Lawachara National Park Research Articles

Foliar methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in tropical tree species

Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are critical biogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) with global warming potentials substantially greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The exchange of these gases in tropical forests, particularly via foliar processes, remains poorly understood. We quantified foliar CH₄ and N₂O fluxes among tropical tree species and examined their potential association with the leaf economics spectrum (LES) traits. Sampling within Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh, we used in-situ measurements of foliar CH₄ and N₂O fluxes employing off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (CH₄, CO₂ and H₂O) and optical feedback–cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (N₂O) analyzers. Leaves were measured under dark, low, and high (0, 100, and 1000 μmol·m−2·s−1) light conditions. Surveyed tree species exhibited both net foliar uptake and efflux of CH₄, with a mean flux not different from zero, suggesting negligible net foliar emissions at the stand level. Plant families showed differences in CH₄, but not N₂O fluxes. Consistent efflux was observed for N₂O, with a mean of 0.562 ± 0.060 pmol·m−2·s−1. Pioneer species exhibited a higher mean N₂O flux (0.81 ± 0.17 pmol·m−2·s−1) compared to late-successional species (0.37 ± 0.05 pmol·m−2·s−1). Pioneer species also showed a trend toward a higher mean CH₄ flux (0.24 ± 0.21 nmol·m−2·s−1) compared to mid-successional (−0.01 ± 0.26 nmol·m−2·s−1) and late-successional species (−0.05 ± 0.28 nmol·m−2·s−1). Moreover, among all leaf traits within the leaf economic spectrum, a significant positive relationship was observed between leaf N₂O flux and total leaf nitrogen. Our results suggest that pioneer tree species significantly contribute to net CH₄ and N₂O emissions, potentially counteracting the carbon sequestration benefits in regenerating tropical forests. These findings indicate that accurate GHG budgeting should include direct measurements of foliar CH₄ and N₂O fluxes. Moreover, the results suggest that forest conservation and management strategies that prioritize late successional species will better mitigate GHG emissions.

Geographical variations in woodfuel supply and trade in northeastern Bangladesh

Woodfuel is the primary source of cooking energy for residential and commercial sectors in Bangladesh. Woodfuel is obtained from forest and non-forest sources, traded informally or in the marketplace, and provide employment and income within the supply chain. However, the woodfuel trade is a complex and dynamic system influenced by various factors. Hence, this study assessed woodfuel sources and factors affecting production, supply, and trade in markets. We surveyed 206 woodfuel vendors in 112 markets located within 30-km of Khadimnagar National Park and Lawachara National Park in northeastern Bangladesh in terms of market attributes (degree of urbanization and population density), environmental factors (tree coverage and seasonality), and woodfuel sources (forests and non-forests) utilized by these vendors. On an average, 101 rural market vendors sold higher quantities of woodfuel than 94 semi-urban market vendors. The 126 sawmills in the two subregions had significantly greater woodfuel sales than woodfuel wholesalers and mixed wholesale vendors. There was a significant seasonal fluctuation in woodfuel sales, with lower sales during the wetter monsoon months (July–October) than those during winter (November–February) or summer (March–June). The findings showed a positive correlation between the annual woodfuel sold in each market and market attributes, such as the surrounding population density. Non-forest sources, such as homestead forests, roadside plantations, tea estates, and sawmills, supplied 73 % of the total woodfuel sold. There were significant variations in both the woodfuel selling price and vendor net income in the two subregions. These findings highlight the need for policy initiatives to facilitate non-forest resource management and achieve sustainable development goals in Bangladesh's forest and energy sectors.

