Int. J. of Usuf. Mngt. 15 (2): 101-109 (2014)
ISSN 0972-3927
NON WOOD FOREST RESOURCES OF SITAKUNDA BOTANICAL GARDEN AND ECO-PARK, CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH Shourav Dutta, Hossain, M. K. and Pinaki Chowdhury
ABSTRACT An assessment of non wood forest resources (Bamboo, Cane, Murta, and Medicinal herbs, shrubs and climbers) in Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark of Chittagong, Bangladesh was studied through field observations during July 2013 to May 2014. A total of 57 non-wood plant species belonging to 43 genera and 27 families were recorded from the park area. Maximum species was found in Poaceae (14) followed by 6 in Arecaceae, 4 in Solanaceae, 3 in Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae each, 2 in Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, Umbelliferae and the remaining families had one species only. Keywords: Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Bangladesh, non-wood forest resources, conservation INTRODUCTION Bangladesh, the world’s largest deltaic region, lying in the north eastern part of South Asia, is exceptionally endowed with a large variety of flora and fauna due to its unique geophysical location (Hossain, 2001, Nishat et al., 2002). In tropical forests like Bangladesh, most of the biodiversity resides in herbs, shrubs, small trees (Nath et al., 2000). To conserve and maintain biodiversity in their natural habitats, it must be investigated appropriately (Pielou, 1995). Due to population pressure, unscientific management and lack of incentives on the needs of conservation, biodiversity of Bangladesh has been heavily disturbed during the past four decades and loss of natural biodiversity was significant (Hassan, 1995). For future generations, it is urgent to effectively protect and manage the existing natural forests in Bangladesh (Hossain, 2004). Bangladesh Forest Department attempted ecological restoration of its denuded natural forests by establishing the first eco-park at Sitakunda in the South-eastern
Chittagong hills in 2000 (Misbahuzzaman & Alam, 2006) and first eco-park has been inaugurated at Chandranath hill and surrounding areas, located in Sitakunda upazilla of Chittagong district in 1999-2000 (Alam, 2001). Establishment of Botanical Garden and Eco-park at Sitakunda, Chittagong project, implemented by the Forest Department under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of Bangladesh is to raise plantations, preserve and develop the gene pool of different species of bamboo, cane, herbs and medicinal plants including their maintenance (MoEF, 2000). Before the constitution of garden and park, it was under Chandranath block of Sitakunda Beat under Bariadhala Range of Chittagong North Forest Division (Alam, 2001) and the hills of the park area were densely covered with a wide number of tropical broad leaved timber species (Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Hopea odorata, Albizia chinensis, Dillenia pentagyna, Castanopsis indica, Bombax ceiba etc) with decorative tropical shrubs, herbs, bamboos, canes,
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331 Bangladesh Email:
[email protected]
climbers, lianas and vines (Misbahuzzaman & Alam, 2006). Alam (2001) recorded 55 shrubs and 62 herbaceous vegetation found on the hills, along with bamboos like Mitinga (Bambusa burmanica), Muli (Melocanna baccifera), Dolu (Schizostachyum dullooa), kali (Gigantochloa andamanica) etc and canes particularly Calamus erectus, Daemonorops jankinsianus from the open places of Sitakunda eco-park area. Uddin et al. (2005) recorded 54 medicinal plant species under 34 families, of which 23 species were trees, 19 shrubs, 4 herbs and 8 climbers from the park area. But, inventory of non timber forest resources has so far been not found for this park area. In the present study, an attempt has been made to prepare the inventory of non wood forest resources of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark.
annual temperature 29.6°C and range of monthly humidity 66.5% - 88.6% (Alam, 2001, Uddin et al., 2005). Eight Field trips were conducted in various seasons of the study period to cover the whole study area during July 2013 to May 2014. Four transect walks across the whole study area were made to assess non wood forest resources of Sitakunda Eco-park. The known nonwood plant species (bamboo, cane, medicinal shrubs, medicinal herbs, climbers, patipata etc.) were identified in the field with the help of the local people and specialists from the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark, Chittagong. Herbarium specimens of unknown species were mounted on a sheet of standard size 29.21 cm × 41.91 cm (11.5˝ × 16.5˝). The specimens were identified consulting different journals and reference books like Mohiuddin et al. (1988), Rashid et al. (1988), Alam (1990), Banik (1990), Khan et al. (2001) and Ahmed et al. (2008). The identified species, genera and families were arranged alphabetically.
