Pittachhara Forest
| Pittachhara Forest | |
|---|---|
  Location within Bangladesh | |
| Location | Matiranga, Khagrachhari, Bangladesh |
| Coordinates | 23°05′56″N 91°52′21″E / 23.0989°N 91.8724°E |
| Area | 9.3[1] ha (23 acres) |
| Website | pittachhara |
Pittachhara Forest (Bengali: পিটাছড়া বন) is a privately managed semi-evergreen hill forest located in Matiranga Upazila, Khagrachhari District, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Situated within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, the forest conserves native flora and fauna in a region affected by deforestation and the expansion of monoculture plantations. The forest is managed by the Pittachhara Trust, a conservation organization.[1]
History
The Pittachhara conservation initiative began in the mid-2010s when conservationist Mahfuz Ahmed Russel[2] and his associates acquired forested land in Khagrachhari District to protect native forest habitats. The initiative was established in response to the decline of natural forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which has been attributed to agricultural expansion, commercial plantations, human settlement, and wildlife hunting.[1]
Initially focused on protecting a small forest area, the project later expanded to include biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, environmental education, and community engagement.
In 2017, The Pittachhara Trust was established to manage conservation activities in the area.[3]
Biodiversity
Pittachhara Forest supports a variety of wildlife species found in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Biodiversity surveys and field observations have recorded numerous species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds in the forest and surrounding areas.[4][5]
Recognition
Pittachhara Trust is recognized as an Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[3][6]
References
- 1 2 3 "Pittachhara Conservation Initiative: A man's fight to protect private forest patches in Khagrachhari". The Business Standard. 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "Impact of Urbanisation on Wildlife in Bangladesh | As cities grow, wildlife fights to survive". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- 1 2 "Pittachhara". www.pittachhara.org. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ Rahman, Sadiqur. "Can rainwater-fed ponds revive Bangladesh's hilly streams?". news.mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 2026-03-07. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "CHT forests being razed for cassava farming, harming biodiversity". The Business Standard. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ↑ "Expanding Conservation Impact: A Discussion on Non‑State Actor Engagement in OECMs - Story | IUCN". iucn.org. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
