Forests
Forest type
Based on their ecological
characters, the forests of Bangladesh
can be divided into tropical wet evergreen,
tropical semi-evergreen, tropical
moist deciduous, tidal, and planted
forests.
Tropical
wet evergreen forest
Evergreen plants dominate with rich
biodiversity; few semi-evergreen and
deciduous species also occur but do
not change or alter the evergreen
nature of the forests. They occur
in hilly areas of Chittagong, Chittagong
Hill Tracts (CHT), Cox's Bazar in
the SE, and Maulvi Bazar in the NE.
The top canopy trees
reach a height of 45-62 m. Due to
humidity, epiphytic orchids, ferns
and fern allies, climbers, terrestrial
ferns, mosses, aroids, and rattans
are found as undergrowth in moist
shady places. The shrubs, herbs and
grasses are fewer in number.
About 700 species
of flowering plants grow in this type
of forest. Trees like kaligarjan,
dhaligarjan, civit, dhup, kamdeb,
raktan, narkeli, tali, chundul, dhaki
jam are the common evergreen species
which constitute the uppermost canopy.
Champa, banshimul, chapalish, madar
are some of the semi-deciduous and
deciduous trees that grow sporadically.
Pitraj, chalmoogra, dephal, nageswar,
kao, jam, goda, dumur, koroi, dharmara,
tejbhal, gamar, madanmasta, assar,
moose, chatim, toon, bura, ashok,
barmala, dakrum occupy the second
storey. Sometimes Gnetum species and
Podocarpus, two gymnosperms, are met
with. Several species of bamboo are
also found in these forests.
T
Tropical
semi-evergreen forest
Generally evergreen in character but
deciduous plants also dominate. These
forests range in the hilly regions
of Sylhet through Chittagong, the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox's Bazar,
and also in some parts of Dinajpur
district in the NW. Most of them are
subjected to jhum (slash and burn)
cultivation. Over 800 species of flowering
plants have been recorded in these
forests. They have more undergrowth
than evergreen forests. Top canopy
trees reach a height of 25-57 m. In
the valleys and moist slopes chapalish,
telsur, chundul and narkeli constitute
the top canopy; gutgutya, toon, pitraj,
nageswar, uriam, nalizam, godajam,
pitjam, dhakijam form the middle storey;
and dephal and kechuan constitute
the lower storey. On the hotter and
dryer slopes and on ridges different
species of garjan, banshimul, shimul,
shil koroi, chundul, guja batna, kamdeb,
bura gamari, bahera and moose form
the upper storey; gab, udal and shibhadi
form the middle storey and adalia,
barmala, goda, ashoka, jalpai and
darrum constitute the lower storey.
The common deciduous species are garjan,
simul, bansimul, batna, chapalish,
toon, koroi and jalpai. The flora
of these forests resembles those of
eastern Himalayas in the north and
Arakan in the south.
These forests collectively
occupy about 6,40,000 ha of land and
supply about 40% of the commercial
timber of the country. Recent introduction
of rubber plantation along with the
previous exotic teak plantation is
gradually changing the natural character
of the forests.
Tropical moist deciduous forest
Commonly known as sal forest, sal
(Shorea robusta) being the dominant
species. These forests are now distributed
in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Dinajpur and
Comilla regions. They constitute two
distinct belts (covering about 107,000
ha of land); the larger one falls
between the bhramaputra and the jamuna
rivers with a length of about 80 km
and a width of 7-20 km. This part
is known as Madhupur Garh. The other
smaller belt is situated at Sherpur
district and lies along the foothills
of the Garo Hills of India, having
a length of about 60 km and width
of 1.5-10 km. There are some smaller
remnant patches of forest areas in
Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, and
Naogaon districts (covering about
14,000 ha) with some remainings in
Shalvan Vihara, Mainamati and Rajeshpur
in Comilla (about 200 ha).
Until the beginning of the 20th century,
these forests existed as a continuous
belt from Comilla to Darjeeling of
India. At present, most of the forest
area is under occupation and the present
remaining stands of sal are of poor
stocking and quality, consisting of
degraded coppice and plantations.