Temporal comparison of land-use changes and biodiversity in differential IUCN protected-area categories of Bangladesh in the context of co-management

ABSTRACT Protected areas (PA) have been considered as biodiversity conservation hub across the globe. The conventional “top-down” management approach has been failed to ensure resource sustainability in many PA. Therefore, co-management was introduced to secure the PA of Bangladesh and started with legal framework in 2008 (IPAC Project) until 2018 (CREL Project). Thus, land-use and biodiversity change analysis from a decade before and after 2008 has generated comparison of previous and after scenario of co-management. Hence for evaluating effects of co-management on temporal biodiversity and land-use change in Bangladesh, two PA, Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) under IUCN Protected Area Category IV and Lawachara National Park (LNP) under IUCN Protected Area Category II, were selected. Community structure of both vascular plants and avifauna species was used to determine current biodiversity variations with habitat influence. Land-use change analysis revealed deforestation and settlements expansion in CWS but decrease in LNP. Trend analysis forecasted good future of LNP in terms of forest cover till 2038. Biodiversity analysis revealed that CWS is slightly more diverse and even than LNP. Comparative analysis recognized prominent loss of biodiversity before co-management period. Therefore, co-management system can be employed in the rest of reserve-forest areas of Bangladesh for conservation betterment.

Influence of Agricultural Expansion and Human Disturbance on the Encounter Rates of Nocturnal Mammals in Tropical Hill Forests in Bangladesh

Agricultural expansion has had a detrimental effect on tropical forests and the animal communities that depend on them. Agroforestry systems, however, with their more complex tree and plant communities, have been shown to be important habitats for a range of globally threatened species, including nocturnal animals. Here, we present novel data on the encounter rates of seven species of nocturnal mammals in relation to agroforestry systems within four national parks and associated plantations in Bangladesh to examine if encounter rates were influenced by the human population density, presence of plantations, and human access as represented by a Human Influence Index of anthropogenic disturbance. We walked 70.3 km of transects with only semi-natural forest, 26.9 km of transects with semi-natural forest and gardens, and 21.7 km of transects with semi-natural forest and monocultures over 55 nights from 2017–2019. Of the seven species of nocturnal mammals we detected, all were present in Satachari National Park, whereas six occurred in Lawachara National Park, Rajkandi Forest Range, and Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Within these national parks, three species (Bengal slow loris, large Indian civet, particolored flying squirrel) were more frequently recorded in areas with human disturbance, especially agroforestry plantations. With declining forest cover in Bangladesh, we highlight here the potential of agroforestry systems as emerging important habitats for these species. We encourage long-term studies of these lesser-studied taxa to understand fully the capacity of agroforestry systems in order to support their long-term conservation.

Forest roads regulate native and exotic species diversity and adjacent soil properties in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Forest roads regulate native and exotic species diversity and adjacent soil properties in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Masturbation in male capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus) at Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Abstract not available Bangladesh J. Zool. 49 (3): 441-445, 2021

Biofluorescence in the herpetofauna of northeast Bangladesh

Fluorescence is a poorly documented phenomenon in vertebrates and has been suggested to play several biological roles. With increased study, the number of species in which biofluorescence has been identified is increasing steadily. We conducted a UV light survey for biofluorescence in the herpetofauna in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh and found biofluorescence in one amphibian (Microhyla berdmorei) and three reptile species (Boiga cyanea, Cyrtodactylus tripuraensis and Hemidactylus platyurus).

EFFECTS OF VEGETATION TYPES AND HABITAT DISTURBANCE ON SPECIES RICHNESS AND COMPOSITION OF ANT (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) ASSEMBLAGES IN LAWACHARA NATIONAL PARK, BANGLADESH

Ants, because of their diversity, abundance, and functional roles in the ecosystem, play a crucial role in understanding the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on community ecology. Thus, the influence of the structural complexity of the environment on the richness and diversity of ants makes them a potential ecological indicator. Although there exist numerous studies on ant species richness in different countries, such studies are rare in Bangladesh. To fill-up this information gap, the present study was conducted in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh, a conservation site with abundant natural resources. The purpose of this study was to describe the richness and composition of local ant assemblage in the forest ecosystem and understand their structural diversity on different types of plants and disturbance patterns. Time unit sampling and pitfall traps were used to perform sampling from two different areas, viz, primary forest and secondary forest. A total of 843 ant individuals was identified from 48 species of 17 genera distributed among 6 subfamilies. Myrmicinae was the most abundant ant subfamily in the study area. Most of the species found were from the genus Pheidole. The rarefaction curves showed higher species richness in areas with reforestation. The richness pattern of species found in two areas denoted that vegetation and soil conditions may affect the overall diversity and composition of ants. This can be considered as the first extensive list of ant assemblages from Lawachara National Park. These findings will provide comprehensive data for using ants as bioindicators in natural protected areas.

