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Plant Diversity and Their Distribution Pattern at Strategically Selected Conserved Forests of Banskhali, Chittagong

M. Alamgir
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong - 4331, Bangladesh.

M. Al-Amin
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong - 4331, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper presents the diversity and distribution pattern of trees, shrubs and grasses in a degraded, deforested and proposed biodiversity conservation area (Bamer chara and Daner chara) at Banskhali, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Number of stems /ha and basal area/ha of trees with a height of >1.3m were 590 and 1.4754 m² respectively. Tectona grandis shows the highest stems/ha and basal area per ha (172 and 0.2960 m²). Shanon-winner index is the highest in trees (2.77) followed by shrubs (2.34) and grasses (1.21). The diversity index is the highest in trees (2.07) followed by shrubs (0.49) and grasses (0.24). Index of species richness is the highest in the trees (13.03) followed by grasses (7.13) and shrubs (4.48). Species evenness index is the highest in shrubs (2.04) followed by trees (1.84) and grasses (0.81). Trees, shrubs and grasses show the contagious distribution.

Keywords: Species diversity, Conservation strategy, Diversity indices, Deforestation.

Location: Sheelkup union of Banskhali upazilla, Chittagong City

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Tree

Objectives:

To determine the species diversity and distribution pattern of the area which will provide the information about the potentiality of the area to conserve biodiversity.

Methodology:

The study area is situated at Sheelkup union of Banskhali upazilla about 80 km away from Chittagong city and lies between 21⁰ 51' to 22⁰11' Iatitude and 91⁰51' to 92⁰ 03' E longitude. Bamer chara and Daner Chara are owned by the Forest Department, the Bamer Chara is about 2 Km. in length and on an average 50m width while the Daner chara is about 4 km. in long and average 60m width. The average depth of the lake is 5m. The total area of Bamer chara is about 50 acres (20 hectares) while the Daner chara is about 100 acres (40 hectares). Both the lakes are surrounded with small hills and connected with a narrow channel. The hills are extended from southwest to northeast and consist of small and large hills. The hill composed of medium hard to soft shale and sandstones and the height is below 150m. The slope of the hills is categorized from medium to steep. The climate is typically sub tropical with a long dry season extending from October to May with average rainfall of about 2540mm, average temperature vary from 39.4°C to 8.3⁰C. An irrigation project is going on in this area by LGED from 1994-95 at Bamer chara and 2000-2001 at Daner chara.

Stratified random quadrate method was used to carryout the sampling procedure. Initially sampling points were located in the map proportionally and finally identified in the field. There were 30 plots at Danerchara and 10 at Bamerchara each 10m x l0m in size. The optimum quadrate size (10m x10m) for tree species was determined by applying species area curve through Gareth's (1991), Sharma (1979) and Ambasht (1978) method. Within each plot the number and name of all the trees were counted and recorded. Diameter at breast height (dbh) and height of all trees having a height of above 1.5m were measured. For shrubs and grasses species 2mx2m plot were selected at the centre of 10mx10m plot and name of all the shrubs and grasses were recorded for each plot and each of the species was collected for herbarium to preserve in the Institute of Forestry and Environmental sciences, Chittagong University (IFESCU). The collected data were analyzed to determine number of stems per hectare and basal area per hectare and also for five measures of diversity: the Shanon-winner index for diversity (H), Species diversity index (SDI), Index of dominance (ID), Species Richness index (R) and Species evenness index (E).

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT 3: 69 - 75, 2005

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It may be revealed from discussions that Bamerchara and Danerchara will be a potential biodiversity conservation area if proper protection will be given by declaring it as a biodiversity conservation area as early as possible. Dominancy of Impereta cylindrica hampers the regeneration and growth of trees, shrubs and grasses. Therefore, a proper management of Impereta cylindrica may contribute to increase the species diversity. Limited information is available on the diversity, composition, structure and regeneration of the area. Therefore, permanent sample plot may be established for continuous flow of information which may create an opportunity for research and may help continuous evaluation of a biodiversity conservation area.

Knowledge Management: Journal