The present notified area of this
forest is largely honeycombed with
rice fields. The forest forms more
or less a uniform canopy of 10-20
m, mostly with deciduous plants. Other
than the sal (about 90%), the other
common trees are palash, haldu, jarul
or shidah (Lagerstroemia parviflora),
bazna, hargoja, ajuli (Dillenia pentagyna),
bhela, koroi, menda (Litsea monopetala),
kushum, udhal, dephajam, bahera, kurchi,
haritaki, pitraj, sheora, sonalu,
assar, amlaki and adagash (Croton
oblongifolius). Climbers (mostly woody)
like kanchan lata, anigota, kumari
lata, gajpipal, pani lata, Dioscorea
species, satamuli, and gila occur
in these forests. A good number of
undergrowth is also recorded (about
250 species under 50 genera). The
common ones are assam lata, bhat,
boichi, moina kanta and ashal. The
significant rass is sungrass. A few
epiphytes are also recorded. Legumes,
euphrobias and convolvulous plants
also occur.
Tidal forest
The most productive forest
type in Bangladesh, they are situated
in Khulna, Patuakhali, Noakhali and
Chittagong regions along the coastal
region, and constitute about 520,000
ha. The grounds of these forests are
flooded every time at tide with seawater.
The plants have pneumatophores, with
viviparous germination, and are evergreen
in nature. Other than sundari, passur,
gewa, keora, kankra, baen, dhundul,
amoor, and dakur grow gregariously.
Turbidity and salinity of water in
the coastal zones regulate the frequency
and constituent feature of the species.
In addition to the Sundarbans,
many small islands found in the mouth
of Gangetic delta are densely covered
with tidal forests, although the sundari
tree is absent here. The pioneer plant
in the forest quickly develops on
creeks and mudbanks of streams where
deposition of silt is in progress.
Near the streams and canals, rhizophores
(having stilt roots) are common.
There are certain
forests localized to a particular
habitat conditions. These are actually
secondary formations. They include:
(i) The beach or littoral forest-
occurs along the sea beaches of Cox's
Bazar, Chittagong, Barisal and Patuakhali
regions, adjoining to tidal forests.
Jhau, kerung, ponyal, kathbadam, madar,
paras and nishinda are occasionally
associated and form different shades
of thickets. (ii) Fresh water swamp
forest- occurs in low-lying haor (large
water bodies) areas in Sylhet and
Sunamganj and also in depressions
within the hill forest area.
The area is subjected
to flooding during rainy season and
the soil is very moist. In Sylhet
area, the swamp forest is covered
with grasses like ekhra, kaghra, and
nal. Along the bank of haor areas
hijal trees often form a pure stand.
Undergrowth in these forests is mainly
cane, lantana and many large grasses
and sedges. Tree species associated
with savanna are koroi, shimul, kalhuza
(Cordia dichotoma), bhatkur (Vitex
heterophylla), and jarul. The common
undergrowth are tara (Alpinia), costus,
murta, melastoma, and nal. Other than
these specialized forests, there are
some localized forests with distinctive
floristic composition found along
the streams of hilly regions, locally
known as charas. The trees that are
commonly found along this areas are
chalet, pitaly, kanjal (Bischofia
javanica), jarul, ashoka, bhubi (Baccaurea
ramiflora), jalpai, shera and dunus.
Many epiphytes and ferns, and also
mosses are frequently found in the
composition.
In the clear felled
areas of the hill forests, the pioneer
plants that appear in the new plantation
area are fishtail palm, bura (Macaranga
species), barmala (Callicarpa arborea),
chima (Hibiscus macrophyllus), goda
(Vitex peduncularis), jiban (Trema
orientalis), nunkochi (Glochidion
species), amlaki, kurchi, elena (Antidesma),
kodom, depha jam (Cleistocalyx operculata),
koroi, udal, bazna, kanta koshoi,
toon, bhadi, gutgutya (Proteium serratum),
bata, hargaja, and various types of
grasses. Some distinct types of forests
also develop due to gradual elimination
of natural primary forests, and may
be termed as scrap jungle of the savannah
type (about 750,000 ha). These secondary
forests are often burnt to raise sungrass.