Visitor’s Willingness to Pay for Cultural Ecosystem Services in Bangladesh: An Assessment for Lawachara National Park, a Biodiversity Hotspot

The valuation of natural ecosystems helps policymakers to allocate adequate resources for the provision of ecosystem services they provide. Cultural ecosystem services are the non-material benefits we obtain from nature, which include but are not limited to recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, physical and mental health benefits. They are essential for a proper sense of a place, human health, and wellbeing. We quantified the recreational and other non-material benefits of Lawachara National Park (LNP), one of the oldest and most diverse forest protected areas and tourist attractions in northeast Bangladesh. A Modified Travel Cost Method (MTCM) was applied for quantifying the recreational and other non-material values of LNP. Altogether 309 respondents were interviewed, covering both peak season and slack season. In our MTCM, we considered several additional factors, unlike the commonly used Travel Cost Method (TCM). The value of cultural ecosystem services of LNP was estimated to be Taka 476.70 million and Taka 476.44 million per annum using MTCM and TCM, respectively. The value estimated using MTCM was marginally higher than the value estimated using TCM and was due to the additional variables we considered in our modified approach. We believe our estimates using MTCM will guide policymakers to properly value natural ecosystems and facilitate adequate resource allocation for ecotourism in LNP and elsewhere.

Effect of transportation infrastructure on forest plant diversity and soil properties in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Transportation infrastructure has bought many blessings for human civilization, although its negative influences, especially on a forested landscape should be heeded with prime concerns. In this study, we studied, how railway track perforating through Lawachara National Park affecting the nearby vegetation alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity and composition and soil properties, and whether the effects are active until a certain distance into the forest interior. Total 32 plots in 8 transect lines perpendicular to the railway are laid with 4 plots at 10 m, 40 m, 70 m and 100 m distances. Tree and tree regeneration α and β-diversity and composition, and soil organic matter and pH were assessed at each of these plots. Our results showed that, soil organic matter and pH, as well as α-diversity indices were significantly (P < .05) higher in plots near the railway track than forest interior parts in case of both tree and tree regenerations. But the β-diversity did not vary significantly (P > .05) with distances. High amount of organic matter in outermost plots was maybe due to the decomposition of litterfall and debris where increased pH value was due to presence of high amount of calcareous substances and plant residue. As the α-diversity of plant decreased with increasing distance from the railway track and in most cases the value decreased until 70 m distance, indicated that the influence of the railway tracks maybe prominent up to 70 m. So, to minimize this effect of vegetation structure proper steps such as careful planning in road building, afforestation using the native species and evaluation of the necessity of infrastructure and possible alternatives to it should be assessed.

The use of multi-temporal Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data for assessing forest cover change of Lawarchara National Park

