Forest Of Bangladesh Research Articles

Diversity and structural composition of species in dipterocarp forests: a study from Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh

Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area composed of tropical remnant rainforest that harbor substantial number of large, old Garjan (Dipterocarpus spp.) trees. The present study assessed composition, structure and diversity of the species in this protected area. A total of 32 trees species were recorded with DBH ≥ 11 cm belonging to 24 genera and 19 families. The forest is low in plant diversity as represented by Shannon–Wiener diversity and Simpson Dominance indices. Dipterocarpus turbinatus was the most dominant species with maximum relative density, frequency, dominance, and importance value index. Syzygium firmum and Tectona grandis followed in terms of dominance. The structural composition indicated higher number of individuals in the medium growth classes (41 to < 511 cm DBH and 16–20 m height ranges), whereas D. turbinatus was the only species that dominated most of the growth classes. Poor stem density in lower growth classes indicated meager recruitment of regeneration which may be due to lower annual precipitation, increased grazing and encroachments. This study will help to understand the patterns of tree species composition and diversity in the remnant dipterocarp forests of Bangladesh. It will also contribute to identifying threatened plants to undertake D. turbinatus based conservation and sustainable management of the Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary.

Cost-benefit Analysis of Participatory Forest Management in the Sal Forest in Bangladesh

Cost-benefit Analysis of Participatory Forest Management in the Sal Forest in Bangladesh

Local and regional climatic signals recorded in tree-rings of Chukrasia tabularis in Bangladesh

We developed the first tree-ring chronology of Chukrasia tabularis from a moist tropical forest in Bangladesh, spanning the 102-year period 1911–2012. The species showed wood anatomically clear annual tree-ring boundaries which crossdated between tree individuals. Bootstrapped correlation analyses revealed that the ring-width index was significantly negatively correlated with current year mean and minimum temperatures. This relationship was stronger during the dry season (November–March), the pre-monsoon (February–April) and the post-monsoon season (September–November) than during the main monsoon season (May–August). We interpret this result as an indication that temperature-driven higher evapotranspiration outside the main rainy season leads to water stress limiting tree growth. This is confirmed by negative correlations of the ring-width index with the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) during the dry season. Precipitation did not show significant relationships to tree growth, except in current year June. However, cloud cover strongly negatively affected tree growth, likely by reducing photosynthetic capacity particularly during the rainy summer (May–August) monsoon season. On a regional scale, the ring-width index was correlated with both Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, but during different seasons. Ring width of C. tabularis was also significantly correlated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Monthly Niño 3.4 region positive temperature anomalies enhanced current year tree growth but negative temperature anomalies reduced tree growth in the following year mainly through modulating local climate. Hence, tree-ring variations of C. tabularis in Bangladesh record local and regional climate signals and are a potential proxy to reconstruct local and regional paleoclimatic variability during the past centuries.

Threats and Conservation Problems of Non-Human Primates in Moist Deciduous Forest of Bangladesh

A study was conducted at the Madhupur deciduous forest, Tangail from April 2015 to October 2015. It was carried out. Formal and informal questionnaire survey was used to interview the forest staffs and local people of the peripheral villages of Madhupur forest. Habitat destruction due to expansion of agricultural land and illegal logging and firewood collection was the prime threats of primates’ conservation especially Langur endurance. Hunting by ethnic people for using food was another threat for primates’ survival. Diseases and road accident were additional cause of threats. Crop raid was the main factor for human primates’ conflict. Paddy, pineapple and jackfruits were severely damaged by primates as they spoiled more crops than they actually eat. Time and economic loss was due to engagement of people guarding the crop field till harvesting.&#x0D; Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 43(1): 11-22, June 2017

Are Protected Forests of Bangladesh Prepared for the Implementation of REDD+? A Forest Governance Analysis from Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary

The present study investigates the forest governance structure for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) implementation in a protected forest of Bangladesh, namely Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS). The study analyses the key aspects of forest governance, focusing on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, governance deficit, institutions and social networks, co-benefits, and opportunities and challenges of REDD+ in RKWS. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used for primary data collection from different forest stakeholders, including forest-dependent communities, Forest Department (FD) and co-management project staffs. The survey revealed that REDD+ not only on technical issues but even more on how the evolving mechanism is governed on various levels, ranging from local to international. Although a majority (69.5%) of the respondents were motivated to engage in REDD+, indigenous communities were less interested in fear of loss of access to and use of land and forest resources, ownership and rights, and traditional customs and knowledge. There remained a degree of ambiguity of FD, community and co-management projects in field operations, which conflicted with the notions of cooperation, transparency, and accountability of the overall initiatives. Moreover, there is a strong local power structure that has major control over the community, locality and even over a local administration that is a crucial issue to the RKWS authority. However, REDD+ will open up the opportunity to manage the RKWS’s forest resources in a sustainable way, increase the level of protection, and expand the area protected, hence REDD+ must align with the interests of all stakeholders to fulfil its goal. Further research is necessary to inform the governance of REDD+ in Bangladesh to better understand the interplay, interactions and linkages between existing institutions, actors and policy processes.

