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 ofBangladesh.
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.