Impact of Co-Management Strategies on Forest Ecosystems in Protected Areas of Bangladesh Using Remote Sensing and GIS Analysis

The Protected Area (PA) concept has contributed significantly to forest conservation worldwide and has also contributed to the expansion of forest cover. Co-management of PAs has emerged as a strategy to make forest restoration and biodiversity conservation more effective by encouraging the active participation of local people. This study analyzed the co-management effects of PA in two protected areas of Dharmapur Shal Forest and Nawabganj National Park in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh. Land use and land cover change were monitored between 1990 and 2022 using Landsat images. The study considered four main categories; forests, encroached areas, barren lands, and water bodies. The findings indicated that forest cover diminished in both forests between 1990 and 2003 but experienced a significant recovery by 2022. The expanse of Dharmapur Shal forest diminished from 552.05 hectares in 1990 to 469.95 hectares in 2003, then rising to 550.41 hectares in 2022. While the forest cover in Nawabganj National Park declined from 454.18 hectares to 393.72 hectares, it recovered to 432.36 hectares in 2022, demonstrating the hopeful effectiveness of co-management strategies. The Barren land initially increased and decreased in both areas, while the waterbody remained almost stable. Ecosystem service values (ESVs) related to carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and water regulation also improved. Stakeholder perception analysis, including forest officials and local communities, revealed strong support for co-management, citing enhanced forest cover, increased native species, and reduced illegal extraction. However, challenges remain in achieving historical biodiversity levels. This study highlights the potential of co-management in forest restoration and sustainable land governance in developing countries and provides evidence-based insights to inform future policy and planning.