Climate change and variability impacts on the forests of Bangladesh – a diagnostic discussion based on CMIP5 GCMs and ENSO

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to assess the evolution of forests in Bangladesh from the perspective of changing climate, with particular emphasis on the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. Projections for temperature and rainfall change have been made using the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change‐Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC‐AR5) general circulation models (GCMs) protocol (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, CMIP5) with 38 various GCMs and up to 105 model runs. The GCMs findings were verified by the published results of 11 regional climate models (RCMs) in the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)‐South Asia models with finer spatial resolution. A CMIP5 model‐based synthesis review on the future variability of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has also been made, as both the seasonal temperature and rainfall variability in Bangladesh are correlated to ENSO. Both global and regional climate change scenarios indicate that temperature would continue to rise and total annual rainfall is likely to increase in the future. However, weak increases in rainfall combined with high increases in temperature would create a high demand and competition for water because of the higher evapotranspiration environment. In addition to changing climate, the interannual variability of ENSO would further aggravate problems because it displays important correlations with the variability of rainfall, temperatures, sea‐level, lightning, and forest fires in Bangladesh. This study strongly recommends that future climate change projections should be combined with interannual variability ENSO to improve climate perspectives for stronger forest capacity building efforts in Bangladesh.

&lt;b&gt;A comparative study of avian diversity in Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Inani Reserve Forest and Chittagong University campus in Bangladesh&lt;/b&gt;

We performed a comparative study of birds in Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS), Inani Reserve Forest (IRF) and the Chittagong University Campus (CUC) in 2015. A total of 249 species belonging to 50 families were recorded: 210 species from 46 families in TWS, 187 species from 45 families in IRF, and 182 species from 45 families in CUC. Of these, 181 species (73%) were resident, 57 (23%) winter visitors, three (1.20%) summer visitors, two (0.80%) passage migrants and five (2%) vagrants. According to their frequency of occurrence, 73 species (29.32%) were very common, 66 (26.5%) common, 62 (25%) uncommon and 48 (19%) rare. 120 species (48%) were passerines (97 in TWS, 95 in IRF and 97 in CUC) and 129 (52%) non-passerines (113 in TWS, 92 in IRF and 85 in CUC). Among the three areas, TWS had the greatest diversity in terms of total species, (210˃187˃182), residents (161˃148˃134), non-residents (49˃48˃39), forest indicator birds (47˃44˃31) and wading birds (48˃34˃24).

Forest fragmentation reduced carbon storage in a moist tropical forest in Bangladesh: Implications for policy development

Forest fragmentation is continued to be widespread in the tropics resulting in reduced ecosystem services including carbon storage. However, the effect of forest fragmentation is not considered in the current carbon policy. We investigated the effect of forest fragmentation on tree biomass carbon and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in a moist tropical forest in Bangladesh. Above and below-ground tree biomass carbon were calculated by using widely accepted allometric equations and SOC was measured by sampling soils up to 10cm depth and analyzing them in a soil laboratory. Results showed that carbon storage in tree biomass was significantly lower in fragmented forests (16.3±1.37tCha−1) than in contiguous forests (31.21±2.75tCha−1) (p<0.001). Likewise, a significantly lower SOC was contained in the soils of fragmented forests (17.26±0.83tCha−1) than in contiguous forests (21.62±0.78tCha−1) (p<0.001). Thus a total of 36% less carbon retained in tree biomass and soils in fragmented forests than in contiguous forests. Backward multiple linear regression analysis revealed tree density, tree height, tree DBH, height-diameter ratio (H/D) and tree species richness as influential factors of carbon variation in fragmented forests. All these structural parameters except tree species richness were significantly lower in fragmented forests, were positively associated with carbon storage and explained together 69% of the carbon storage variation. These findings suggest that the altered stand structure and tree allometry likely caused reduced carbon storage in fragmented forests and highlight the importance of landscape scale management intervention in the tropics. Here, we provided with the evidence of strong negative impact of forest fragmentation on carbon storage and argue that this effect should be in consideration which is currently overlooked in existing carbon accounting systems for tropical forests.

