Forest dwellers and encroachers in Teknaf

This chapter begins by providing an overview of the population distribution within as well as outside of the restricted forest area in the study region. Next, it presents the findings of a case study on the socioeconomic attributes and activities of residents by ethnic groups in a village consisting of settlements within and outside of the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary. Although reserved forests are legally closed to private activities, with the exception of those of certain categories of people who have special rights to live in the area, about half of these forest dwellers are "illegal" encroachers. Whereas Bengalis, who legally reside within the reserved forest area, earn comparable incomes to those of people living outside of the reserved forest area, the incomes of encroachers and minority ethnic groups are significantly lower. Many of the encroachers moved relatively recently into this restricted area, and the inflow of settlers does not appear to be lessening. Because the encroachers' primary means of subsistence entails farming that requires the clearing of existing forests, the increase in their numbers appears to constitute a major threat to forest regeneration in this area.