MATERIAL AND METHODS Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark is situated at the north-western part of Chittagong district under the jurisdiction of Chittagong North Forest Division, Bangladesh. The area was classified as semi evergreen forest with high floral diversity including various evergreen and deciduous species. It lies between 22°36´ - 22°39´N latitude and 91°40´ - 91°42´E longitudes and about 35 km north to Chittagong city, 3 km far away from Sitakunda Upazilla head quarter. Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park comprises an area of about 808.38 ha and divided into two Ranges – Porjoton, and Punorbason. The area lies under the tropical climatic zone. The average rainfall is 287.2 cm, mean
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present study has recorded a total of 57 non-wood plant species including cultivated and planted belonging to 43 genera and 27 families from Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park. All the plant species were categorized and classified as species, genus and families (Table 1). Similarly the species scientific name, family, local name, habit, status and usable parts are also provided in Table 2.
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Table 1: Categories of non wood forest resources of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark into species, genus and families. SL. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Category
Species 14 6 1 11 21 4
Bamboo Cane Patipata/ Murta Medicinal herb Medicinal shrub Medicinal climber
A total of 14 bamboo species under 5 genera belonging to Poaceae family were recorded from the park area and placed in the herb category. Among the 14 bamboo species, Bambusa burmanica (Mitinga), Gigantochloa andamanica (Kali), Schizostachyum dullooa (Dolu) were found to grow naturally in the park area. Bambusa vulgaris (Bhaijja) and Melocanna baccifera (Muli) were recorded from both the natural forests and the plantation in the eco-park. The study revealed 6 cane species (Jali, Kerak, Butum, Korak, Golla and Kadam) belonging to Arecaceae family were found to grow in the Botanical Garden area and placed in the climber category. Only 2 cane species (Calamus erectus and Daemonorops jenkinsianus) were recorded from the natural forests
Genus 5 1 1 10 21 4
Family 1 1 1 10 17 4
and the rest were recorded from the plantations. Schumannianthus dichotomus (Patipata) species belonging to Marantaceae family are growing along the stream banks, the waterlogged, marshy and swampy areas of Sitakunda Eco-park. Of 57 non-wood plant species, 26 species (46 %) are represented by herbs, 21 species (37%) by shrubs, and 10 species (17 %) by climbers (Figure 1). The abundance of species in different family shows wide variation. Among them, 58% species are represented by six families whereas 42 % species by 21 families (Figure 2). The most dominant six families are Poaceae (14), Arecaceae (6), Solanaceae (4), Euphorbiaceae (3), Leguminasae (3) and Liliaceae (3).
Figure 2: Abundance of species in six dominant families
Figure 1: Habit forms of recorded plants in Percentage 103
Before establishment of the Eco-park, till 1999 there were plantations of short rotation species, mainly Eucalyptus spp. and Acacia auriculiformis (Alam, 2001). But, now shrubs, herbs, climbers, degenerating Muli bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) culms and grasses cover the scrub forest areas. After establishment of the Eco-park, Forest Department raised 2 ha bamboo, 1 ha cane and 4 ha medicinal species plantation in the park area. Among the 57 non wood forest species, 31 plant species (54%) were recorded from the natural forests and 24
species (42%) from the plantation. Only two non wood species (Bambusa vulgaris and Melocanna baccifera) were found to grow naturally as well as in the plantation (Figure 3). Acalypha indica, Calotropis gigantea, Coriandrum sativum, Paederia foetida, Scoparia dulcis etc were recorded as natural species, whereas Adhatoda vasica, Bambusa ventricosa, Calamus tenuis, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii etc were found in the plantation of the park area.