Long-term growth decline in Toona ciliata in a moist tropical forest in Bangladesh: Impact of global warming

Tropical forests are carbon rich ecosystems and small changes in tropical forest tree growth substantially influence the global carbon cycle. Forest monitoring studies report inconsistent growth changes in tropical forest trees over the past decades. Most of the studies highlighted changes in the forest level carbon gain, neglecting the species-specific growth changes which ultimately determine community-level responses. Tree-ring analysis can provide historical data on species-specific tree growth with annual resolution. Such studies are inadequate in Bangladesh, which is one of the most climate sensitive regions in the tropics. In this study, we investigated long-term growth rates of Toona ciliata in a moist tropical forest of Bangladesh by using tree-ring analysis. We sampled 50 trees of varying size, obtained increment cores from these trees and measured tree-ring width. Analyses of growth patterns revealed size-dependent growth increments. After correcting for the effect of tree size on tree growth (ontogenetic changes) by two different methods we found declining growth rates in T. ciliata from 1960 to 2013. Standardized ring-width index (RWI) was strongly negatively correlated with annual mean and maximum temperatures suggesting that rising temperature might cause the observed growth decline in T. ciliata. Assuming that global temperatures will rise at the current rate, the observed growth decline is assumed to continue. The analysis of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes may reveal more insight on the physiological response of this species to future climatic changes.

Investigating patterns of tiger and prey poaching in the Bangladesh Sundarbans: Implications for improved management

Poaching of tigers and their key prey threatens the survival of tigers across their range. This study investigated the methods, intensity, and driving factors of tiger and prey poaching in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest of Bangladesh, to help better design and direct future management interventions. The study identified a range of snaring methods used to catch prey and an approach to killing tigers by poisoning prey carcasses with a Carbofuran pesticide. We recorded six poisoned baits set to kill tigers and 1427 snare loops in 56 snare sets to kill tiger prey. With an average of 23 snare loops/snare set, this is equivalent to an estimated 6268 snare loops across the Sundarbans or 147 snare loops/100 km2. Poachers selected sites that tended to be away from guard posts, and close to river banks, but were not influenced by protected area status or distance to the forest boundary. The current poaching pressure is likely to have contributed to a recent decline in relative tiger abundance. We recommend using better regulation of Carbofuran use across tiger range countries, and using remote camera traps set up around snares and poisoned baits to help authorities identify poachers for arrest. This study demonstrates a simple approach to investigating the methods, intensity and distribution of poaching, that could be replicated across all tiger landscapes to better direct mitigating actions and monitor changes in threat levels over time.

Mycorrhizal Colonization Status and Rhizosphere Soil Properties of BCSIR Reserve Forest Rajshahi, Bangladesh

The present investigation has been conducted to assess the AMF (Arbusculr Mycorrhiza Fungi) colonization status along with rhizosphere soil properties of dominant plants and grass species in Rajshahi BCSIR forest of Bangladesh. Roots of six dominant plants (Psidium guajava, Swietenia mahagoni, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Manihot esculenta, Acalypha indica, Fragaria ananassa) and two grass species (Digitaria sanguinalis, Cynodon dactylon) were collected and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from rhizosphere zone. Mycorrhizal colonization percentages and edaphic factors (Soil pH, EC, N, P, Moisture and Soil Temperature) were documented. Highest colonization was obtained in Manihot esculenta (85±5%) followed by Swietenia mahagoni (78±10.36%) and lowest was observed in Acalypha indica (2±1.9%). Mycorrhizal structure as arbuscles, vesicles were present in Psidium guajava, Swietenia mahagoni, Manihot esculenta among the studied species. Research findings indicate that plants species of Rajshahi BCSIR forest is mycorrhizal but not well established as well as mycorrhizal infection is irregularly correlated with edaphic factors.

Population status and distribution of Rhesus Macaque, Macaca mulatta, in a moist deciduous forest of Bangladesh

A study was conducted on population status and distribution of Rhesus Macaque, Macaca mulatta, in moist deciduous forest of Bangladesh from April to October 2015. Observation was carried out in the Madhupur deciduous forest, Tangail. In total, 248 individuals belonging to 11 groups were recorded. The group size ranged from 9 to 51 (mean 22.54 ± 11.68) individuals. Among the total population, 48.5% were adults and 51.5% immature animals (sub-adult male, sub-adult female, juvenile and infant). The ratio of adult and immature was 1 : 1.85 and the sex ratio of adult male and female was 1 : 1.49. The groups were 0.77 to 7.47 km (mean 2.5 km ± 2.2, n = 11) apart from each other.Bangladesh J. Zool. 44(1): 61-72, 2016

