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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.

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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.