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Assessment of Plant Diversity in Khadimnagar National Park of Bangladesh

Sobuj. N.A
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Rahman.M
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study described the diversity of plant species (trees, shrubs and herbs) in Khadimnagar National Park of Bangladesh. A stratified random quadrate method was employed in the study. A total of 74 plant species were recorded of which 26 were tree species, 17 were shrubs and 31 were herbs. Among the tree species, Tectona grandis showed the highest density (3.03/100m 2), frequency (76.67%), relative density (17.7%), relative frequency (11.3%) and relative dominance (37.3%). On the contrary, Alstonia scholaris represented the lowest density (0.07/100m 2), frequency (6.67%), relative density (0.39%) and relative frequency (0.99%). The lowest relative dominance was found in Sterculia villosa (0.14%). However, species with the highest abundance was calculated in Chickrassia tabularis (4.58) whereas the lowest was recorded in Alstonia scholaris, Cynometra polyandra, Sterculia villosa (1). Moreover, highest importance value index was measured in Tectona grandis (66.3) while the lowest was showed by Alstonia scholaris (1.54). Concerning shrub species, Clerodendrum viscosum represented the highest density (1.03/4m 2) and frequency (50%). In contrast, lowest density (0.08/4m 2) and frequency (8.33%) were measured in Antidesma ghaesembila. Species with the highest abundance was found in Urena lobata (2.35) whereas the lowest was showed by Antidesma ghaesembila (1). With regard to the herb species, Thysalonema maxima showed the highest density (1.03/4m 2). On the other hand, lowest density was measured in Seseli indicum (0.1/4m 2). The calculation depicted that Eryngium foetidum had the highest frequency (45%) and the lowest was found in Seseli indicum (8.33%). But, species with the highest abundance was recorded in Centella asiatica (2.69) while the lowest was calculated in Amaranthus spinosus (1.07). Species of shrubs and herbs showed random to contagious distribution pattern. ShannonWiener diversity index were 2.76, 2.56 and 3.27 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively.

Keywords: Shannon Wiener diversity index; Quantitative structure; Trees; Shrubs; Herbs

Location: Khadimnagar National Park of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Park

Objectives:

There is little quantitative information available on the composition and structure of vegetation of Khadimnagor National Park. Thus present study is conducted to assess the quantitative structure and diversity of trees, shrubs and herbs in this national park which will provide information to the policy maker and world conservationist about this protected area comparing to the other protected area of the country as well as the world. So, adequate measures would be taken to conserve and enrich its diversity

Methodology:

2.1. Study area The Khadimnagor National Park is located at North Sylhet Range1 (sub division) in Sylhet Forest Division under tropical evergreen and semievergreen biogeographic zone. The national park is established through Gazette Notification No. PA BA MA (SHA3) 31/2004/335 according to Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Amendment Act, 1974. Total area is 679 ha, surrounded by tea garden and is submerged with several watersheds locally known as “chara”. The hills are dissected by numerous valleys, separated by ridges rising some 50m above them (Anon, 2006). The hills are generally low and gently slopping. Soil ranges from clay loams to pale brown (acidic) clay loams on the hills (Anon, 2006). Climate is warm and humid. April and May are the warmest, and December and January are the coolest months. The tropical monsoon climate prevails in the area with average maximum temperature of 30.7⁰C and average minimum temperature of 18.9⁰C. The average annual rainfall is 3931mm, most of which falls between June and September (BBS/UNDP, 2005).

Plant species diversity, particularly in forest ecosystems, is complicated by the huge range of size and life expectancy of different plant species. For complete and clear understanding of distribution and diversity of different plant species, it is better to assess them separately. In the following study, quantitative structure and diversity of trees, shrubs and herbs were calculated separately. The study was carried out through stratified random quadrate method. A total of 30 sample plots were taken for tree species each having 10m x 10m in size. For herb and shrub species 2, 2m x 2m sample plots were nested within each plot of tree species (Total 2 x 30 = 60 plots). Within each plot the number and name of all the trees, shrubs and herbs were counted and recorded. Density (D), relative density (RD), frequency (F), relative frequency (RF), abundance (A), relative dominance (RDo) and Importance Value Index (IVI) were calculated through Shukla and Chandal (2000). In the present study, Shannon Wiener diversity index and abundance frequency ratio (A/F) for shrub and herb species were also calculated.

The Shannon Wiener diversity index One of the most commonly used measures of species diversity is the Shannon Wiener diversity index. It combines two quantifiable measures. 1. the species richness (the number of species in the community) and 2. species equitability (how even are the numbers of individuals of each species). The higher the number, the higher is the species diversity. The Shannon Wiener index for diversity was calculated according to Michael (1990).

Abundance frequency ratio (A/F) The ratio of abundance to frequency (A/F) for shrub and herb species was determined for eliciting the distribution pattern. This ratio has indicated regular (<0.025), random (0.025 0.05) and contagious (>0.05) distribution patterns (Whitford, 1949).

Source of Information: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 2, No 1, 2011

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

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Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Biodiversity has great importance for human survival and economic wellbeing and for the ecosystem function and stability. Before sustainable management strategies can be instituted to any forest it is essential to know and understand the structure and composition of forest. This helps to manage it successfully. The present study recorded 74 species of plants in the study site. Among them 26 were tree species, 17 were shrubs and the remaining 31 were herbs. Study highlights a very poor status of tree species richness compared to the other findings. Although the main aim of the national park is to conserve biodiversity, the area still behind the satisfactory level. Inappropriate forest management would cause a destruction of most of the forest communities and sometimes may lead to the destruction of their habitats. Forest managers should pay attention to the natural composition of forest communities and should not try to replace the native species by invasive ones. Presently, there is a need for increased legal protection, well designed management practices to conserve the diversity of the study area. Some indigenous species should be planted in the buffer area which will fulfill the demand of local people. The Government of Bangladesh already started several program to conserve its biodiversity with special emphasis on Insitu conservation. The recruitment of trees in Khadimnagar National Park is continuous and the area is dominated by several indigenous species, which are very important for biodiversity conservation. The USAID funded project IPAC (Integrated protected area comanagement) is working for local community involvement and their efforts to create alternative livelihoods for people living around this park. So, creating awareness among the local people about biodiversity conservation and scientific management of the plant species in the study area may lead one of the biodiversity richest areas of the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal