Land is a very important and scare resource of Bangladesh. It should be managed carefully to ensure the best possible use of this limited resource for the benefit of the maximum number of people and their development. It is felt that land use priorities have to strike a balance between the competing needs of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock, settlements, and urban and industrial development. This study aimed to explore the existing land use patterns in Bangladesh in order to understand existing land use dynamics and predict future land uses. The study focussed particularly on forestlands.
The study was based on both primary and secondary data sources. Data were collected at different spatial scales; national, divisional, district and village level. Land use and demographic data at national, divisional and district levels were collected from different government sources and published books, journals and reports. Village data were collected from a survey in 12 randomly selected villages at different locations in Bangladesh. Land use data were analysed and
modelled to explore historic variations in land uses and predict future land uses at national, divisional, district and village scales.
There was observed variability in land uses in different scales such as, national, divisional, district, and thana/village level. Time and population pressure were found to be the major driving forces to determine land use and land use changes in Bangladesh. Village land use was found to be most important especially for agricultural production as the majority of the rural population depend on it
for their survival. Homestead forests were found to have potential to substantially increase the country's total tree cover. However, as the country is slowly advancing towards development urbanization and industrialization are emerging as major conflicting land uses converting very good agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes. To overcome the loss of these lands farmers are trying
to increase food production from the remaining lands without considering the productive capacity of the lands. However the full potential yield from the agricultural sector is yet to be achieved.
Widespread scientific agriculture and better management of the land resources could lead to sound economic growth of the country. Land tenure was also found to constrain potential yield. This results in a lack of inspiration and encouragement to produce more food from the land. It is now imperative to adopt a land reform programme providing the farmers with ownership rights over the land they cultivate and encouraging every household in the rural areas to plant more trees, thereby providing them with seedlings and technical support to protect the country from environmental deterioration.