Figure 3: Origin of non timber forest resources in the study area. The survey has also represented the occurrence of four threatened nontimber forest species (1 medicinal herb, 1 medicinal shrub and 2 cane species) in the park area. These threatened species are Andrographis paniculata, Rauvolfia serpentina, Calamus latifolius and Calamus erectus. Most of the medicinal herb species, viz., Asparagus racemosus, Boerhavia repens, Paederia foetida, Vanda roxburghii and several shrub species, i.e. Abroma augusta, Aloe indica, Hydrocotyle asiatica, Ricinus communis, Woodfordia fruticosa etc are used in the rural areas by the rural
people for ayurvedic and traditional treatments (Uddin et al., 2005). Cottage industries gradually play an important role in the socio-economic development of the rural people in Bangladesh. Bamboo and cane are the two important raw materials of such industries. Agricultural tools, household equipments, furniture, bridge, fence etc are made by the rural people with the help of bamboos (Mohiuddin et al., 1988, Banik, 1990). Most of the medicinal species are widely used for Unani, Ayurvedic, herbal and traditional treatment in the rural areas of the
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country. There are 180 medicinal plant based drug industries all over Bangladesh and their annual requirement of medicinal plant parts were calculated to be 970 metric tons, of which 66% collected locally (Uddin et al., 2005). It is very important to conserve these valuable species with medicinal values along with other nontimber forest species. The present study recorded a total of 36 non wood plant species having medicinal value from the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park which was more than Uddin et al. (2005) conducted from the same study area. Uddin et al. (2005) recorded 31 medicinal plant species containing 19 shrub species, 8 herb species and 4 climber species belonging to 15, 6 and 5 families respectively from Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park. It indicates the increase of medicinal plant species in Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park with time.
woody species have been planted in this garden (Uddin et al., 2005). But, nowadays this park is in great threat due to overexploitation by the local people in the name of non wood product collections. This Eco-park is surrounded by the settlements of Bangali and Tripura communities. These communities exploit woody plants for fuel woods, non timber species for fencing, support sticks for bean and betel leaf cultivation. From the field observation, it is confirmed that a substantial number of local people were involved in bamboo harvesting from the park area for their domestic purposes, which causes degradation of many bamboo groves. Bamboos are also extracted by the local people from this garden because betel leaf cultivation became a common practice around the park area. Intentional fire hazard is also a major threat to this garden as it degrades the soil. Non wood forest resources as well as diversified natural forests were destructed in the last few years due to fire occurrences by the local communities of the surrounding park area.
The survey also indicating that, non wood plant species composition (57 species under 27 families) of Sitakunda Eco-park is higher than Sabuj & Rahman (2011) conducted from Khadimnagar National Park of Bangladesh. A study conducted by Sabuj & Rahman (2011) in Khadimnagar National Park reported 17 shrubs and 31 herb species belonging to 13 and 18 families respectively. The present study revealed a total of four threatened non wood species (Andrographis paniculata, Rauvolfia serpentina, Calamus latifolius and Calamus erectus) which was less than Uddin & Hassan (2010) recorded from another National Park. Uddin & Hassan (2010) recorded 19 threatened plant species from Lawachara National Park of Bangladesh.
CONCLUSION The present result (57 non-wood plant species belonging to 43 genera and 27 families) is a preliminary list of minor forest producing species of the Eco- park. Illicit felling, minor product collections and intentional fire hazards during dry season are the most common threats in this garden. For conserving minor forest resources and securing their optimal productivity, the eco-park of Sitakunda needs to be protected with strong emphasize on conservation of biodiversity. Further study also needs to be carried out to record all the minor forest plant species and also to explore the ways of improving the production of such resources.
As a Botanical Garden, it is playing a vital role in ex-situ conservation of biodiversity. A considerable number of medicinal plant species as well as other woody and non-
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Table 2: Non wood plant species with their local and scientific names, family, habit, status/origin and usable parts recorded from Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh. (*s = shrub, h = herb, c = climber) Scientific name
Family Name
Local name
Habit
Status/ Origin
Usable parts
Abelmoschus esculentus Moench
Malvaceae
Bondherosh
s*
Planted
Fruits
Abroma augusta L. Acalypha indica L.
Sterculiaceae Euphorbiaceae
Ulotkombol Mukta zhuri
s h
Planted Natural
Roots, barks, leaves Leaves
Adhatoda vasica Nees.
Acanthaceae
Basok
s
Planted
Leaves
Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott.
Araceae
Man kochu
s
Planted
Whole plant
Aloe indica L. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees
Liliaceae
Grita Kumari
s
Planted
Whole plant
Acanthaceae
Kalomegh
s
Natural
Whole plant
Andropogon citratus D.C.
Gramineae
Lemon grass
h
Natural
Leaves
Asparagus racemosus Wild Bambusa vulgaris Schard ex. Wendle
Liliaceae
Satamuli
h
Whole plant
Poaceae
Bhaijja, bairga
h
Natural Planted / Natural
Bambusa vulgaris var. striata
Poaceae
Sharna,sonali
h
Planted
Whole plant
Bambusa balcooa Roxb.
Poaceae
Borak
h
Planted
Whole plant
Bambusa bambus var. spinosa
Poaceae
Bish kata, Kanta
h
Planted
Whole plant
Bambusa burmanica Gamb.
