Constraints of Managing Sal Forest through a Participatory Approach: A Study in Selected Areas in Bangladesh

Participatory forest management promotes social learning and collaboration and collective action among forest users. This study aimed to assess the current socio-economic conditions of sal forest-dependent people, to identify the constraints faced by them, and to explore the factors that may influence the constraints. The study was conducted in Gachabari village, Aronkhola Union, Madhupur sub-district, where most households depend on forest resources for their livelihoods. From a total population of 216 forest-dependent residents, 140 respondents were selected using simple random sampling based on Slovin’s formula. Primary data were collected between January and April 2024 through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The dependent variable, constraints in managing sal forest through a participatory approach, was assessed using a four-point rating scale ranging from no constraint (0) to high constraint (3). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; reliability was checked using Cronbach’s alpha, and multiple linear and stepwise regression were used to identify key influencing factors and their contributions. The findings indicate that the highest proportion of the respondents (56%) had faced a high level of constraints in managing sal forest. The statistically significant variables that explain variations in the constraints of managing sal forest include education level, duration of involvement in PSFM, training exposure, and dwellers' attitude, which together account for 73.4% of the variation. The findings provide insights relevant to participatory forest management, with implications for both forest conservation and the livelihoods of forest-dependent people.