Plantation
forest
These are raised forests and are grouped
into two categories: Planted state
forest- Initial attempts to raise
plantation forests started in 1871
with teak at Kaptai in the CHT using
seeds from Myanmar. Since then plantation
forestry has become a part of the
overall clearfelling silviculture
system. Until 1920 it remained confined
to the CHT. Then it was extended to
Chittagong and Sylhet divisions. The
plantation rate per year was about
400 ha. After teak, the other common
introduced plant species are gamar,
chapalish, garjan, mahagoni, jarul,
toon, painkado and jam. In the 1950s
and 1960s wide plantation programmes
were undertaken. In 1974, the Forest
Department started planting fast growing
species like gamar, Albizia falcata,
kadam, Acacia species, Eucalyptus
species and pine on a large scale
to produce fuelwood. Planted private
forest- Traditionally homesteads grow
trees and many other crops in an effective
way. Now this forest type is developing
at a faster rate compared to the rate
of deforestation of state forests.
About 160 species are known to occur
in homestead forests. This forest
has been proved to be highly productive.
Forest distribution
The total forest area in Bangladesh
including unclassed state forest land
is about 2.25 million ha. A large
part of the area, however, has no
tree cover. Over the last three decades
forest cover declined by 2.1 percent
annually. Village groves or village
forests play a very important role
in the economy of the country. These
provide a significant portion of the
wood and firewood supply of the country.
Besides wood production, village forests
have several important uses. They
provide fruit, fodder, fuel, raw material
for small and cottage industries,
house construction materials, agricultural
implements, cart wheel, etc. The area
covered by village groves or forest
is estimated to be about 0.27 million
ha. This is not forest as per definition.
However, in the Bangladesh context
this tree cover is very significant
in many ways.
Tea garden is another category which
needs mention. A good quantity of
tree resources are available within
the tea garden. The tree cover areas
of tea gardens are fast depleting.
Approximately 2800 ha are available
under this kind of tree cover, and
distributed in Chittagong, Sylhet
and Rangamati.
A third category
of forest which is fast emerging are
the plantations on non-forest public
land, such as road side, railway embankment,
and canal banks. This marginal land
plantations in one way are substituting
for the decreasing village forests,
and are adding a new dimension to
fallow land utilization.
The state owned forests
(see table) of Bangladesh are distributed
in three zones: a) Hill forests in
the greater districts of Chittagong,
Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Sylhet;
b) Inland forests in the central and
northern zones; and c) Littoral forests
in the delta and coastal regions.
Status of the state-owned
forest land (in ha)
| Forest type |
Reserve forest |
Protected forest |
Vested forest |
Acquired forest |
BWDB and khas |
Unclassed state
forest |
Total |
| Hill |
594,383 |
32,303 |
2,636 |
11,004 |
-- |
721,344 |
1361,670 |
| Inland |
68,140 |
2,689 |
19,985 |
31,198 |
-- |
-- |
122,012 |
| Littoral |
656,579 |
-- |
-- |
6 |
101,526 |
-- |
758,111 |
| Total |
13,19,102 |
34,992 |
22,621 |
42,208 |
101,526 |
721,344 |
22,41,793 |
The table on state
on forests, however, does not in anyway
imply that the land is under actual
control of the Forest Department.
Much of the land is under the occupation
of encroachers. The encroachment is
quite high in the inland sal forests.
Observations since 1985 indicate that
encroachment and shifting cultivation
is on an increase in the Chittagong
Hill Tracts.
The hill forests occupy more than
half of the forests of the country.
These forests are important from economic
and environment perspectives. The
description given below mostly applies
to the forests of greater Chittagong
Hill Tracts and Chittagong. The forests
of Sylhet are extension of the forests
of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong.