Poaceae
Mitinga
h
Natural
Whole plant
Bambusa tulda Roxb.
Poaceae
Talla bans
h
Planted
Whole plant
Bambusa ventricosa McClure
Poaceae
Ghoti
h
Planted
Boerhavia diffusa L.
Nyctaginaceae
Punornova
h
Natural
Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb.
Crassulaceae
Patharkuchi
s
Natural
Whole plant Roots, leaves and stems Leaves
Calamus flagellum Griff
Arecaceae
Vutum, hudum
c
Planted
Whole plant
Calamus erectus Roxb.
Arecaceae
Kadam , sitar supari
c
Natural
Whole plant
Calamus latifolius Roxb.
Arecaceae
Korak, Budum
c
Planted
Whole plant
Calamus viminalis Willd
Arecaceae
Kerak
c
Planted
Whole plant
Calamus tenuis Roxb.
Arecaceae
Jali , Jayot, sachi
c
Planted
Whole plant
Calotropis gigantea R. BR.
Asclepiadaceae
Akanda
s
Natural
Whole plant
Cassia alata L.
Leguminosae
Dad Mordan
s
Natural
Leaves
Citrus medica L.
Rutaceae
Lebu
s
Planted
Fruits
Coccinia indica W & A.
Cucurbitaceae
Telakucha
c
Natural
Leaves and roots
Coriandrum sativum L.
Umbelliferae
h
Natural
Leaves, fruits
Daemonorops jenkinsiana Mart.
Arecaceae
Dania Golla, golak, goara
c
Natural
Whole plant
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Whole plant
Datura stramonium L.
Solanaceae
Sada Datura
h
Natural
Leaves, fruits
Datura metel L.
Solanaceae
Kala Datura
h
Natural
Leaves, roots, seeds
Dendrocalamus brandisii Munro
Poaceae
Brandis bans
h
Planted
Whole plant
Poaceae
Budum
h
Planted
Whole plant
Poaceae
Pencha
h
Planted
Whole plant
Poaceae
Ora, Khang, Rupai
h
Planted
Whole plant
Eupatorium odoratum L.
Solanaceae
Asamlota
c
Natural
Leaves ,flowers
Gigantochloa andamanica Kurz.
Poaceae
Kalibans
h
Natural
Whole plant
Gloriosa superba L.
Liliaceae
Ulot chandal
s
Planted
Leaves , Tuber
Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
Leguminosae
Jasti madhu
c
Planted
Whole plant
Hydrocotyle asiatica L.
Umbelliferae
Thankuni
s
Natural
Whole plant
Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz.
Poaceae
Muli , Paiyya
h
Natural / Planted
Whole plant
Mimosa pudica L.
Leguminosae
Lajjabati
s
Natural
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
Oleaceae
Sheuli
s
Planted
Ocimum sanctum L.
Labiatae
Tulsi
s
Natural
Leaves and flowers
Paederia foetida L.
Rubiaceae
Gondha Bhadali
h
Natural
Leaves
Rauvolfia serpentina (L.)Benth. Ex Kurz.
Apocynaceae
Sharpagandha
h
Natural
Bark of roots
Ricinus communis L.
Euphorbiaceae
Bherenda
s
Natural
Young leaves, seeds, roots
Poaceae
Dolu
h
Natural
Whole plant
Marantaceae
Patipata/ Murta
h
Natural
Bark
Scoparia dulcis L.
Scrophulariaceae
Bondhoney
h
Natural
Seeds
Solanum indicum L.
Solanaceae
Bon Begun
s
Natural
Root, Leaves
Trewia polycarpa Benth.
Euphorbiaceae
Medda
s
Natural
Leaves ,Bark
Vanda roxburghii L.
Orchidaceae
Rasna
h
Natural
Leaves and barks
Vinca rosea L.
Apocynaceae
Nayan tara
s
Planted
Root , leaves
Vitex negundo L.
Verbenaceae
Nishinda
s
Planted
Leaves
Vitis quadrangularis Wall.
Vitaceae
Harzora
c
Natural
Whole plant
Woodfordia fruticosa Salisb.
Lythraceae
Daiphul
s
Natural
Leaves, barks and flowers
Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees et. Arn Dendrocalamus longispathus Kurz.
Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) R. Schumannianthus dichotomus (Roxb.)
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Whole plant Leaves ,barks, flowers
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