Rauwolfia serpentina is one of the most important medicinal plants. It is widely used in the treatment of high blood pressure, insanity and insomnia. In the forest areas of Bangladesh, the existence of this plant is very sporadic. The objective of this work, therefore, was to explore the possibility of its commercial cultivation with the aim to increase the percentage of germination by different chemical and mechanical treatments.

This paper gives the experience of a tour study in the Sundarbans forest by the author and Dr. Hubert Hcndrich, a West German Zoologist during 1970. It also deals with the present status of wildlife population in Bangladesh. Some hints have also been given regarding suitable sites for recreational purposes in Bangladesh.

There are more than 500 tropical hardwood species and a number of grass and bamboo species in Bangladesh. Only a handful of these are, at present, used for the manufacture of pulp, paper, fibreboard and rayon. Sundri and gewa of the Sunderbans and a number of hardwood species of the Chittagong area are used for the manufacture of paper and fibre boards. Rice straw and bagasse are also used for the same purpose. Besides, some bamboo species of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and three grass species of Sylhet district are, at present, used for the manufacture of pulp and rayon. Most of the other minor hardwood and grass species have practically no industrial use.

In this study, 20 minor hardwood species and 20 grass species of Bangladesh have been taken up with a view to determine their suitability for the manufacture of pulp. Runkel ratio, flexibility co-efficient and relative fibre length have been found out from the fibre length, fibre diameter, cell-wall thickness and lumen diameter of the fibres. From those data the tensile strength, tearing resistance and general suitability of the fibres for the manufacture of pulp and paper could be estimated. From the Runkel ratio obtained, it can be predicted that most of the species under study will be suitable for the manufacture of quality paper. Only Kannari and Jaikkagola among the wood species, daloo and lata bans from the bamboo species and nal, ikra and khagra among the grass species are likely to yield moderate quality pulp.

In Bangladesh the Tropical Moist Deciduous Sal Forests were studied in Madhupur Garh. Sal (Shorea robusta) has got a density of 87 trees out of the total 233 trees per acre. The basal area of sal is 56 sft per acre (that is 48.7% of the total) and it has got a 100% frequency distribution.

A preliminary study on veneer cutting and gluing properties of Albizzia moluccana Miq., an exotic species, showed that the species is suitable for making good quality veneer and plywood and can be used for making tea boxes and crates. It is also suitable for making corestock.

The paper explores the statistical ground of preparing forest working plans and
provides a tentative list of required data and studies. It is observed that the
insufficiency of required data and lack of studies have resulted in serious shortcomings
in the present working plans of Bangladesh. The targets are not found to be
established on an analytical basis and the prescriptions and programmes do not
reflect the true requirements of the economy. Thus the plans are not consistent
with the objective of producing the maximum contribution to the society. In order
to improve the quality of the working plans it has become urgently necessary to
develop forestry sector statistics in Bangladesh. The paper suggests steps for accelerating
developments in this respect. The steps are concerned with institutional
changes, provision of adequate field staff and funds, organising training programmes
and formulation of a plan for statistical development by the Working Plans Division
of the Forest Department in close co-operation with the Planning Commission
and the Forest Research Institute.

The people of the coastal belt and offshore islands arc very poor. Because of century old neglect the rural economy is handicapped by illiteracy, bad communication and hazard of natural calamities. The Coastal Embankment Project was launched in 1960 to reduce the damages of crops caused by cyclone and to increase the job opportunity for the people living in the area.

Experimental plantations were raised in the coastal area on khash land and on the strips outside the poulders. Attention of the planners was drawn to the Coastal Afforestation Scheme after 1972, and the scheme got priority in the First Five Year Plan. When implemented 3 Coastal Afforestation Scheme would raise 112000 acres of plantation by 1781-82. The newly raised forest would create job opportunity for about one 100000 people in 2-3 decades’ time.

The furniture and joinery industries of Bangladesh mostly use manual labour and hand tools both in manufacture and in surface finishing. Modern woodworking machines have been introduced on a very small scale in the recent past, but they have not met with much success due to the lack of proper technical know-how
and trained personnel. These industries are expected to expand. As the general economic conditions improve and per capita income rises, there will be need for an increased production of furniture and joinery.

A brief review is given of investigations into the cause of agaru, a valuable
aromatic oleoresinous deposit found in the stems of Aquilaria agallocha in
Bangladesh, East India and other parts of South East Asia.
In previous investigations various fungi have been identified in association
with agaru deposits but their casusal role in this context has not been fully
established.
The present investigation includes microscopic examinations and identification
of fungal isolates from four samples of agaru collected in the Sylhct region
of Bangladesh. From this evidence it is concluded that it is unlikely that there
is a specific fungal cause for agaru. Suggestions are made for further research.

An investigation was made to determine the possibility of making sulphate pulp from rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis). The pulp obtained was low in yield and the permanganate number was very high ranging from 12.35 to 24.44 predicting a high bleach requirement. The physical strength properties of the pulps were moderate. Rubber wood pulp showed promise to be used for making moderate quality wrapping, bag and average quality printing papers.