The major hill reserve forests are
Kassalong (including Maini Head Water
Reserve), Rhankhiang, Sitapahar, Sangu,
Mata Muhuri, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar,
and Sylhet reserve forests. Sitapahar
was the first forest reserve in the
hills and was declared as such in
1875. About the time government appointed
professionals to manage forests. During
the first decade of the last century,
survey and demarcation of most of
the forest areas took place. Forest
department started tree plantations
at Sitapahar in 1871. Thereafter teak
plantation continued on a regular
basis. The clear felling with artificial
planting programme which was introduced
to Sitaphar extended to Kassalang
and Rankhiang reserves. In the mid-sixties
the Forest Industries Development
Corporation was established to conduct
mechanical extractions and up to 1000
ha of forests of Kassalang and Rankhiang
plantations, mainly of teak were raised.
A moderate area of 5,037 ha of plantations
were raised in the Matamuhuri reserves.
The Chittagong Hill
Tracts contains over 700 thousand
ha Unclassed State Forests (USF),
which are subject to shifting cultivation.
A part of USF spreading over Bandarban,
Khagrachari, and Lama has been taken
over by Forest Department and plantations
have been raised there. Up to 1990,
about 48,000 ha of plantations of
teak and other species have been raised.
Inventory of Chittagong and Cox's
Bazar was made in 1987. Out of 52,471
ha of natural forest area about 38%
was found to have small crown secondary
disturbed high forest; 13% good quality
large crown forests, 1% Garjan cover,
and remaining 48% brush with scattered
trees. In the inventory it was further
seen that only 17,862 ha of plantations
out of 38,852 ha of plantations was
raised ie approximately 21,000 ha
of the plantation area was lost. The
loss is attributed to encroachment,
illicit removal, and the ravages of
the World War II (1941-45) and 1971
liberation war.
In Cox's Bazar out
of 24,438 ha of natural forests, 57%
consists of small crowned secondary
disturbed forests, 42% relatively
good quality forests and the remainder
are all disturbed forests. The high
proportion of secondary forest is
a result of large scale selective
harvesting during the war periods.
It was also revealed that out of 38,000
ha of plantations raised in the division
only 24,210 ha survived (1991), ie,
approximately 30% of the plantations
are poorly stocked. Due to recent
mass migration of Rohingyas from adjacent
Myanmar and their camping in the forests
of Cox's Bazar, the condition has
further deteriorated.
Sylhet forest areas
were part of Assam prior to 1947.
Not much of early records about the
forest is available; the inventory,
however, shows that in Sylhet 13,802
ha of plantations exist.
Inland sal forest
The sal forests are presently distributed
in the districts of Dhaka, Tangail,
Mymensingh and Dinajpur. Rangpur,
Rajshahi and Comilla have little denuded
scattered areas of forests. In the
past quite a vast area of Mymensingh,
Tangail and Dhaka was occupied by
sal forests.
The inland sal forests
were under private ownership till
1950. The forest of the central zone
of Bhawal in Gazipur district, and
Atia in Tangail have, however, been
under partial management of Forest
Department under an agreement with
the owner. Until 1917, the owner managed
all the forests. The first management
plan for Bhawal forests appeared in
1917 and for Atia forests in 1934.
After partition in 1947, forest department
divided these forests into two working
circles. One was timber and conversion
working circle where clear felling
followed artificial plantation, keeping
the rotation to 70-80 years, and the
second was coppice working circle,
keeping the rotation to 25 years.
Before 1959, the
forest areas of Dinajpur, Rangpur
and Rajshahi remained under the control
of proprietors. Since there was indiscriminate
felling, the Forest Department prepared
a management plan in this year. The
plan prescribed three working circles:
conversion, coppice and afforestation.
In 1976 the plan was revised to create
two working circles: community forestry
working circle, and commercial working
circle. The plan did not work and
65% of the forest is now highly degraded
or encroached.
The littoral
mangrove forests
There are two tracts of littoral forests.
The smaller one is the chakaria Sundarbans.
It lies in the delta of the matamuhari
river in Cox's Bazar district. It
was declared as Reserved Forest in
the later part of the last century.