Lawachara National Park (LNP) is one of the most renowned protected areas in Bangladesh and a natural habitat of critically endangered Hoolock gibbon. The study's purpose was to assess the long-term change of forest cover using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technique and evaluate the impact of co-management. Landsat images acquired from the USGS glovis website were used to assess forest cover change using NDVI, a popular technique for identification and estimation of forest areas. NDVI value ranges from (− 1) to (+ 1); a negative value indicates non-vegetated areas including water bodies, road surfaces, settlements, etc., whereas a positive value near (+ 1) indicates the highest density vegetation. NDVI value (0) indicates bare land without vegetation. Based on NDVI values, the forest areas have been divided into four categories, namely: (1) very low or no vegetation area, (2) low-density vegetation area, (3) moderate-density vegetation area, and (4) dense vegetation area. A household survey was carried out among the people living in the adjacent villages to LNP. The study of assessing the forest cover change of LNP using remotely sensed data revealed that, after the initiation of co-management, the dense vegetation area increased by 8.62% in 2006 compared to 2001, but it decreased by 0.77% in 2014. In 2018, dense vegetation decreased by 3.86% relative to the dense vegetation area of 2014. If it is compared as a whole, it can be said that the forest cover has improved under co-management, and the household survey revealed that forest dependence has been reduced which might be considered as one of the reasons for forest cover improvement. However, more improvement can be achieved by focusing on the villages where forest dependence is still high. Betel leaf cultivation inside the forest area is creating a problem for wildlife and also hampering the natural composition of flora. Therefore, it is recommended to rehabilitate betel leaf cultivators outside the forest area with proper compensation. This will harness the full potentiality of the co-management practice, it needs complete monitoring and goodwill from every stakeholder, and hence it will bring good for the whole country.

Stakeholders’ Perception on Conservation Outcomes of Forest Protected Area Co-management in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Co-management of forest protected areas (PA) in Bangladesh was initiated in 2004 with the aim of involving forest-dependent people in the PA governance for the conservation of forest resources. This study was conducted in two deliberately selected PA (Lawachara national park and Teknaf wildlife sanctuary) to understand stakeholders’ (co-management participants, forest officials, and non-participants of co-management) perception toward conservation outcomes. We interviewed 105 respondents using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, applied generalized logistic regression to model their perception of forest conservation outcomes, and did a content analysis of related literature. Forest officials and non-participants were less likely to perceive that co-management had brought something better for PA in terms of the existence of native tree species (odds ratio (OR) = 0.87), wildlife population (OR = 0.67), and agricultural activities (OR = 0.85) inside the PA, which are in conformity with related published literature. However, co-management participants were found positive (ORs are 1.59, 1.24, and 0.97, respectively) for the above conservation outcomes. The findings of this study would be useful for the Bangladesh forest department to identify the divergent perception of stakeholders and find ways toward better conservation outcomes.

Spatial patterns of woodfuel consumption by commercial cooking sectors within 30 km of Lawachara National Park in northeastern Bangladesh

In this study, the commercial woodfuel consumption at 119 markets within 30 km of the border of Lawachara National Park (LNP) in northeastern Bangladesh was examined. The study included interviews with a total of 587 commercial woodfuel consumers, representing restaurants, tea stalls, and food manufacturers. The way in which the market attributes (travel distance to LNP, elevation, degree of urbanisation, and population density) and consumer characteristics (use of alternative fuels and diversification in woodfuel sources) affected woodfuel consumption at the market and shop levels was evaluated. The annual woodfuel consumption was found to be greater in semi-urban areas than in rural areas, in terms of both total market and per-shop consumption, while it decreased with an increase in the travel distance to LNP. At the shop-level, alternative fuel use did not reduce woodfuel consumption, and shops that also used liquefied petroleum gas consumed more woodfuel. These woodfuel demands were met directly and indirectly (via sawmills) by natural forests, homestead trees, tea estates, and roadside plantations. Hence, the sustainable production of woodfuel from homestead forests and roadside plantations, rather than the adoption of affordable alternatives to traditional woodfuel, such as rice-husk briquettes, is important for meeting the sustainable development goals in rural Bangladesh.

Integrative taxonomic analysis reveals a new species of Leptobrachium Tschudi, 1838 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Bangladesh

ABSTRACT We report on a new species of frogs of the genus Leptobrachium from Lawachara National Park, Moulvibazar District, Sylhet Division in northeastern Bangladesh, based on molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence. Leptobrachium sylheticum sp. nov. is to date reliably known only from Sylhet Division of Bangladesh and Tripura State of India. The new species belongs to the L. smithi complex within the subgenus Leptobrachium and based on phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA mtDNA gene is suggested as a sister lineage to the clade comprised L. smithi and L. rakhinense. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: adult SVL of 50.2–60.9 mm in males, 63.9–68.3 mm in females; digit tips rounded; relative finger lengths: II<I< IV<III; relative toe lengths: V < I = II<III<IV; toe webbing formula: I 1–1 II 1–2 III 1–3¼ IV 3½–1 V; inner metatarsal tubercle large; iris bicoloured, black ventrally, red dorsally, sclera bright-blue; dorsum grey with few small black spots laterally, dark head markings indistinct; belly and limbs ventrally dark-grey to black with sparse whitish marbling on chest and belly and characteristic orange-red dots on ventral surfaces of lower jaws and gular area; dark marking covering the entire tympanum; dark canthal stripe narrow; dark spots or blotches on body flanks absent or small, not forming a row; limbs dorsally with 2–3 dark markings not forming complete transverse bars; dark blotch at groin absent, posterior sides of thighs blackish with white spots; femoral gland in shape of small white blotch; axillary gland as a large roundish blotch; males with single vocal sac, lacking spinules on lips during breeding; and an advertisement call consisting of 3–8 notes and a dominant frequency of 1.4–1.9 kHz (at 31.0°C). Our study provides further evidence for still unrecognised amphibian diversity in Bangladesh. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:35B25466-AC5D-47E9-96FE-B1B8FF0A36FB http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C6BC1DE1-818D-4657-83A6-F6C693C5FCAD

Isolation, identification and characterization of bacteria from Lawachara National Park, Moulovibazar, Bangladesh

Bacteria are essential elements of natural environments. As bacteria are the key critical components of food webs and nutrient cycles, they contribute to ecosystem functioning via mutualists and pathogens for larger species. The present study has provided substantial grounds to confirm that microbial communities present in natural environments are much more diverse. Here, we tend to study a singular environment Lawachara National Park. Total 125 bacterial strains were isolated using serial dilution method. Thirteen unique colonies were selected, cultured and characterized by gram staining and biochemical tests. Based on morphological, biochemical, 16S rDNA gene sequencing and phylogeny analysis revealed that the isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringensis, Serratia marcescens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter cowanii, Acidobacterium capsulatum, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. This study serves as a baseline survey of bacterial diversity in the Lawachara National Park.

Amphibians and reptiles from Lawachara National Park in Bangladesh

An annotated inventory of the herpetofauna of Lawachara National Park in Bangladesh is presented, based primarily on original field observations recorded during a six-year survey of the park. A total of 71 species are reported, including 19 Anura, one Apoda, two Chelonii, and 49 Squamata. The course of the survey revealed 16 range extensions including 11 new country records for Bangladesh. Eight of the 16 range extensions including six of the 11 country records are reported here for the first time. Deleted from previous Lawachara National Park checklists are 23 species that had been erroneously reported due to misidentification, a species split, or the subsumption of the species within another taxa.

Impact of co-management on tree diversity and carbon sequestration in protected areas: Experiences from Bangladesh

Forest Protected Area (PA) co-management, which integrates local communities in the forest management structures, was started in Bangladesh in 2004 to effectively manage and conserve forest resources. This study has investigated if the initiative has met its objectives. Using NDVI maps, we applied a stratified random sampling framework to identify sample plots. Phytosociological and carbon-sequestration data were collected from two co-managed PAs (Lawachara National Park and Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary) and adjacent reserve forests that are not under co-management regime. Results reveal that phytosociological attributes for both mature trees and naturally regenerated seedlings showed better results in co-managed sites than in non-co-managed sites. Plot mean species, genus, and family were 2.69, 2.64, 2.49, respectively, in the non-co-managed sites as opposed to 1.64, 1.60, and 1.46 in the co-managed plots. Simpson's Diversity Index was 0.11 and 0.15 in co-managed PAs and control sites, respectively. Given the standard normal distribution, the range of biomass carbon sequestration was (−300, 500) t/ha in the co-managed PAs as opposed to (−200, 400) t/ha in the control sites. Overall, sites without co-management showed better biodiversity status than the sites having co-management practices.

