Homegarden agroforestry systems: an intermediary for biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is one of the important ecosystem services that has been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities. Natural forests (NF) harbor some of the highest species diversity around the world. However, deforestation and degradation have resulted in reduced forest land cover and loss of diversity. Homegarden agroforestry (AF) systems have been proven to be an intermediary for biodiversity conservation. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of home garden AF practices to conserve tree species diversity in Bangladesh and compare them with tree species diversity in NF. A total of nine locations were selected for this synthesis from published literature which comprised of five AF sites and four NFs. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H) was similar for home-garden AF (3.50) and NF (2.99), with no statistical difference between them. Based on non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination analysis, the AF and NF plots showed distinct separation. However, Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index ranged from 0.95 to 0.70 indicating nearly no overlap in species composition to significant overlap between AF and NF. Based on our results, we conclude that AF can serve as an important ecological tool in conserving tree species diversity, particularly on landscapes where NF fragments represent only a small fraction of the total land area. Creating and maintaining AF habitats in such human dominated landscapes should be part of the biodiversity conservation strategy.

Quantification of carbon stock and tree diversity of homegardens in a dry zone area of Moneragala district, Sri Lanka

“…The negative relationship between tree species richness and large homegardens is in keeping with Kumar (2011) although e.g. Abdoellah et al (2006) and Mendez et al (2001) found low correlation whereas Abebe (2005), Kabir and Webb (2009) and Bardhan et al (2012), found a positive relationship. Our negative relationship between tree species richness and large homegardens is probably a result of specific needs and preferences by the owner along with socio-economic factors.…”

Exploring the potential of edible forest gardens: experiences from a participatory action research project in Sweden

“…Edible forest gardens have a long tradition among owners of small farms in the southern hemisphere, so called "homegardens", and have been clearly recognized to have social and ecological benefits in tropical areas on all continents (Landreth and Saito 2014;Pulido et al 2008;Bardhan et al 2012;Matsson et al 2015;Willeman et al 2013). In Europe, these gardens are commonly small-scale systems that contribute to the self-sufficiency of urban or suburban households, with the highest presence in central and eastern Europe (MosqueraLosada et al 2009).…”

Impact and cost-effectiveness of women's training in home gardening and nutrition in Bangladesh

“…Various other aspects of home gardening in Bangladesh have been well documented, such as the contribution to biodiversity conservation (e.g. Bardhan et al 2012), gender equality (e.g. Hillenbrand 2010;Patalagsa et al 2015) and socio-economic functions (e.g.…”