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Frequently Asked
Questions |
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Question: |
You say
the “Community” will manage the Nature Interpretation
Center. What does that mean exactly? |
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Answer: |
The
“Community” means the Government-recognized Lawachara
Co-Management Council and its executive implementing
body, the Co-Management Committee (CMC). The Committee
includes 19 local stakeholders drawn from the Lawachara
area, including members of Union Parishad, ethnic
minorities, Federations of low-income forest users, to
name a few. The Committee is explicitly mentioned in the
Government-approved Lawachara Management Plan as a
partner in Park management. The Committee has a small
staff including accountant and administrator, but
members serve on a voluntary basis. |
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Question: |
Who
receives my gift? How can I be sure it will be
transparently managed? |
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Answer: |
Gifts may
be desposited to a special account established by
Nishorgo-partner Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Services (RDRS).
RDRS is one of the most trusted and transparent of the
NGOs of Bangladesh, and presently works under contract
to the USAID Nishorgo Project to execute field support
for the people of Lawachara. Regular and transparent
reporting on fund management will be made available by
RDRS at www.nishorgo.org. (See separate slip sheet on
“Donated Funds Management” for more info.). |
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Question: |
How will
the community benefit from the Nature Interpretation
Center? |
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Answer: |
Every
tourist visiting Lawachara National Park must first come
to Nature Interpretation Center to buy entry ticket.
Government has now accepted the proposal that half of
all entry fees will be directed to the Committee. The
Committee will allocate entry fee and other revenue
(from brochures, booklets, hats, postcards, etc.) to
local community livelihood needs. The Center will also
serve as an important central point from which tourists
can hire Eco-Guides, find a local Eco-Cottage or hire an
Eco-Rickshaw. |
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Question: |
Who owns
the building? |
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Answer: |
The
building will belong to the Co-Management Committee of
the Lawachara National Park. As per agreement of the
Nishorgo Steering Committee, ownership is to be confered
for a 20-year renewable period by Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the Forest Department and
the Co-Management Committee. |
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Question: |
Who owns
the land on which the building stands? |
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Answer: |
The land
at the Janaki Chora Center site belongs to the Forest
Department. This land ownership will remain with the
Department even as the building remains in the hands of
the Committee. The MoU clarifies these compatible roles. |
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Question: |
If I make
a donation for the Nature Interpretation Center, am I
giving to the Government? |
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Answer: |
No. Your
donation will be deposited to a special account of RDRS,
who will use it under guidance of the Nishorgo Support
Project to complete construction of the building and
facilities that will belong to the Co-Management
Committee. The Government will not directly or
indirectly receive funds from donations. |
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Question: |
How do I
know that the Forest Department will not take over the
building in the future? |
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Answer: |
The
Government has recognized the Lawachara Co-management
Council and Committee through gazette notification
without any closing date. The Center will immediately
become a central means of capturing financial revenue
and directing it to the local community. Once it becomes
established that the Visitor Center has a central role
to play in improving livelihoodds, it is extremely
unlikely that Government would be allowed by the
Committee to take over the building. Furthermore, the
MoU will explicitly prescribe this possibility. |
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Question: |
Who will
build the building? |
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Answer: |
RDRS,
with technical guidance from USAID’s Nishorgo Support
Project, will coordinate construction of this building.
Nishorgo Support Project and RDRS will work with the
winning architect (Vitti Sthapoti Brindo) to identify a
short-list of qualified Contractors, amongst which a
careful bidding process will be undertaken. The Chief of
Party of Nishorgo Support Project will sit on this
selection panel. |
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Question: |
What will
be included on the grounds other than the Interpretation
Center itself? |
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Answer: |
The
Nature Interpretation Center will be constructed at the
Janaki Chara area of Lawachara. Trees will not be felled
during construction at this 1.2 hectare site, where
local species will be included in a natural landscaping
allowing tourists to prepare for their visit to the
Park. A parking area will be included for cars and
buses, and natural walkways around the site will be
included. |
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Question: |
Who will
be responsible for maintenance of the Visitor’s Center
in future years? |
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Answer: |
As the
building will belong to the Committee, building
maintenance must be considered. The fund-raising plan
and budget include 5 lakh Taka to be set in a special
interest bearing maintenance account to cover
maintenance for the first five years, after which it is
assumed that the Committee will be sufficiently solvent
from its operations to set aside maintenance costs. |
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