简介：

简介：

简介：Inthecontextofrenewedinterestincollaborationinnaturalresourcemanagement,thecollaborativegovernanceapproachhaslatelybeenintroducedtotheforestProtectedAreas(PAs)inBangladesh.Theadoptionofthisco-managementapproachisseenasanattempttoinfluencethegovernanceprocesstowardsatransformationfromtheconventionalcustodiansystemtoamoreparticipatorymanagementregime.Recognitionofrightsandresponsibilities,effectiveparticipation,andequitabledistributionofbenefitsamongstthekeystakeholdersworkingunderafacilitativepolicyandlegalframeworkarebelievedtoaddressthebroadergoalsofsustainabledevelopmentNotwithstandingtheresurgenceofinterestingovernanceofforestPAsthroughtheco-managementapproach,academicresearchonthesubjectremainslimited.ThisarticleattemptstoreviewselectedkeyinformationandmilestonesontheforestPAsgovernancewithspecialreferencetothemajorpoliciesandlegaldocuments.Withabriefintroductorysection,thisarticlefocusesonthegenesisandselectedmajorfeaturesoftheForestPAsinthecountry.Thediscussionthendwellsonthepolicyandlegalframeworkandprovidesacritiqueonitsrelevanceforpromotingcommunityparticipation.Theexistinginstitutionalarrangementsforcommunityengagementinprotectedareagovernancearealsoanalyzedinlightofthenationalandinternationalcommitmentandpolicyobligationsonthepartofthecountry.Thesalientobservationsandkeyfindingsofthestudyincludethefollowing:(1)despiteitslimitations,comanagementasconceptandpracticehasgraduallytakenrootsinBangladesh;(2)thedegreeandlevelofactivecommunityparticipationremainlowandlimited,andthereisalsoclearweaknessinconscientizingandorientatingthelocalcommunityonthekeylegalandpolicyissuesrelatedtoPAgovernanceinthecountry;and(3)policymakers,practitioners,andotherlocalstakeholdersrelatedtoPAgovernanceneedtobeorientedoninternationalcommitmentandnationalde