To achieve forest management goal it is important to maintain biodiversity. This paper compares understory plant species diversity between exotic monoculture plantation (Acacia auriculiformis) and adjacent natural sal (Shorea robusta) forest. A total of 35 sample plots were taken by random sampling from six patches of adjacent natural sal forest and exotic monoculture plantation. Shannon-Wiener diversity index, species richness and evenness were calculated and compared. Result revealed that, a total of 2,218 plants of 42 species were recorded in natural sal (Shorea robusta) forest. Dominant families were Apocynaceae and Verbanaceae, having three species in each family. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 2.1 and mean species richness was 14.4. On the contrary, 2,827 plants were found from 15 species in exotic monoculture (Acacia auriculiformis) plantation study area. Dominant family was Leguminosae family. Three species were found under Leguminosae family. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 0.86 and mean species richness was 4.47. Therefore, Shannon diversity index and richness were significantly higher in natural sal forest as compared to exotic monoculture plantation. Species evenness of natural sal forest was 0.8 and 0.6 for monoculture plantation which indicates less equitable distribution of understory vegetation in monoculture than adjacent natural sal forest. With regard to herb species, evenness was significantly lower in monoculture plantation (0.03) as compared to natural sal forest (0.52). There was no equitable distribution for the herb species under monoculture plantation. Jaccard’s similarity index showed that 36% shrub species and 30% of herb species were same in exotic monoculture plantation area and adjacent natural sal forest.
The COVID-19 pandemic originated from Wuhan, China, spread around the world with horror and dramatic loss of human life. The economic and social catastrophe has made it even more irresistible. An attempt has been made to find out what kind of psychological and livelihood-related impacts Covid-19 has had on our daily lives. Data had been collected through convenient online surveys where 344 respondents were interviewed. Most of the respondents reported the reduction of movement, income and working hours. The majority reported a noticeable decrease in sleep, health condition and body weight due to the increase of tension where some tensed more. Corona can be avoided by drinking hot water and tea, this idea had increased the amount of hot water and tea consumed by the common people. Many of those who lost their jobs were distressed and others also were distressed at the thought of how long they would stay. The most frightening thing was that the addiction to the virtual world had increased dramatically.
Abstract. Azad AK, Pitol MNS, Rakkibu MG. 2020. Livelihood status of Sundarbans dependent people at Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira, Bangladesh. Asian J For 5: 28-35. The study aims to know the livelihood status and dependency on Sundarbans at Shymnagar Upazila in the Satkhira district. A questionnaire survey was carried from 130 respondents in three unions. Most of the respondents (65%) were middle-aged (30-50 years old) and 22% of them were female and 78% were male. Among them about 51% were illiterate, 24% had primary education, while 25% had secondary education. About 72% of respondents were fully dependent and 21% were partially dependent on Sundarbans for their livelihood. Only 37% of people in these areas had their shrimp farm (gher). The respondents collected fuelwood (92%), aquatic resources (80%), small timber (54%), honey (27%), goran (Ceriops decandra) (8%), and golpata (Nypa fruticans) (6%) from Sundarbans. Only 63% of respondents had their livestock like cows (2%), poultry (68%), and goats (30%), whereas 84% of respondents were involved with different NGOs. Among the respondents, 70% had the access to disaster warnings, whereas only 24% had shelter facilities. Only 28% of respondents had access to drinking water from deep tube-well and 33% from ponds. About 50% of respondents did not get better medical treatment and were dependent on village doctors and only 8% of respondents received treatment from Government hospitals. It was alarming to know that about 91% of respondents did not know co-management in Sundarbans. Most of the people living here were not satisfied with their present occupations and about 98% of them were eager to start a new occupation. Only 11% of respondents got benefitted from government Vulnerable Group Feeding / Vulnerable Group Development support.
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