Bangladesh Forest Department

“Wildlife Sanctuary means an area closed to hunting, shooting or trapping of wild animals and declared as such under Article 23 by the government as undisturbed breeding ground primarily for the protection of wildlife inclusive of all natural resources such as vegetation soil and water” (paragraph) (p) of Article 2).

“National Park means comparatively large areas of outstanding scenic and natural beauty with the primary object of protection and preservation of scenery, flora and fauna in the natural state to which access for public recreation and education and research may be allowed” (paragraph) (p) of Article 2).

“Game Reserve means an area declared by the government as such for the protection of wildlife and increase in the population of important species wherein capturing of wild animals shall be unlawful (paragraph) (c) of Article 2)”.

Article 23 of the Wildlife Order has provisions for declaration of Protected Areas and also has regulations prohibiting activities in the Protected Areas.

Notified Protected Areas of the Country are as follows:

A) National Parks:

**Protected Area Covers 10.72% of Total Forest Area

Other Conservation Sites

Sundarban- The World Heritage Site

Sundarban, the World Heritage site is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries such as Sundarban East Wildlife Sanctuary, Sundarban South Wildlife Sanctuary and Sudarban West Wildlife Sanctuary. The total area of World Heritage Site is 1400 sq. km. out of which 910 km. is land area and 490 km. is water area. The three sanctuaries are intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt tolerant mangrove forest. The area has been recognized globally for its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity. This mangrove supports a unique assemblage of flora and fauna, including charismatic megafauna like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine Crocodile and the Ganges River Dolphin. The Sundri tree, for which the sundarban is named, is a endemic species of this forest.
Sundarban mangrove forest particularly the three wildlife sanctuaries act as good nurseries and potential breeding ground for shrimps, prawns and many edible fishes. For outstanding natural value, the World Heritage committee of UNESCO inscribed the Sundarban of Bangladesh in the World Heritage list by their 21st session in 1997 and accordingly the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh declared the Sundarban as World Heritage Site in 1999.