Though management plan for the area
existed since 1911, demand for forest
produce and fish culture led to illegal
removal and artificial inundation
of the forest. Bangladesh government
transferred about 3,233 ha of forests
to shrimp cultivation. Uncontrolled
shrimp cultivation and establishment
of seasonal salt beds cleared the
remaining forests.
Sundarbans
in the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra
stretches from the Hughly river to
the Rabnabad island, and extends inland,
in places, as far as 160 km. Two-thirds
of the forest area is within Bangladesh.
In the Eighteenth Century, forests
were double their present size. Uncontrolled
deforestation and settlement of land
led to reduction of forest size, and
the the Sundarbans was declared as
a Reserve Forest in 1875. In area
(about 557285 ha) though Sundarbans
remain intact, crops have deteriorated
substantially due to increase in salinity,
top dying of Sundri, and tectonic
movement. Through its own initiative,
the Forest Department has started
a coastal afforestation programme
in the early sixties to create a protective
belt in the coastal offshore and in
the islands having no tree cover.
A substantial extent of plantations
in the coastal regions have been raised
and mini-littoral forests now exist
in the coastal belts.
Present distribution
and area (ha) of different forest
types under different forest divisions
| |
Reserved
forest |
Acquired
forest |
Protected
forest |
Vested
forest |
Unclassed
state forest |
Khas |
Total |
| Hill forest |
5,94,383 |
11,004 |
32,303 |
2,636 |
7,21,344 |
-- |
13,61,670 |
| CHT(North) |
1,59,379 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,53,063 |
-- |
3,12,442 |
| CHT(South) |
82,161 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,72,721 |
-- |
2,54,882 |
| Bandarban USF |
40,198 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
78,592 |
-- |
1,18,790 |
| Pulpwood Bandarban
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
58,236 |
-- |
58,236 |
| Lama |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
75,149 |
-- |
75,149 |
| USF Rangamati |
12,801 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
89,694 |
-- |
1,02,495 |
| Jhum Control |
12,903 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9,600 |
-- |
22,503 |
| Pulpwood Kaptai
|
29,279 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
29,279 |
| Khagrachari USF |
1,409 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
82,073 |
-- |
83,482 |
| Chittagong |
82,307 |
5,096 |
19,873 |
2,636 |
-- |
-- |
1,09,912 |
| Cox's Bazar |
1,04,103 |
1,241 |
12,430 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,17,774 |
| Sylhet |
69,843 |
4,667 |
-- |
-- |
2,215 |
-- |
76,725 |
| Inland forest |
68,140 |
31,198 |
2,689 |
19,985 |
-- |
-- |
1,22,012 |
| Dhaka |
26,221 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26,221 |
| Tangail |
22,460 |
27,287 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
49,747 |
| Mymensingh |
13,467 |
-- |
-- |
15,019 |
-- |
-- |
28,486 |
| Dinajpur |
5,037 |
387 |
-- |
4,681 |
-- |
-- |
10,105 |
| Rangpur |
763 |
1,697 |
263 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2,723 |
| Rajshahi |
192 |
11 |
2,426 |
276 |
-- |
-- |
2,905 |
| Comilla Extn |
-- |
1,696 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,696 |
| Dhaka Extn (south) |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
-- |
-- |
9 |
| Kushtia Extn |
-- |
8 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
8 |
| Bogra Extn |
-- |
7 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7 |
| Faridpur Extn
|
-- |
10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
10 |
| Jessore Extn
|
-- |
9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
| Botanical garden,
Dhaka |
-- |
86 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
86 |
| Littoral forest |
6,56,579 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
101,526 |
75,811 |
| Sundarbans |
5,57,285 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5,77,285 |
| Bhola CA |
2,236 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24,304 |
26,540 |
| Patuakhali CA |
8,571 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
13,293 |
21,864 |
| Noakhali CA |
35,741 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
54,618 |
90,365 |
| Chittagong CA |
32,746 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9,311 |
42,057 |
| Total |
13,19,102 |
42,208 |
34,992 |
22,621 |
7,21,344 |
1,01,526 |
22,41,793 |
Abbreviations CHT-Chittagong
Hill Tracts, USF- Unclassed State
Forest, Extn-Extension, CA-Coastal
Afforestation includes Matamuhuri
Reserve.
