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Assessment of Tree Species Diversity of Tankawati Natural Forest, Chittagong (south) Forest Division, Bangladesh

M A Motaleb
Project Officer
IUCN, Bangladesh Country office, Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212

M K Hossain
Professor, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper describes the present tree stocks and species diversity in three topographical positions of Tankawati Natural Forest. Systematic random sampling method was used to study the species diversity. Individual tree stems per hectare was highest in the mid hill (1400 stems/ha), whereas, basal area per hectare was highest in the hill top (62.16 m²/ha). The Shannon-Weiner Diversity index (3.25) and the Evenness Index (1.18) was highest in the mid hill; Species diversity index (54.50) and Species Richness index (16.16) was highest in the hill top and the Index of Dominance (0.16) was highest in the hill base and lowest (0.06) in the mid hill. Trends of diversity indices showed that vegetation community in hill top and mid hill is highly stable than hill base due to the disturbance in the hill base. The overall tree diversity in Tankawati Natural Forest is comparable to the tropical forests and emphasis was given to conserve the area.

Keywords: Basal area, Diameter at breast height, Stem per hectare, Tankawati Natural Forest, Tree stocks.

Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

This study was an initiative to find out the species diversity and present tree stock of this forest.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in the remnant natural forest of Tankawati Forest Reserve of Padua Forest Range of Chittagong (South) Forest Division. The total area of Tankawati Forest Reserve is 1123.72 hectare. Data were collected through systematic random sampling method in three topographical positions namely, hill top, mid hill and hill base, which was done from May 2006 to September 2007. In each slope 40 sample plots of 10 m x 10 m in size were laid out proportionally and thus a total of 120 sample plots were selected to collect the data. Plot size was determined by applying species area curve (Moore and Chapman, 1986) and sample size was found to be sufficient for the vegetation survey with a standard deviation of ± 10 at 40% coefficient of variation as described by Avery (1967). Within each plot, the number and name of all the tree species was counted and recorded. Diameter at breast height (dbh) of all the trees having a dbh of ≥10 cm within each plot were measured by diameter tape. The field data were analyzed for seven measures of ecological importance: the Importance Value Index (IVI), the present stock of the forest, the Shannon Wiener Index for Diversity, Species Diversity Index (IDI), Species Richness Index (R), Evenness Index (E) and the Index of Dominance. The IVI is a composite index based on measures of relative frequency, relative density and relative dominance (Mueller-Dombois and Ellengberg, 1974). Basal area was estimated by using the formula as given by Chaturvedi and Khanna (1982). Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index was calculated according to Michael (1990), Species Diversity Index was calculated according to Singh et al. (1993) and the indices of Richness (R) and Evenness (E) were estimated employing the formulae given by Margalef (1958) and Pielou (1966) respectively.

Source of Information: Eco-friendly Agril. J. 4 (02):542-545, 2011 (February)

Article Link (Online Journal): http://efaj-international.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3-Eco-friendly-Agril.-J.-4-02542-5451.pdf

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Tankawati Natural Forest is heterogeneous in composition. An estimated 5700 species of angiosperms occur in Bangladesh (Hossain, 2005), but the baseline information on occurrence and composition of forest trees is inadequate except the emphasis on a few economically important timber species. Changes in land use, deforestation accelerate the loss of the source of wild biodiversity. Much of the biodiversity in tropical forests resides in herbs, shrubs and small trees. So, natural forest like Tankawati Natural Forest having good tree stocking and diversity needs to be protected with emphasis on conservation of wild biodiversity. Permanent sample plots may be established in this forest which would provide long term data on growth, mortality, regeneration and dynamics of forest trees. These may also create base information for research and education that will contribute to the conservation and management of Tankawati Natural Forest.

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