BANGLADESH JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE
A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
The in vitro regeneration of Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis L.) was obtained from
cotyledon derived callus and adventitious buds. The callus was initiated in the MS basal
medium supplementedwith different concentrations of plant growth regulators viz, BAP,
KIN, NAA, IAA, and GA3 alone or in combination. Among the different plant growth
regulatorsupplements, 0.2 mg/1 NAA was proved to be more effective in inducing callus
than adventitious bud regeneration. Adventitious bud regeneration was achieved through
organogenesis of callusinMS culturemedium supplementedwithBAP or KIN in combination
withNAA orIAA .The media having 2.0 mg/1BAP+0.2 mg/1 NAA was found to be the best
for adventitious bud regeneration (75%). For shoot regeneration via callus plant growth
regulator cytokinines (BAP & KIN) were supplemented alone orin combination with auxins
(NAA) in MS medium. On the other hand, when BAP or KIN was tried alone, no shoot
regeneration was observed via callus. Among the different combinations of auxins (NAA)
and cytokinines (BAP and KIN) plant growth regulators, 4 mg/1 BAP+0.2 NAA wasfound to
be the bestfor regeneration via callus. Regenerated shoots were rooted in fullstrength MS
medium. IBA (7.0mg/1) effectivelyproduced higher percentage (90%) ofroots and root growth.
Aftersequential hardening, the regenerated plantlets were successfully established in soil
under natural environment.
Keora (Sonneratia apetala Buch.-Ham.) is a
pioneer species in coastal areas of Bangladesh
(Siddiqi 2001). It alone constitutes 94.4% of the
existing mangrove plantations (Siddiqi and
Shahjalal 1997) because of its high survival and
growth in the newly accreted land. However, the
information on flowering, fruiting and seed
collection are very little. There was no systematic
study in this context. So, for a clear understanding
about the phenology of keora a study over a period
of 12 monthsfrom January to December 1996 was
conducted in the coastal plantation ofKattoli under
Chittagong Coastal Afforestation Division.
The paper reviews information on climate changes, status of forests, biodiversity and vulnerability of biological resources in Bangladesh particularly in mangrove areas. The atmospheric concentration of green house gases modifies the global and regional climates and consequently affects adversely the environment of Bangladesh. There may be an increase in temperature, rainfall and frequency of cyclones, and sea level rise in the coast of Bangladesh. The country is likely to experience repeated flooding, cyclones, tidal surges, soil erosion,
heavy sedimentation,salinity increase and prolonged drought.
The forest covers 17% of the total area of Bangladesh but only 7.7% are under closed tree cover. With regard to biodiversity, the plant kingdom supports about 5,000 angiospermic species including 10% trees, 35% shrubs and woody climbers and 50% herbs. The mangrovesinclude 70 species of plant. About animals, the mammals comprise 50 species, birds 275, reptiles 50 and amphibians 8 species compared to 110 species of mammals, 628 birds, 109 reptiles and 22 amphibians in the entire Bangladesh. Considerable number of plant and animal species is threatened with disappearance due to human pressure, and the situation will aggravate with changing climate. Extinction or migration ofspecialized plants and animals will take place with regular flooding, increasing soilsalinity and other ecological changes. Probable impact of sea level rise in the coastal areas on forests and biodiversity is unknown. For living organisms, it may be possible to overcome small and gradualsea level
rise but will disappear in case of abrupt change.
The paper reviews information on climate changes, status of forests, biodiversity
and vulnerability of biological resources in Bangladesh particularly in mangrove areas.
Atmospheric concentration of green house gases modifies the global and regional climates
and consequently affects adversely the environment ofBangladesh. There may be increase in
temperature, rainfall and frequency of cyclones, and sea level rise in the coast ofBangladesh.
The country is likely to experience repeated flooding, cyclones, tidal surges, soil erosion,
heavy sedimentation,salinity increase and prolonged drought
The responses offour provenances of Acacia nilotica to salinity (0,75,150, and 225
mMNaCl) at the germination stagewere examined experimentally and compared with their
known salt tolerance at the seedling stage. There were significant differences in final
germination percentage and germination rate between salinity treatments and between
provenances. The provenance (Tunzini, Swaziland) which appeared more salt tolerant
during germinationwas notmost tolerant at the seedling stage.
