Opportunities of Traditional Knowledge in Natural resource management experiences from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is situated in the Southeast of Bangladesh covering about 10 per cent of the total land. It is the native hoe of 13 tribal communities and these communities have their own traditional knowledge for natural resource managements. This paper provides 8 traditional knowledge namely, folk classification of landform, land use zoning, community reserve for common resource management, fuel wood selection for domestic use, water harvesting ditches, tree management in the jhum field by the Murang community, coppice management of Gmelina arborea Roxb. (gamar) and Tectona grandis L. (teak) by the Bwam community, timber harvesting time, keeping bark in teak logs to protect it from insect and borer attack, and maintenance of vegetation at the catchments areas. The economy, livelihood and culture of the tribal people are closely interlinked with the natural resources. An integrated approach is needed by different institutions for conserving the natural resources in the Chittagong Hill tracts.