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Published : 05 May 2025, 02:34 AM
Once rich with centuries of biodiversity, the natural forests of the hills have been written off as “unproductive” and cleared for so-called “profitable” plantations — a move through which the Forest Department has turned its own axe on the very roots it was meant to protect.
As foreign species like teak, rubber, acacia, and eucalyptus tighten their grip, the soil continues to erode, springs and streams in the hills are drying up, and wildlife is facing severe threats.
Only now has the Forest Department shown “signs of awareness” — turning toward mixed plantations and native trees in an attempt to restore ecological balance in the face of monoculture damage.
Yet, despite this shift in rhetoric, the commercial planting of these “environmentally destructive” species and monoculture-based forestry continues across hundreds of acres in the name of turning forests into sources of revenue.
Environmental experts warn that unless this model is abandoned, the future of both the forests and the broader ecosystem remains bleak.
Khagrachhari Divisional Forest Officer Md Farid Meah said: “There was a time when the Forest Department’s sole aim was to grow valuable timber. The entire 6,200-acre reserve forest in Alutila is covered with teak plantations.
“But our perspective has changed,” he added. “The negative impacts of trees like teak have become so evident that we are now prioritising the development of mixed forests.”
Farid, however, also admitted that from a commercial standpoint, teak remains a top choice for traders.
A COLONIAL MINDSET OF ‘ECONOMICALLY VIABLE’ FORESTS
Teak, rubber, acacia, and eucalyptus are not native to Bangladesh. These species have never grown naturally in the hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) or in the country’s forests.
Yet in 1872, British colonial rulers declared the region’s natural forests “unproductive”, setting in motion a policy shift that prioritised commercial plantations over biodiversity.
In his essay titled “Forest, Deforestation and the Invasion of Alien Species in Forest Land”—published in a book by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)—Philip Gain wrote: “Natural forests were cleared to plant teak for the purpose of producing valuable timber for building their own homes. Teak seeds imported from Burma were first planted on Sita Pahar of Kaptai in Rangamati.”
He added that both the Pakistan government and later independent Bangladesh followed the same colonial-era policy of monoculture teak plantations.
Teak became the most sought-after timber across the country, expanding not only on state-owned forest land but also on privately held plots.
This trend continued into the 1980s when large-scale rubber and eucalyptus plantations were permitted in the hills.
Yet by the early 2000s, the Forest Department began recognising the ecological damage caused by such trees. Moreover, these species have not always been as profitable as once promised.
Compared with Bandarban, the districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati have a higher concentration of teak.
The widespread clearing of natural forests in these areas has been driven primarily by the expansion of teak plantations.
Due to its high market value, teak is transported widely to timber markets in Chattogram and Dhaka.
Today, the livelihoods of many are deeply tied to teak production and trade—especially in the hill districts, where teak dominates the forest-based economy.
Even so, the Forest Department admits concern about teak’s harmful impact. In Khagrachhari, however, officials say they do not have data on the exact extent of teak plantations.
Divisional Forest Officer Farid said, "The absence of plant diversity in the hills has adverse environmental consequences. Teak cultivation is intensifying soil erosion on the mountain slopes, causing this eroded soil to be carried into rivers through streams and rivulets.
“Conversely, the soil in natural forests maintains a consistently cool temperature. Its cover of varied flora and undergrowth ensures soil purity, preserves natural water sources, and safeguards against erosion," he added.
THREAT TO AQUATIC LIFE
At the foothills of the remote hill village of Noimile, just off the Khagrachhari-Dighinala road, flows the Betchhari stream.
A short walk through the village leads to this waterbody. While it carries water during the monsoon, in the dry season it often runs dry.
According to both local residents and Forest Department workers, the proliferation of teak plantations in the area has directly contributed to this seasonal disappearance.
Teak trees consume significantly more water than most native species, depleting groundwater levels in their vicinity.
As a result, other vegetation struggles to grow within teak groves, and surrounding soil moisture is drastically reduced.
The extent of environmental damage caused by this phenomenon, however, has yet to be thoroughly studied.
Ganesh Tripura, a resident of Noimile and former member of Merung union, said: “Once, this stream used to have water year-round. But now the natural forest is gone. The hills on both sides are full of teak plantations.
“Teak trees absorb too much water, and that’s why the streams and hill springs are drying up.
“In the dry season, there’s practically no water here. These streams feed into the Maini River. As their flow decreases, the river's water level also drops,” he added.
A large portion of Khagrachhari’s reserved forest falls under the jurisdiction of the Northern Forest Division of the CHT, based in Rangamati.
Md Rezaul Karim, a divisional officer there, highlighted the origins of the Maini and Kachalong rivers from these natural forests.
He said, “The reserved forest under Naraichhari range of Dighinala spans about 42,000 hectares. Both the Maini and Kasalong rivers originate here.
“Because of the presence of natural forests, these rivers still have a consistent water flow even during the dry season. The adjacent streams also retain water.”
By contrast, Rezaul noted that springs near teak plantations remain dry.
“Since 2000, the Forest Department has officially stopped planting teak in the hills,” the forest officer said.
