Earlier investigations on kraft pulping studies of Albizzia moluccana Miq. wood (1) reveals that pulp of good physical strength properties could be obtained from this exotic wood species. After  the successful completion of the kraft pulping, attention has been diverted to observe the response to the Semi—chemical pulping of the wood. If the response is positive, it may be possible to suplement the existing short supply of pulp-wood in Bangladesh by introducing large scale plantation of Albizzia moluccana. Several logs of Albizzia moluccana were collected from the tea-gardens of Khadimnagar, District Sylhet, Bangladesh. After debarking, these logs were sawn to 6* x 4″ x 4” sizes and left for air-drying by stacking. Chipping was subsequently done in a laboratory model Murrey chipper to 1″ x 72″ x 78″ sizes. The chips were hand sorted to remove the over and undersized ones. Moisture content of the chips were then determined.

Albizzia moluccana is a fast growing tree of Leguminosae family and Mimoseae sub—family, with light foliage and straight clean bole. The wood is soft and light. It grows rapidly in the wet zone (in the rainfall, range of 75 inches to 200 inches) and reaches 32 ft. in height in about four years. The chief use in Bangladesh appears to be for shade purpose in, tea garden:.., o -her probable uses include making of tea-chests and planks. This species is a native of Moluccas and Java (2).

When, one speaks of self-sufficiency in any commodity, one means balancing the supply with the demand or the consumption requirement over a period of time. For achieving such balance or even to plan for achieving such balance, it is necessary to have reliable data about the current consumption requirement, the current supply position and the trend of change in both upto a certain point of time in the future. Unfortunately, there are no adequate and reliable data on the pattern of consumption requirement of various forest produces nor is there any data about the supply position.except about those which are obtained from the reserved forests. As a result it is extremely difficult even
to assess the situation correctly. There are no literature which can be drawn upon to prepare any paper on the subject. There are a number of feasibility studies on the aspect of utilisation of forest produce but they do not reflect the total position. Three publications which have been found to be useful and relevant to the subject arc: (1) “Timber Trends studies in East Pakistan” prepared in 1957 by Kr. S.I-I. Ishaque, Forest Utilisation Officer of the then Government of Pakistan, (2) “The Forest Products Market Survey” prepared in the year 1963 by Messrs Forestal
International, and (3) ”An estimate of long-term timber trends and prospects in East Pakistan” prepared in the year 1968 by the Chief Economist and the Assistant Chief of the Planning Department of the then Government of East Pakistan. These publications have been used freely in preparing this paper. In those works attempts have been made to assess the consumption requirement of ‘various forest produces and, in the absence of reliable data, it has been done, obviously, on certain assumptions made by the authors themselves and it is interesting to note that they have produced results which do not agree with each other. This disagreement amply clarifies as to how difficult it is to arrive at any
reasonably correct conclusion. As there is no better information available, the figures mentioned in the estimates prepared by the Planning Department, being the most recent one, has been taken as guide and the discussion is being based on these figures.

The mangroves are tidal vegetation peculiarly adopted to tidal saline water. This is a complex plant community primarily controlled by cdaphic factors. Due to their, peculiar morphological, anatomical and physiological features, they are most suitably adopted to the saline muddy habitat. Their occurrence 1 is dependent on the tide level and are not found beyond the high tide mark. These communities are the product of the constantly changing conditions of its habitat.

Summary of data for the month of January to June, 1973-
Station: Forest Research Institute, Chittagong.

Wood, is a hygroscopic substance. It has the ability to adsorb and desorb moisture. When wood is exposed to atmospheric condition its moisture content adjusts itself until it is in equilibrium with the moisture content of the surrounding atmospheric humidity. The equilibrium moisture content of wood is dependent on the atmospheric temperature and relative humidity and consequently a change in temperature and relative humidity will bring about a change in the moisture content of wood. This fluctuation of moisture content is generally accompanied by a corresponding change in the dimension of the wood. The situation becomes complicated by the fact that the dimensional change is not same for all the species. Some timbers are comparatively stable in respect of shrinkage and swelling while others are more susceptible to such changes causing trouble during wood in service, particularly in joinery work, such as, drawers, doors and windows, etc. Thus knowledge on the seasonal variation of moisture content of different species of wood and their concomitant dimensional changes is of considerable practical importance in determining their suitability for good quality furniture and cabinet manufacture. A study was, therefore, undertaken to evaluate the relative dimensional stability properties of some of the indigenous wood species of Bangladesh where temperature and relative humidity conditions of the atmosphere between the winter and monsoon months vary widely.

In Bangladesh bamboos are the most important forest produce and have become an integral part of the life of most people. Five species of bamboos occur in the forests of Bangladesh. The most important is Melocanna bambusoides. Other species such as Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus longispathus, Neohauzeaua dullooa and Oxytenanthera nigrociliata occur sporadically in gregarious areas of Melocanna bambusoides. The stocking varies from extensive areas of pure bamboo to scattered undergrowth in predominantly timber producing areas. In order to meet the increasing demand of bamboo, for both commercial and industrial purposes, all accessible areas have been overfelled and the obvious result has been their disappearence. Felling has now started in the less accessible areas and it appears that these will meet the same fate. Replenishment of stock has, therefore, attained a new dimension. All cultivated species respond well to vegetative propagation but the species found in forests are not amenable to any of the known methods. Seed, therefore, remains the only method by which large scale plantations of forest species can be undertaken.