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Deforestation and Biodiversity Degradation in Madhupur Sal Forest at Tangail Region

Md. Sirajul Islam*
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

Shimul Roy
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

Sayma Khanom
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Mahmudul Islam
Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to investigate the deforestation and biodiversity degradation in Madhupur sal forest of Tangail region during April to September 2010. Households from different garo villages of two selected unions under the forest were contacted for interview to identify the resource consumption pattern and to know their views about deforestation and biodiversity degradation in the forest. Various commercial activities such as large scale plantation of pineapple, banana and papaya trigger the environmental degradation inside the forest through many ways therefore degrading the remaining forest patches, soil quality of the forest and reducing the forest biodiversity. Most of the respondents mentioned that major causes for biodiversity loss including deforestation followed by commercial logging, loss of habitat and lack of conservation initiatives. Results of the study suggested that restriction on human interference inside the forest is the effective solution for reducing deforestation and biodiversity degradation. The study identified that the loss of biodiversity in the forest depended on the effect of deforestation, threats to indigenous livelihood, enhanced greenhouse effect, lowering ground water levels and soil erosion, respectively.

Keywords: Environmental degradation, Deforestation, Madhupur sal forest

Location: Madhupur sal forest of Tangail region

Start Date: 00-04-2010

End Date: 00-09-2010

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Sal forest

Objectives:

According to BBS (1999), deforestation causes a decrease in catchments areas water-holding capacity, increased soil erosion, and the loss of habitats and biodiversity, which impacts on economy, was estimated at 1% of GDP. However to minimize deforestation and biodiversity loss in the sal forest, the following objectives were carried out: i) to assess the major causes of deforestation, ii) to identify the causes responsible for biodiversity loss and depletion of the forest resources, and iii) to investigate the present condition of flora and fauna in the forest

Methodology:

The study was conducted in the selected areas of Madhupur sal forest under the Madhupur upazila at Tangail district. According to Ahmed (2009), the total area of the Madhupur sal forest under Tangail district is about 46,000 acres (186 Km2 ), among them 7,800 acres have been given out for rubber cultivation, 1000 acres to the Air Force, 25000 acres have gone into illegal possession and the Forest Department controls only 12,200 acres of the forest area. It should be mentioned that the last remains of the forest were mainly found in and around Arankhola and Sholakuri union parishad of Madhupur upazila. The questionnaire survey was conducted in selected villages namely the Chunia and Jalchatra under the Arankhola union; and Dhokhola and Hagrakuri under the Sholakuri union. In this study, the methods of data collection were interview with key informant, questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) with the local people in the forest. The electronic and web based information was also used for data collection. The total population of the two selected unions was 75,864 (MUPC, 2001). It is mentioned that the forest was surrounded by four unions, among them two unions namely Arankhola and Sholakuri were selected by using simple random sampling method. From these two unions a total of four villages (two villages from each union) were chosen randomly and 20 respondents from each of the villages were selected for interview through simple random sampling method. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Primary data was collected by using the interviews of the key respondents from the selected areas. Data were collected from the selected areas from a total of 80 respondents through questionnaire survey. Secondary information was collected through reviewing research journals, newspapers, books, and the internet. After completion of the field survey, the obtained information from the respondents was compiled and presented.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies Volume 11 (1&2) and 12 (1&2): ??-?? : December 2013

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present situations indicated that the complete destruction of the sal forest at Tangail region is only a matter of time. So, for reducing environmental degradation in sal forest, some appropriate forest conservative approaches should be taken through the government initiatives in collaboration with the international organizations and non-government organizations. Today, most of the forestland in Madhupur has been denuded, degraded or encroached upon or taken over for the commercial production of pineapples or bananas or the industrial plantation of rubber or exotic fuel wood species (Gain, 2002). Geographically, Bangladesh falls near the Indo-Burma region which is one of the ten global prime spot areas and supposed to have 7000 endemic plant species. Due to its unique geophysical location, Bangladesh is exceptionally characterized by a rich biological diversity (Hossain, 2001; Chowdhury, 2001). Unfortunately, due to country’s enormous deforestation rate, a lot of mammals, birds, and reptiles are now under tremendous pressure. Already several important wild lives have extinct from the country (Rahman, 2004).

For the minimization of environmental degradation at Madhupur sal forest, some appropriate steps should be taken through the government and by all of the concerned authorities both national and international. Finally, the following recommendations should be implemented to save the forest from degradation as well as to conserve the sal forest and to overcome the existing situation: i) destruction of forest through commercial logging should be stopped, ii) restrictions on human interference in the forest should be maintained, iii) degradation of biodiversity through social forestry should be stopped, iv) conversion of forest to agricultural fields should be stopped, and v) government should take proper initiatives in collaboration with international organizations to save the forest from degradation. Sincere thanks to the Social Science Research Council, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, for providing us the project (No. SSRC/74/2000/6/267) with financial support.

Knowledge Management: Journal