Source: Forestry
Master Plan (Forest Management)
Forest resource
In terms of forest land, the Chittagong
Hill Tracts forest division on the
southeastern border of the country
contributes about 47%, followed by
the Sundarbans and Patuakhali coastal
divisions, about 27%. The northwestern
region, including Dinajpur, Bogra,
Rajshahi and Rangpur districts, has
less than one percent state forestland.
The western region, ie Jessore, Kushtia,
Faridpur and Barisal, has slightly
more than one percent. And yet after
the agriculture sector, forestry is
one of the major economic activities,
contributing to about 3% GDP of the
country.
At least about 1,000
species of forest plants are economically
important; of these about 400 are
considered as tree species and about
450 as medicinally important. About
50 tree species and about 100 shrubs
and herbs are viewed as commercially
important. Bangladesh Forestry sector
consists mainly of the primary production
of forest products. Except pulp, paper
and board mills, the secondary sector
is weakly developed and undercapitalized.
Logs and bamboo, the two main industrial
raw materials, come mostly from private
lands; and also from Government managed
forestlands.
Official records
show that Government forest land produces
about 5,50,000 m3 of roundwood and
about 65 million pieces of bamboo
annually. In 1997, the value of the
forestry sector has been estimated
at Taka 21 billion (US $ 537 million),
80% of which comes from primary, 11%
from secondary round wood processing,
and 3% from non-wood products. Saw-log
production is of the largest single
value, making up to 42% (Tk 9 billion),
while fuelwood production contributes
27% (Tk. 5.8 billion). Bamboo production
is at 13% (Tk 2.9 billion). Solid
wood processing, principally saw milling,
adds about 6%, and pulps and paper
production just over 4% of added value.
Tertiary wood manufacturing production,
mainly furniture and cabinet making,
is responsible for about 1%. Estimated
total present employment is about
8,00,000 persons. However, considering
the seasonal nature of work, people
benefiting directly from forestry
related works would be about 1.3 million.
Fuelwood, after solid wood, is the
next important forest resource. Of
total forest products, about 65% are
consumed as fuelwood. In 1995, total
regulated supply was 6.5 million m3
against the demand of 8.27 million
m3.
Hill forests are
treasure-houses of forest resources.
These forests are classified as subtropical
evergreen forests, semi-evergreen
forests and bamboo forests. The most
abundant but important timber trees
are garjan, teak, chapalish, gamar,
telsur, jam, jarul, civit, raktan,
champa, narkeli, teli, chundul, chikrassia
and koroi.
The next important
natural forest resources are the Sunderbans
forests. Government management of
these forests began in the 1870's
under the system of select felling
and natural regeneration. Subsequently,
in the 1930's a system of clear felling
by plantation appeared. During the
Second World War, these forests were
exploited on a large scale and the
practice continued after independence
in 1947 to meet the rising demand
of forest products. Then management
practice was raised for long (40 years)
and short (20 years) rotation cycles.
Following the establishment of Khulna
Newsprint Mills in 1959 and many other
Khulna based forest industries, the
forest management intensity increased.
Logs, timber, fuelwood and golpata
leaves are major produces of the forests,
and are mostly collected on the basis
of collection permits.
At present, Sal forests
are largely composed of two remnant
tracts. One of them is some 105,000
ha in the districts of Tangail and
Mymensingh. The second, one is the
Barind tract, covering scattered patches
of some 14,000 ha in the northwest
districts. Unlike other areas under
the control of the Forest Department,
these areas were not put under Government
management for a long period, since
they were nationalised in the 1950s.
The present notified Sal forests area
is actually honey-combed with habitations
and rice fields. These forests mainly
supply sal timber and logs along with
many other soft wood and firewood.
Bamboo is the most
important non-wood forest resource
in Bangladesh. Some 10 species occur
naturally in forest, which account
for about 20% of the national stock.
