest Department and key local and national stakeholders that can assist in conservation efforts.

The programme is developing formal co-management agreements to provide for the sharing of economic benefits, between the Forest Department and local participating stakeholders for specific protected areas. It is aiding in the nstallation of visitor amenities in protected forest areas and the improvement of Forest Department facilities, and facilitating eco-friendly private sector investment to provide key services. It also supports to applied research on protected areas to improve future planning.