Photo: Kamrul

Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary

Fatikchari, Chittagong.

Declared as a sanctuary in 2010, Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary covers 2,908 hectares near the Bibirhat-Hazarikhil-Baroiadhala road in Fatikchari Upazilla, Chittagong District. The native hill forest here once connected to forests stretching continuously into Southeast Asia but the forest is now isolated and many trees were lost during the liberation war and 1991 cyclone.

Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary protects patches of undisturbed tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest and plantations that have restored forest cover. The Sanctuary connects with forests in Baraiyadala NP forming a larger protected zone, but is isolated from other forests. Wildlife remains little studied but small groups of nearthreatened Himalayan Serow are still probably resident in the sanctuary and it is also notable for Capped Langur, Crab-eating Mongoose, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Whitecheeked Partride and several pigeon species.

Within Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary live 925 families, about 90% from the Tripura ethnic community, most are poor and depend to a considerable extent on forest resources. New income-generating enterprises and eco-tourism are being developed under co-management to reduce the threats to biodiversity of the Sanctuary.

WHY IS HAZARIKHIL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IMPORTANT?

Habitat for globally near threatened Himalayan Serow, and vulnerable Capped Langur and Great Slaty Woodpecker

Significant area of recovering forest

Over 250 species of plants, including some rare species

Over 150 species of birds recorded

Several local villages are Tripura, by ethnicity

Local people are poor and depend on forest resources, threatening biodiversity and ecology

Photo: Obaidul Fattah Tanvir

CO-MANAGEMENT HELPS PROTECT CRITICAL FOREST HABITATS IMPORTANT FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CREATURES AND PLANTS, INCLUDING GLOBALLY THREATENED SPECIES …

Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor)

Please support this important work.

About the size of a deer but with small permanent horns, serows are unusual “goat antelopes”. They live on steep hill slopes where they are very agile on rocky faces and feed on grass and leaves. Hazarikhil WS is one of the few places in Bangladesh where this globally nearthreatened species survives. Serow are difficult to study and have an uncertain taxonomy, those in Bangladesh are currently thought to be this species but could be Red Serow of Myanmar.

Sustaining Nature, Biodiversity, and Local Communities

Hazarikhil Co-Management Committee engages with local communities to conserve Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary and its threatened species, through climate-resilient natural resources management and diversified livelihoods

Co-management in Hazarikhil was established in November 2014 and is recognized through a Ministry of Environment and Forests order published in November 2009. Hazarikhil CMC formally works with and includes Bangladesh Forest Department as well as all key local stakeholders including local government and of course representatives of the inhabitants of the surrounding 23 villages who are organized into a common forum.

Photo: Obaidul Fattah Tanvir

Photo: Kamrul

HAZARIKHIL CO-MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CMC)

KEY OBJECTIVES:

Ensure long-term conservation of biodiversity
Mobilize local people as environmental stewards and stakeholders
Improve the lives and livelihoods of local people, by diversifying livelihoods, improving skills, and reducing vulnerability to hazards and climate change
Encourage eco-tourism, and provide adequate facilities for visitors
Provide a forum for discussions,consultations, and conflict resolution

How You Can Help ?

Please support our efforts to strengthen conservation. The work of Hazarikhil CMC and associated organizations involves local communities working with local government and Bangladesh Forest Department. These activities depend on support from grants and outside resources.

Hazarikhil CMC is newly formed and funds can be channeled through CODEC – a national NGO which has helped establish the CMC. CODEC is registered with Bangladesh NGO Affairs Bureau, registration no. 263. Its programs focus on the disadvantaged communities of Chittagong region for their sociocultural and economic development.

Your donations to Hazarikhil CMC will support:

Improving protection of forest and threatened wildlife, through community patrols
Reducing conflicts between people and animals,(e.g., relocating cultivation, improving warnings, and a compensation fund)
Promoting eco-tourism (e.g. establishing and maintaining visitor facilities and publicizing Hazarikhil WS)
Increasing community sustainability (e.g. reducing disaster vulnerability and improving services)

Photo: Kamrul

Contacts

President
Hazarikhil CMC
Fatikchari, Chittagong
Tel: 01822 868 486

Forest Department
DFO, Chittagong North Forest Division, Nandan Kanon, Chittagong
Tel: 031-615310;
E-mail: dfoctgnorth@gmail.com
Member Secretary
Hazarikhil CMC
Fatikchari, Chittagong
Tel: 01825 016 048

CODEC
Khurshid Alam Ph.D
Executive Director, CODEC
CODEC Bhaban; Plot 2, Road 2, Lake Valley R/A, Hazi Zafor Ali Road
(Nuria Madrasha Lane); Foy’s Lake, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh;
Tel: 031-2566747;
Email: khurshidcodec@gmail.com