Sustainability of Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in Bangladesh: past, present and future actions

Patterns and extent of threats to the protected areas of Bangladesh: the need for a relook at conservation strategies

“…Among them Modhupur NP is suffered the worst (scoring the PARTI of 0.78), probably because of easy accessibility and its proximity to the country's capital city. These results correspond with the findings of other studies (e.g., Alam et al, 2008;Islam & Sato, 2012;Muhammed et al, 2008). MarcovchikNicholis et al (2008) argued that habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban development may have the most serious consequences to wildlife, because it results in permanent and irreversible changes to the environment, with little chance of restoration and recovery.…”

“…Encroachment of forestland (3.3 per cent of evergreen hill forests, 31.9 per cent of deciduous plain land forests), for housing and agriculture, is responsible for much of the observed loss of biodiversity (Muhammed et al, 2008;Alam et al, 2008). In this study, encroachment was reported as a threat in almost one-third of all protected areas, and in about 63 per cent of protected areas within tropical moist deciduous forests distributed in plain lands.…”

Deforestation, land conversion and illegal logging in Bangladesh: the case of the Sal (Shorea robusta) forests

“…A few decades ago, Bangladesh was rich in forest resources but a rapid population growth, land conversion into different commercial activities, increased consumption of energy and wood and maximum utilization of natural resources have led to a rapid degradation of forest resources (Alam et al 2008). The tropical moist deciduous Sal forests are a leading example of such degradation (Ali et al 2006), due to highly increasing population that have sequentially brought exploitation of the forest at a significant rate, nearly close to destruction (Safa 2004, Alam et al 2008. As a consequence, about 36% of the Sal forests original cover existed in 1985, and more recent estimates mentioned that this figure dropped down to only 10% (Alam et al 2008, FAO 2003.…”

“…The tropical moist deciduous Sal forests are a leading example of such degradation (Ali et al 2006), due to highly increasing population that have sequentially brought exploitation of the forest at a significant rate, nearly close to destruction (Safa 2004, Alam et al 2008. As a consequence, about 36% of the Sal forests original cover existed in 1985, and more recent estimates mentioned that this figure dropped down to only 10% (Alam et al 2008, FAO 2003.Several researches dealing with deforestation have been undertaken, focusing on both the microeconomic (Repetto 1988, Gillis 1988 and macroeconomic causes of rapid deforestation in the tropics (Shafik 1994, Capistrano & Kiker 1995, Khan & McDonald 1995. However, the relevance of understanding the deforestation systems goes beyond the capability to point out the changes resulting from deforestation; it is necessary to realize its causes and effects on natural resources (Mena 2001).…”

“…Empirical support for these hypotheses is fundamentally applicable for all forest types of Bangladesh. Deforestation in Bangladesh is obviously a complex issue and, moreover, scanty scientific studies have been carried out to identify its deep causes, particularly in Sal forests, which is the most threatened ecosystem of the country (Safa 2004, Alam et al 2008. At the background of such apocalyptic situation, this study has been carried to deepen understanding of the deforestation process through exploring the sources and the underlying and immediate causes of Sal forests deforestation.…”