Travel Cost Valuation of the Sundarbans Reserved Forest of Bangladesh

Sundarbans Reserved Forest hosts the largest single block of tidal, salt-water mangrove forest on Earth with a diverse collection of flora and fauna, including many endangered ones. It is thus, (and also generally) necessary to find an appropriate estimation of the recreational benefits of this world-renowned region as a tool for the conservation of biodiversity, as well as the development of ecotourism, there. I have designed this report to do just that (estimate the recreational value) and to exhibit a relationship between the Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) in Bangladesh and travel cost, using the responses of the visitors to this region from all over Bangladesh. A zonal approach of the travel cost technique has been used here and the sample was 300* visitors of SRF over a period of seven days. My analysis yielded that the total value of the environmental resources of SRF is around 197 million Tk./year. I have also made the suggestion of initiating an entrance fee of 50 Tk./person/visit which could generate proceeds of approximately 5,000,000 Tk./year, to successfully fulfill the duties of the mangrove area management and biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Travel Cost, Valuation, Sundarbans *The filled-in questionnaires are with the author and are available on request

Composition, diversity and distribution of woody species in relation to vertical stratification of a tropical wet evergreen forest in Bangladesh

The composition, diversity and spatial distribution pattern of woody species were analyzed along the vertical profile of a tropical wet evergreen forest in Bangladesh. The forest stand consisted of five vertical strata. The species composition was moderately similar among the strata, while the highest degree of similarity was between fourth and bottom strata. Bursera serrata Wall. ex Colebr. was the most dominant species, and may be typically climax species together with Microcos paniculata L. ex W & A. and Maesa ramentaca (Roxb). A. DC in terms of their high importance values. Species–area relationships depict compositional instability of the present forest, because expected maximum numbers of species (165) were four times higher than the recorded numbers of species (40) for the total stand. Smaller species richness in the upper strata was compensated by greater species evenness (Pielou’s index J′ ), resulting in almost constant Shannon’s index H′ across the strata. It indicates each stratum may have the same role in maintaining high woody species diversity. The rate of equality of individuals among the different species decreased with increasing species richness due to decrease of J′ from the top stratum downward. The distribution pattern of the entire stand was greatly influenced by the aggregated distribution of the majority of the juveniles those mainly appeared in the bottom stratum. However, vertical strata shared a mixed distribution pattern of random and aggregate which followed from the upper strata to downward. This type of distribution pattern for stratified stand is probably consistent in tropical forests.

Forest Management for Enhancing Ecosystem Services in the Climate Change Scenario of Bangladesh

Ecosystem services of forests are essential for human life. As the human population increases, the demand for ecosystem services also increases and thereby the amount of forest is declining, taking their ecosystem services with them and leaving the remaining forests and their services more significant and scarce. The once biodiversity rich forests of Bangladesh have undergone massive deforestation and degradation due to high population pressure and lack of proper management. In recent years there has been a substantial shift in emphasis in forest management from maximizing yield towards maximizing sustainability through increased participation of local population, conserving biodiversity, and maintaining ecosystem services. New forest management systems are added to address climate change scenario, such as agroforestry, strip plantation, participatory forestry on encroached forest, community based mangrove afforestation on newly accreted land in the coastal area and conservation area management to preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity. This paper presents a brief account of ecosystem services of forests that are crucial for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Some studies related to ecosystem services interaction with their management implications are reviewed; valuation of ecosystem services is studied and recommends management techniques to ensure more effective conservation of existing forest and biodiversity resources are recommended. Conservation area management proved as efficient, successful and cost-effective tool for maintaining ecosystem services in the climate change context, as they often protect the last remaining large areas of natural habitats. Increasing the protected area network and improving management techniques can enhance the resilience of ecosystem to climate change and safeguard vital ecosystem services.

Relationship between Diversity and Productivity at Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest in Bangladesh

One of the most concerned topics in ecology is the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, there are few field studies, carried out in forests, although many studies have been done in controlled experiments in grasslands. In this paper, we describe the relationship pattern between three facets of diversity and productivity at Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest (RFWSF) in Bangladesh, which is the only remaining fresh water swamp forest of the country. Sixty sample plots were selected from RFWSF and included six functional traits including leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), tree height, bark thickness and wood density. In analyzing TD, we used Shannon diversity and richness indices, functional diversity was measured by Rao's quadratic entropy (Rao 1982) and Faith's (1992) index was used for phylogenetic diversity (PD). It was found that, TD, FD and PD were positively related with productivity (basal area) due to resource use complementarity but surprisingly the best predictor of tree productivity was FD. The results contribute to the understanding the effects of biodiversity loss and it is essential for conservation decision-making and policy-making of Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest.

