Art and Culture
Documentary film show on forests, adivasi life & nature: Stolen Forests: A photography exhibition by Philip Gain & Ronald Halder
By Sheikh Arif Bulbon
Thu, 24 May 2007, 10:47:00

The forest landscapes in the country have dramatically changed. Outside the Sundarbans, the single largest mangrove patch on earth, the public forests have been devastated. The hills in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are bare at present. The traditional 'Sal' forests have become history in most parts. The monoculture plantations of exotic and invasive species in place of hundreds of species of the native forests are not forests at all.

With this realisation Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) organised a photography exhibition of Philip Gain and Ronald Haldar titled 'Stolen Forests' held at Drik Gallery in the capital. The exhibition highlighted what Bangladesh has lost from its unique forest patches. There was also reflection of the wildlife and lifestyle of the indigenous communities living in the woodlands in the exhibition.

The exhibition was inaugurated on May 18. Eminent agricultural scientist and photographer Dr Noazesh Ahmed was present as chief guest in the inaugural session. Philip J DeCosse, Syed Noor Hossain, Manjulika Chakma, Manjare Hasin Murad, Arunendu Tripura, among others were present on the occasion. Prof Golam Rahman chaired the ceremony and the film show. The exhibition concluded on May 24. The documentary film show on forests, tribal life and nature were also took place everyday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the gallery.

Deforestation is not unique in Bangladesh. Both photographers have been through the forests in hills, coast and plains at different times for about two decades. The exhibition reflected their predilection for images of forests and to them forests are not just trees and the wildlife they support but also the communities and live in the forests, their knowledge, education, history, traditions, technology, culture and lots more.

Both photographers made their trip to Modhupur 'Sal' forest almost at the same time. There was no bare or tiger left in Modhupur when they stepped into this unique forest in the early 1980s. Still it was a fascinating experience for both of them. While Ronald Halder was out to look for birds and other wildlife that were still found in good numbers, Philip Gain roamed around with friends, sticks in hands. Flocks of monkeys, long-tailed hanumans (langur) that still survived with the towering 'Sal' thrilled them.

Ronald said, "Except the Sundarbans, monoculture plantations have rapidly expanded in recent times in all forest regions of Bangladesh. We have very disturbing statistics here - the country's official eighteen percent public forestland has shrunk to approximately six percent that includes the mangrove forests and the plantations."

"In many countries including Bangladesh 'less productive' forestlands are targeted for plantations. However, what is often branded, as 'less productive' is actually native forest that has immense social, cultural, traditional, educational, medicinal and environmental value. In Bangladesh, while the government implements the plantation projects, mostly international financial institutions - Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank, finance them. The promotion of plantation economy, officially sanctioned logging, reservation, settlement of Bengalis in the CHT etc are some of the major factors that underlie the destruction of the forests and the misery of the forest-dwelling ethnic minorities," he also said.

While Ronald Haldar's photos highlight our unique forests and the life forms they support, Philip Gain focuses on how the forests of Bangladesh have been robbed of their native species.

A photo by Philip showed an illegal banana plantation in Modhupur. The area was cleared of all vegetation a few years back. Overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and hormones have had such an impact on the area that it bears no mark of the sal forest that it once was.

Another image by him framed a picturesque 'Tanchangya Village' in a remote area in Rangamati.

His other photos featured an elderly Chak women at Baishari in Naikhongchhori, Bandarban, (the Chaks are one of the least known and very small ethnic communities in the region) an Mru mother and her child and Ringworm shrubs, locally known as 'Dadmardan' - an herb used for the medicinal purposes.

An Indian Pied Hornbill in all its glory is the subject of one of photos of Ronald Halder.

His other photo featured the swamp forests of 'Tanguar Haor' that supported a wide variety of aquatic plants including water lilies.

Therefore documentary film shows were presented in the gallery. On May 18, Our Sal Forest and Chokoria Sundarban where there is no tree - 19 minutes, on May 19, Stolen Forests and Tanguar Haor - 20 minutes, May 20, Teardrops of Karnaphuli and The Story of Baikka Beel, on May 21, Upokuler Jibon Jemon, Mandi O Malaya Tarum, on May 22, A Nimble Walk Through Five Protected Areas, On the Banks of the Dhanshiri River and Parabon Bachao Ebong Nayakrishi: Empowering Women and Khumi Lives, on May 23, Saatchari and Bonyatri and on May 24, Stolen Forests and Teardrops of Karnaphuli.



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