Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

Originally designated as Teknaf game reserve in 1983, in December 2009 the Government of Bangladesh enhanced its status to a Wildlife Sanctuary protecting 11,615 hectares. It is located in Teknaf Upazila of Cox’s Bazar District, and comprises a range of steep hills aligned north-south and bordered by the Bay of Bengal to the west and a narrow strip of lowlands and settlements along the Naf river to the south and east, and Inani reserve forest to the north. Once this sanctuary held extensive tropical mixed evergreen forest, patches still remain but much of the original forest has been cleared or degraded since the 1990s. Coastal communities and ecosystems here are vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges. The hilly terrain of Teknaf range faces a number of climate related hazards. In particular heavy rainstorms and localized flash floods and landslides in the wet season destroy crops, infrastructure and damage habitats. Also more intense dry seasons result in ponds and waterways drying up and local people face a shortage of fresh drinking water. Restoring a sustainable forest ecosystem to significant areas of the Teknaf watershed hills is vital to improve water and soil retention, and enhance the resilience of wildlife and local communities to the threats posed by degradation and climate change.

Despite degradation, Teknaf WS is still home to a small population of endangered Asian Elephants which comes into regular conflict with local people, Teknaf CMC is working with others to change attitudes and conserve elephants in a coordinated way. The fauna of the WS has been only partially studied, but the wider Teknaf peninsula is home to a diverse fauna: some 260 species of birds including the impressive and globally vulnerable Great Slaty Woodpecker and Grey Peacock Pheasant, and mammals such as Rhesus Macaque and Hog Badger, and is home to the last population of Long-tailed Macaque in Bangladesh. Of special note within the WS is Teknaf Nature Park, this easily accessed area has shady forest, three small lakes, three hiking trails, an interpretation center, and accommodation for visitors.

Teknaf CMC’s target area is the most southerly corner of mainland Bangladesh, bordered by the Naf Estuary and Bay of Bengal, with Whykong Range of Teknaf WS to the north. Here several ethnic communities live including people of Burmese heritage. Teknaf range is bordered by 48 villages where most of the people depend directly or indirectly on the forest. Activities impacting on the protected area include wood cutting (mostly for fuel), cultivation (rice and betel leaves and nuts), extracting earth from hills, fires, sun grass collection and salt production.

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