“No government teak planting has taken place in the Chittagong Hill Tracts since then. But large numbers of private teak plantations have emerged. Teak also turns the soil acidic.”
KNOWINGLY IGNORING ECOLOGICAL HARM
In addition to teak, rubber plantation projects have also caused extensive destruction of natural forests in the CHT.
Back in the 1980s, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board initiated rubber cultivation under the “Upland Land Settlement Rubber Plantation Project”.
As part of this initiative, more than 20,000 acres, or over 8,000 hectares, of land in Khagrachhari were brought under rubber cultivation—mostly by clearing natural forests.
The project was implemented in Dighinala, Matiranga, Sadar, Panchari, Guimara, Ramgarh, and other Upazilas with the goal of promoting local socio-economic development.
Local residents and environmentalists, however, say rubber has proven to be an economically unviable activity over the long term.
Consequently, many of these plantations have now been abandoned, with rubber trees felled and replaced by fruit orchards.
Yet, large-scale teak cultivation continues. Mathura Bikash Tripura, executive director of Khagrachhari-based NGO Zabarang, said the Forest Department played a major role in spreading teak in the hills.
“Because of its high market value, teak is now being cultivated privately by families,” he added. “Everywhere you look, there are teak plantations.
“The monoculture of exotic species prevents natural forests from regenerating. To restore ecological balance, we must think long-term.
“Native tree species must be planted, or mixed forests should be developed.”
Mahfuz Russel of the Pittachhara Forest and Wildlife Conservation Initiative echoed these concerns. “Palm and teak put intense pressure on the soil. The land becomes degraded and suffers erosion. Teak absorbs a lot of water,” he said. “Now, thousands of acres in the hills are used for cassava cultivation. Cassava farming leads to soil erosion and landslides.
“The eroded soil ends up in streams and hill springs. Exotic plant species are unsuitable for our environment. That’s why our biodiversity is suffering,” Mahfuz added.
RETHINKING MONOCULTURE PRACTICES
Before the introduction of commercially valuable trees in the late 19th century, the hills were primarily covered with natural forests that served as habitats for all local species.
Over time, these natural forests have disappeared, replaced by monoculture plantations. As a result, dependence on forests by humans and other animals has declined.
Now, the Forest Department is encouraging the restoration of natural forests and the cultivation of mixed plantations.
Khagrachhari Divisional Forest Officer Farid said, “In the hill tracts, we should be planting a wide variety of evergreen species. Trees like teak, which do not significantly contribute to ecological conservation, should be gradually phased out.
“Our department is working in this direction to engage local communities in this initiative.”
Rezaul, divisional forest officer of the CHT Northern circle said: “Valuable species like Gamari, Swarnachapa, or Champa can be planted as alternatives to teak. These trees fetch prices similar to teak in the market.
“A shift from monoculture to mixed plantations would help rejuvenate the forests. There is no substitute for natural forests when it comes to preserving biodiversity,” he added.
Sabuj Chakma, organiser of the Khagrachhari-based environmental group Biodiversity Conservation Society of CHT, echoed the sentiment. “People, based on their experience, are now replacing teak with fruit orchards, which is comparatively better.
“Swarnachapa can be a good alternative to teak—it is bird- and biodiversity-friendly, and mature trees have comparable market value,” he said.
“Our organisation, under the initiative Plantation for Nature, has distributed around 77,000 Swarnachapa saplings to monasteries and privately owned forests.
“We need to raise awareness and promote viable alternatives to teak—so that people are motivated to plant ecologically supportive trees while also gaining commercial benefits,” Sabuj concluded.
LACK OF RESEARCH, DATA
Despite widespread criticism of ecologically harmful tree species, there is a notable absence of dedicated research or data—either by the Forest Department or independent researchers.
This lack of evidence makes it difficult to clearly understand the specific ways in which teak or similar trees are more destructive compared to other species.
Forest officer Rezaul openly admitted, “We actually have no data on how much water a single teak tree absorbs. No research has been conducted on this matter.”
Teak trees are unsuitable for nesting birds, mainly due to the narrow and sparse structure of their branches, which do not provide a suitable framework for building nests.
During the dry season, undergrowth in teak forests is often cleared using fire, as no shrubs or ground vegetation typically grow beneath them.
As a result, large swathes of hill terrain remain barren, noted Rezaul.
Md Mamunur Rahman, chief scientific officer of the Soil Survey and Land Management Division at the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), also confirmed the absence of any comprehensive studies on teak trees in Bangladesh.
Dhaka University botany professor Md Zashim Uddin said, “Whether teak trees absorb excessive water is something that should be examined through proper testing.
“The leaves are large, and being non-native, these trees tend to exhibit aggressive traits. Their dominance prevents the growth of other plants underneath, essentially suffocating the surrounding biodiversity.”
In response to why insects or birds avoid nesting in teak trees, he explained that the physical structure of a tree plays a key role in nesting.
Prof Zashim said, “Birds need spaces to secure twigs and build nests. Teak trees lack the necessary branching systems. The structural form of a mango tree, for instance, is very different from that of a teak tree.
“It’s primarily due to this architecture that birds avoid nesting in them,” he added.
[Writing in English by Sheikh Fariha Bristy]