A study was conducted on the socio-economic upliftment ofthe rural poor women in Pomra Community Forestry Project (CFP) ofRangunia, Chittagong compared to those in the adjacent Non-CFP areas. Thirty sample families from each group reveal that the women populations are same (45%) in both the areas. Women who can read and write in the CFP and Non-CFP areas have been found to be 66% and 37% respectively. About 29% and 35% female workforce have been found in these two areas with 1.7 and 2.1 women per family. It has been found that 53% and 20% women are conscious about health while 70% and 53% women found to be liberal to talk or meet visitors orstrangersin the CFP and Non-CFP areas respectively. The average annual income per family have been found to be Tk. 20,640/- in CFP and Tk. 3,608/-in Non-CFP areas where the contribution of female workforce are Tk. 8,997/- and Tk. 1,647/- respectively.
CFP has also accelerated 80% women to work in agricultural/horticultural fields, 80% in provisionaljobs, 73% attending professional training, 60% attending social meetings and 70% going to bazar herselves, which are significantly different than in the Non-CFP families (t.01=3.4 with 12 d.f.). Besides, 70% and 37% couplesjointly take their decisions in the CFP and Non-CFP areasrespectively, the difference of which is also statistically significant (C2.01=6.7 with 1 d.f.). Moreover, 47% houses have tinned roofs in the CFP compared to 16% in the Non-CFP areas. It may, therefore, be inferred that the socio-economic condition ofthe landless families rehabilitated with 1.6 hectares of khas land have substantially been improved than they had before. It is expected that the ownership of the land made them active and encouraged to generate sources of higher income which ultimately resulted the socio-economic upliftment ofthe rehabilitated women.
The Sundarban, the largestsingle tract ofmangrove forest in the world, is famousfor
its economically and ecologically important flora and fauna. The Sundarban ofBangladesh
is the main natural home of the giant honeybee, Apis dorsata Fabr. (Apidae : Hymenoptera).
Thebee gives honey and wax contributing to fetch handsome revenue to the national economy
and supports the livelihood of a group of resource-poor honey hunters, locally known as
‘mowalis or mowals‘, living in the vicinity of the Sundarban. This paper presents author’s
observations and reviews on scientific and practical aspects of the bee, its nectarsource and
age-old honey hunting in the Sundarban. It also analyzes the constraints and prospects
with suggestions for better management of the resource based on ecological consequences
and socio-economic conditions of the people living in the adjoining areas. The paper,
highlighting the value of the bee to environment and society as a whole, is expected to be
useful to the scientists, extension workers, policy makers, planners, forest managers and aid
agencies.
The study was undertaken to ascertain the growth performance of akashmoni
(Acacia auriculiformis) in the strip and block plantations ofBangladesh. Growth statisticslike
mean diameter at breast height (DBH), totalheight (Ht), volume over bark (Vob), basal area per
hectare per year (ba/ha/yr) and mean annual increment (MAI) were estimated using the
data collected from 6 to 10 years old plantations. The results showed that the growth
performance of the species was better in strip plantations compared to block plantations.
A financial analysis also favoured strip plantations over block plantations.
Essential oil constituents of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticomis were studied
for their comparison. Essential oil of E. tereticomis, contains 46 compounds of which
1,8-cineole (39.7%) is the major constituents followed by terpinyl citronellol (7.9%),
cyclohexanol (7.8%) and thujene (6.1%). The essential oil of E. camaldulensis contains 27
compounds containing p-cymene (34.0%) and a-phellandrene (23.0%) as major constituents
followed by 1,8-cineole (7.3%) and a-pinene (6.5%).
A study was conducted from 1997 to 2000 to determine the effect offelling top dying
affected sundari (Heritiera fames) trees on the regeneration status in those areas of the
Sundarban. The newly recruited seedlings ofsundari (H.fames), gewa (Excoecaria agallocha)
and kankra (Bruguiera sexangula) were significantly higher in the felled areas compared to
unfelled areas almost all the years. But seedlings of passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) and
goran (Ceriops decandra) were found significantly higher only in 1997 and 2000 respectively
and amur (Amoora cucullata) in 1997 and 1998 in the felled areas. Moreover, seedlings
recruitment of all species together was significantly higher in the felled areas. Among the
recruited seedlings, H. fames and E. agallocha constituted the highest numbers both in the
felled and unfelled areas. Therefore, salvage felling of the top dying affected sundari trees is
recommended to avoid wastage of wood and to improve regeneration status.
Welcome to the Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science (BJFS) – a leading platform for advancing the knowledge and understanding of forest science in Bangladesh and beyond. Established with a commitment to excellence, BJFS serves as a cornerstone for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts dedicated to the sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems.