SWOT Analysis of Forest Protected Area Based Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study in the Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh

Lawachara National Park (LNP) is one of the most important protected areas in the Sylhet region included in the blessed with the natural beauty of the forest and diverse wildlife of Northeast Bangladesh. This paper explores the possibility of sustainable forest tourism development in the study area regarding the sensible usage of the resource and local resident communities. To plan and properly implement this, various managements and decision-making tools were used, including interviews of local residents, visitors and the staff of the park, with the help of survey questionnaire (primary data) and secondary data acquired from Bangladesh Parjontan Corporation, conference proceedings, books, and journals. Based upon these data the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) were analyzed to identify the required management strategies to improve the sustainable forest protected area tourism in the hilly area. While introducing both domestic and international tourist attractions in the area, the influential factors in the region categorized into the four headings of strengths; weaknesses; opportunities and threats were included in our considerations and strategies or guidelines for a sustained eco tourism development in the region provided. The research findings, the well-established area forest tourism destination with a variety of natural attractions and unique culture of local people retaining ancient culture are the strengths of the area while lack of infrastructures and fundamental facilities are significant weaknesses. To maximize the internal strengths and external opportunities and to minimize internal weaknesses and external threats on the several strategies have been suggested for the sustainable forest protected area tourism development and management. However, there is a scope for the continuous improvement of the SWOT analysis in identifying more viable options for the strategic management of sustainable tourism.

Mortality of primates due to roads and power lines in two forest patches in Bangladesh

Primates are in imminent risk of extinction due to different types of anthropogenic activities. Mortality due to road accidents and electrocution from power lines are among the major direct anthropogenic threats to the survival of primates. We collected primate mortality data from 2015 to 2017 at Lawachara National Park and Satchari National Park in northeastern Bangladesh. We recorded 27 fatalities in five species of primates caused by road accidents (n = 15) and electrocution (n = 12). Most mortality records were for Trachypithecus phayrei (Blyth, 1847) (n = 8) while the lowest recorded mortality was for Macaca mulatta (Zimmermann, 1780) (n = 3). Ninety percent of primates in Bangladesh are threatened and populations are gradually declining. Our results suggest that roads and power supply lines are major sources of primate mortality that should be managed in these two forests. We strongly suggest avoiding construction of roads and power supply lines inside forests. Furthermore, control of the speed limit of vehicles inside the forests, use of insulated power lines, maintenance of natural canopy bridges and preparation of artificial canopy bridges are strongly recommended.

Towards Stimulating Tools for Advancement of Environmental Conservation through Promoting of Psychological Instruments

The explorative field observation on Environmental Conservation Psychology (ECP) is multi-diversified with collective and conjectural outlook. ECP provides a better understanding of the way in which conservation awareness, attitude, ethics, culture and well-being are affected by physical environments, social settings and built-in environment. The goal is to stimulate more attention be paid to ensure the effectiveness of environmental conservation and highlight psychological instruments required to develop new interdisciplinary approaches with innovative ways in prevailing challenges for the present and upcoming generations. Primary data were collected from a sample of respondents at the Lawachara National Park (LNP) in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh and secondary data were obtained from diverse sources. The research denoted and investigated by various disciplines and fields including environmental behaviors studies, positive psychology, person-environment studies, human-nature science and ecological psychology. The study showed about 70% of indigenous respondents opined on positive attitudes for environmental conservation to compare with 55% in others. The study identified approximately 65% of respondents stated for development of environmental education among local communities for promoting positive psychology surrounding the national park. This study focuses the importance of understanding this multidimensional psychological research as it is to inform about the environmental conservation perspectives that have contributed to and shaped the learning with high internal conservation stability, dependability, uniformity, and attractiveness with social bonding at LNP. This study represents the environmental design, manage, protect and restore conserving of biodiversity towards national parks that influence human behavior, predict and the likely outcomes when these conditions are not met and diagnose problem situations. This study links at solving complex environmental conservation problems in the pursuit of individual well-being within a longer community through human-environment conservation interactions.