Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary
{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| photo = File:Fisherman in Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary.jpg
| photo_caption =
| map = Bangladesh
| relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|21|54|0|N|92|08|0|E|region:BD|display=inline,title}}
| location = {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| nearest_city = Chittagong
| area = 7763.94 hectares
| established = {{start date|1986}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Bangladesh Forest Department
}}
Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary is an IUCN Category IV{{cite web|title=Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://www.protectedplanet.net/sites/Chunati_Wildlife_Sanctuary|website=Protected Planet|publisher=IUCN WDPA / UNEP-WCMC|accessdate=20 February 2015|ref=1|archive-date=2 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402122721/http://protectedplanet.net/sites/Chunati_Wildlife_Sanctuary|url-status=dead}} protected area located close to the village of Chunati in the Chittagong District of the Chittagong Division in southeastern Bangladesh.
History
The Sanctuary was established in 1986 through Gazette Notification XII/For-I/84/174. Covering nearly 7764 hectares, the predominant vegetation was originally garjan forest, but illegal logging and encroachment for cultivation resulted in a fragmented and degraded habitat. By 2003, secondary scrub covered approximately 44% of the Sanctuary, but various replanting projects have been undertaken with donor support.{{cite web|last1=Sinha|first1=P.B.|last2=Alam|first2=M.|title=Secondary data collection for pilot protected area: Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaed163.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220174052/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaed163.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 February 2015|website=USAID|accessdate=20 February 2015|ref=2}} This was the first wildlife sanctuary in Bangladesh. There are 15 villages in and around the Sanctuary.{{cite news |last1=Al Mamun|first1=Abdullah|title=Protect Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268855|work=The Daily Star|accessdate=14 July 2015}} The Sanctuary is home to several endangered timber species.{{cite web|last1=McDermott|first1=Mat|title=Bangladesh Gets $19 Million from US & Germany for Reforestation Project|url=http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/bangladesh-gets-19-million-from-us-germany-for-reforestation-project.html|website=treehugger.com|publisher=MNN HOLDING COMPANY, LLC|accessdate=14 July 2015}}
Wildlife
Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary is a major corridor for the movement of Asian elephant between Bangladesh and Myanmar.{{cite news |title=US, Germany join in climate change mitigation at Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary US, Germany join in climate change mitigation at Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2009/08/12/us-germany-join-in-climate-change-mitigation-at-chunati-wildlife-sanctuary|work=bdnews24.com|accessdate=14 July 2015}} Mammal species in the Sanctuary include muntjac deer, fishing cat, wild boar and Malayan porcupine. Birds include the black-rumped flameback, coppersmith barbet,
chestnut-headed bee-eater, Asian green bee-eater, greater coucal, house swift, spotted dove, black drongo, jungle myna and Asian pied starling{{cite web|last1=Sinha|first1=P.B.|last2=Alam|first2=M.|title=Chunati interpretation plan|url=http://nishorgo.org/tbltd/upload/pdf/0.29615300%201357827296_165_Chunoti%20Interpretation%20plan.pdf|website=Nishorgo Project|publisher=USAID|accessdate=20 February 2015|ref=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220164453/http://nishorgo.org/tbltd/upload/pdf/0.29615300%201357827296_165_Chunoti%20Interpretation%20plan.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2015|url-status=dead}}
Administration and protection
The park is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Forest Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), and is managed by them in cooperation with local communities.{{cite web|title=Restoring the forest and improving livelihoods in the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://www.dhaka.diplo.de/Vertretung/dhaka/en/07/Other/Chunati.html|website=German Embassy Dhaka|accessdate=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714120838/http://www.dhaka.diplo.de/Vertretung/dhaka/en/07/Other/Chunati.html|archive-date=14 July 2015|url-status=dead}} The community patrols are led by women in green saris. They are from the local community and are funded by U.S. Agency for International Development and Germany's development agency GTZ. They receive stipends of $50 for their service.{{cite news|last1=Boykoff|first1=Pamela|title='Sari squad' protects Bangladesh wildlife sanctuary|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/04/bangladesh.wildlife.eco/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=14 July 2015}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Protected Forests of Bangladesh}}
{{Asia topic|List of protected areas of}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of Bangladesh
Category:Forests of Bangladesh
Category:Protected areas established in 1986
Category:1986 establishments in Bangladesh
Category:Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests
Category:Lohagara Upazila, Chittagong
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