Muli (Melocanna baccifera) is the
most prominent. Forests of Chittagong
and the Chittagong Hill Tracts are
the richest sources of bamboo, followed
by the Sylhet hill forests. The rest
come from village groves distributed
throughout the country.
Non-wood forest resources
as a group, apart from their economic
value, represent the bulk of diversity
in natural forests. The situation
with regard to the management of non-wood
forest products in the natural forests
is far from satisfactory. Hundreds
of items are exploited daily from
the forests by local inhabitants.
Of the thatching and weaving resources,
sungrass is used extensively in rural
areas. The production of sungrass
is about 2 million bundles. It grows
abundantly in the denuded and Savannah
forests, mostly those in the eastern
hilly forests. Leaf of golpata (Nypa
fruticans) of the Sundarbans is an
important thatching material in the
southern districts. The annual production
is about 70,000 m tons. Rattan, an
important resource of hill forests,
is also cultivated as a homestead
plant, and is used for making furniture,
baskets, and a number of fancy articles;
the harvest rate being 1,00,000 running
metres.
Murta, a reed plant,
is used for making sleeping mats,
bags, baskets and many utility items.
It grows in both natural and homestead
forests. Nowadays, inflorescence of
a grass, named phuljharu (Thesalonaena
maxima) used to make brooms is an
economic material of hill forests.
About 500 species of plants having
medicinal properties occur in the
forests of Bangladesh. Depending on
the phytochemical contents, different
parts are collected and used in preparations
of indigenous and folk medical formulations.
There are about 500 Unani and Aurvedic
medicine preparing units in Bangladesh.
Current supply of plant materials
for indigenous medicine is about 800
m tons.
Mangrove forests
of Bangladesh are a home of estuarine
fishes, shrimps and crabs. Some 10,000
m tons of fish is collected from the
Sundarbans area annually. Honey collectors
collect honey and bee-wax from this
forest. Annual honey collection from
the Sundarbans alone is about 150
m tons.
Area under
forest by type of forest
| (Sq.miles)
|
Year
|
WAPDA
& Khash land |
Garden
area |
Reserve
forest |
Acquired
forest |
Vested
forest |
Protected
forests |
Unclassed
state forest |
Total |
%
of total area |
| 1975-76
|
47.75
|
0.33
|
4430
|
365
|
41
|
222
|
3502
|
8608
|
15.48
|
| 1976-77
|
47.75
|
0.33
|
5104
|
365
|
41
|
222
|
3502
|
9282
|
16.70
|
| 1977-78
|
48.00
|
- |
5101
|
367
|
41
|
222
|
3513
|
9292
|
16.71
|
| 1978-79
|
47.80
|
- |
5129
|
341
|
43
|
222
|
3517
|
9299
|
16.73
|
| 1979-80
|
47.80
|
- |
5427
|
346
|
42
|
222
|
3521
|
9606
|
17.28
|
| 1980-81
|
47.80
|
- |
5422
|
399
|
41
|
222
|
3440
|
9572
|
17.22
|
| 1981-82
|
48.00
|
- |
5422
|
397
|
42
|
222
|
3498
|
9629
|
17.32
|
| 1982-83
|
48.00
|
- |
5425
|
311
|
42
|
222
|
1553
|
7601
|
13.67
|
| 1983-84
|
787.29
|
- |
4893
|
306
|
41
|
222
|
1440
|
7689
|
13.83
|
| 1984-85
|
47.80
|
0.34
|
5644
|
268
|
35
|
231
|
1768
|
7994
|
14.38
|
| 1985-86
|
54.71
|
0.34
|
5718
|
262
|
35
|
207
|
2443
|
8720
|
15.68
|
| 1986-87
|
46.15
|
0.34
|
4882
|
361
|
35
|
206
|
1578
|
7108
|
13.40
|
| 1987-88
|
54.70
|
0.34
|
5097
|
447
|
35
|
206
|
6823
|
7420
|
13.45
|
| 1988-89
|
50.00
|
na
|
4353
|