EFFECTS OF LAND-USE CHANGE ON THE PROPERTIES OF TOP SOIL OF DECIDUOUS SAL FOREST IN BANGLADESH

This study examined the effects of land use change on the physico-chemical properties of top soil in the deciduous Sal forest of Bangladesh. Relatively less disturbed Sal (Shorea robusta Roxb. Ex Gaertn.) forest stands and the nearby stands those were converted into Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis Benth.) plantation and pineapple (Ananus comosus (L.) Merr.) cultivation were selected to examine the effects of land use change on soil properties. For each land use type, soil samples were collected from 4 locations, 50m distant from each other, as replicates. Soil samples were collected at 0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 cm depths. Soil moisture content, conductivity, pH organic C, total N and total P were determined as soil properties. Leaf litter of Sal, Acacia and pineapple was incubation for 90 and 180 days in independent identical soil in order to examine the effects of plant species through leaf litter on the soil chemical nutrient (N and P) status. Data showed that soil moisture content, conductivity and pH were significantly affected by land use but not by depth. However, soil organic C was affected by both land-use type (P&lt; 0.02) and soil depth (P&lt; 0.003), although no significant interactions appeared between these two factors. Soil total N and P did not differ between land use types but by depth and, N and P contents decreased with the increase of depth. Rates of nutrients (N and P) released from Sal, Acacia and pineapple did not differ significantly among them during incubation. Results of the present study reveal that properties of the top soil of the Madhupur Sal forest are different in their responses to the varying land uses. The findings of this study are thus relevant for the sustainable management of the deciduous Sal forest ecosystems.

Projected changes in area of the Sundarban mangrove forest in Bangladesh due to SLR by 2100.

The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, located in India and Bangladesh, is recognized as a global priority for biodiversity conservation and is an important provider of ecosystem services such as numerous goods and protection against storm surges. With global mean sea-level rise projected as up to 0.98 m or greater by 2100 relative to the baseline period (1985–2005), the Sundarbans – mean elevation presently approximately 2 m above mean sea-level – is under threat from inundation and subsequent wetland loss; however the magnitude of loss remains unclear. We used remote and field measurements, geographic information systems and simulation modelling to investigate the potential effects of three sea-level rise scenarios on the Sundarbans within coastal Bangladesh. We illustrate how the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) is able to reproduce the observed area losses for the period 2000–2010. Using this calibrated model and assuming that mean sea-level is a better proxy than the SLAMM assumed mean lower low water for Mangrove area delineation, the estimated mangrove area net losses (relative to year 2000) are 81–178 km2, 111–376 km2 and 583–1393 km2 for relative sea-level rise scenarios to 2100 of 0.46 m, 0.75 m and 1.48 m, respectively and net subsidence of ±2.5 mm/year. These area losses are very small (<10 % of present day area) and significantly smaller than previous research has suggested. Our simulations also suggest that erosion rather than inundation may remain the dominant loss driver to 2100 under certain scenarios of sea-level rise and net subsidence. Only under the highest scenarios does inundation due to sea-level rise become the dominant loss process.

Germination Traits of Millettia Pinnata (L.) in Response to Salinity

Millettia pinnata is a mangrove associates and found to occur in the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh. We have examined the effect of salinity on seed germination of this species. Seed germination experiment was conducted with different salinity levels (0 to 35 ppt) at 5 ppt interval. Throughout the experiment Cumulative Germination Percentage (CGP) varied from 73.89% to 27.78% among 0 to 10 ppt and from 17.22% to 4.44% between 15 to 20 ppt salinity. Final germination percentage (FGP) of M. pinnatta seeds varied significantly (p

Frugivorous Birds and Fruit Plants in a Deciduous Forest in Bangladesh: A Case Study in the Madhupur National Park

A total of 29 species of frugivorous birds were recorded from the Madhupur National Park during July 2007 to December 2008. Among the frugivorous birds, 16 (55.2%) were absolutely seed gulpers, 2 (6.9%) seed gulpers as well as seed discarders and 5 (17.2%) were fully seed predators. The frugivorous birds were observed more active during early morning (23 species, 79.3%) and late afternoon (20 species, 69%), of which 16 (55.2%) were common in both time frames. Frugivorous birds mainly preferred fruit followed by nectars, seeds and buds. Ficus benghalensis was the top most preferred food plant to the birds. Berries were highly preferred (29.7%) by the birds. The preferred fruit diameter ranged from 16.5 to 19.6 mm (18.1 ± 0.8). Black colour and mild sweet fruit was highly preferred by the birds.Bangladesh J. Zool. 43(2): 173-187, 2015