Report on

Biodiversity in bangladesh

Submitted to
Haniyum Maria Khan

Submitted by
Argha kubi
2121513625
Introduction

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the different life on earth and the patterns of nature it forms
(CBD2000). It covers biodiversity at all organizational levels, categorized according to both
evolutionary (phylogenetic) and ecological (functional) criteria. Biodiversity is the result of billions of
years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and increasingly by human influence. Diversity
includes a wide variety of plants, animals and microbes. Scientists estimate that there are actually
about 13 million species, although estimates range from 3 million to 100 million (CBD2000).
Bangladesh lies between the India-Himalayan and India-China subregions, with different
physiological characteristics, varying hydrological and climatological conditions, different soil
characteristics, and diverse forms with abundant flora and fauna. It contributes to the development
of the ecosystem (DoE, 2010). The land will serve as an important confluence and shared habitat,
overpass, and biological corridor of flora and fauna between the
India-Himalayan region and India-China region (DoE, 2015). Bangladesh is a small but biodiversity
country. The people of the country were traditional
Utilization and conservation of biodiversity from generation to generation. Maintaining the
sustainable use of this rich biodiversity is very important for the large number of people in the
country. However, the current state of biodiversity in Bangladesh is under stress. Population
pressure, reckless pollution, single cultivation, habitat destruction due to land-use changes, the
introduction and rapid expansion of invasive alien species, and recent climate change pose a serious
threat to our biodiversity. Has brought (NBSAP2006).

Objective of the study

 To understand the concept and importance of biodiversity in Bangladesh
 Understand the levels of biodiversity in Bangladesh
 Understand the current changes of Biodegradable in Bangladesh
 To shortlist the major threats in Biodiversity
 To identify and prioritize the steps the society should take to prevent massive loss of
biodiversity.

CURRENT STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY

Bangladesh's floral diversity is phenomenal. Khan (1991) reports that the country has more than
5,000 species of angiosperms, many of which have many subspecies. Of these, only about 160
species are used as crops . The main crops are rice, wheat, jute, beans, oil crops, small cereals, sugar
crops, fruits, vegetables, tubers, spices, beverage plants, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, and
refined grains. forest matter and other wild plants. The natural forests of Bangladesh consist of three
main types of vegetation occurring on three distinctly different soils .The natural forest is the
richest forest in terms of flora and about 2,260 species of plants are reported in the Chittagong area
which lies between the two major vegetation zones in Asia (DoE 2015). The country's geography and
climate support a rich biodiversity but unfortunately the total flora of the country has not been fully
studied. A checklist developed has listed 1,048 tree species (coniferous, spiny and monocotyledon)
in 432 genera out of 99 families that will provide information on tree species in Bangladesh. The
recent edition of “Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh” by the Asiatic Society provides an
inventory of the flora and fauna resources of the country (Ahmed et al. 2008, 2009). He recorded
3,611 taxa of angiosperms from the country. The exploration, identification and characterization of
the new species was published by the Bangladesh National Herb Institute (BNH). From June 2009 to
June 2013, another 64 species of angiosperms were added to the flora, of which 8 have been
described as new to scienceand recently reported by the BNH. reports 40 species of angiosperms ).
Table 1 compares the recorded and estimated flora numbers of Bangladesh and the world.

Tabel:1
Recorded and estimate number of flora in Bangladesh

MAJOR ECOSYSTEM OF BANGLADESH WITH RICH BIODIVERSITY

Based on the geographical and biogeographic features of the country, Bangladesh has remarkable
diversity in its ecosystems. Considering the main biophysical features, the ecosystems of Bangladesh
are generally classified into terrestrial, aquatic, marine, and coastal ecosystems. Current status and
trends of ecosystem biodiversity are as follows:

Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

The Sundarbans portion of Bangladesh (about 60% of all forests) is the largest contiguous and
productive mangrove forest in the world ). It was declared a “reserved forest” in 187576, and the
Sundarban Reserve is internationally recognized as an important mangrove ecosystem of high
biodiversity value.
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)

CHT is located in the southeast corner of Bangladesh, bordered by Myanmar to the southeast, the
state of Tripura to the north and Mizoram to the east, and Chittagong district to the west. Of the
total area of the CHT, more than 75% are considered to be forest, and the forests of the CHT are
ecologically classified as tropical moist evergreen, tropical semi-evergreen, tropical moist deciduous,

forest. tropical deciduous and savanna forests

Sal Forests
Sal moist deciduous forest (also known as Gazari) is located in the main districts of Dhaka, Tangail
and Mymensingh in central and major districts of Dinajpur, Rangpur and Rajshahi in the north. The
original Sal forest covers an area of 120,255 ha, of which 104,616 ha (87%) are in the central region
and 15,639 ha (13%) in the north.

Ratargul Swamp Forest

Ratargul is a small freshwater marsh in the haor river basin of northeastern Bangladesh. The
ecosystem is a typical freshwater swamp forest rich with 73 species of plants and 230 species of
animals of Ratargul.

Tangua Haor

A natural freshwater wetland in the northeast. He became the 2nd Ramsar

country website. This wetland is an important fish habitat comprising about 140 species and
seasonally supporting more than 60,000 migratory waterfowl of 60 species.
Hakkaluki Haor

Hakaluki Haor is one of the main wetlands with an area of 18,386 hectares. It supports rich
biodiversity and provides direct and indirect livelihood benefits to nearly 190,000 people

Kaptay Lake

The largest man-made lake in South Asia is Kaptai Lake with an area of 68,800 hectares. The lake was
created from the construction of a dam on the Karnafuli River near Sadar Kaptai in 1961. It
submerged almost the entire valley between Karnafuli and the lower Chengi, Kasalong and
Rinkhyong rivers. The lake contributes significantly to the national economy through freshwater fish
production, shipping, flood control, and agriculture.

.
RESOURCE DEPLETION STATUS

According to the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh (20072009; Volumes 512),
Irfanullah (2011) considers 486 species of vascular plants to be endangered in Bangladesh.

CHALLENGES AND MAJOR THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY IN BANGLADESH

The main problems of biodiversity loss in Bangladesh are habitat degradation, e.g. land use change,
agricultural land conversion, uncontrolled HYV use, preference for invasive alien species Damage,
urbanization, expanding road networks, unplanned landfills and other human activities have
damaged most ecosystems.

Population Pressure

Bangladesh's population more than doubled after independence. More population means more
consumption of natural resources leading to habitat degradation of plant and animal species.
Habitat degradation due to population growth is much higher in Bangladesh due to improved living
standards and quality of life of the people, putting greater pressure on environmental resources.

Extensive Cultivation
Increased demand of food supply for large population is causing conversion of natural ecosystems
into other land covers. Intensive cultivation for meeting the additional requirements leads to soil
erosion and loss of fertility, encroachment and degradation of forest, siltation and flooding in river
basins, changes in microclimate and loss of habitat. On the other hand, cultivation in the low-lying
areas severely disturbs traditional habitat of fish and other aquatic fauna. In CHT, horticulture is
gaining popularity in forestlands with intensive cultivation of few crops, e.g. mango, litchi, orange
etc.
Wrong Management Practices
Clear felling followed by artificial regeneration is a long practiced silvicultural system in the hill
forests by Bangladesh Forest Department. It is very much detrimental to the existing biodiversity
predominantly floral diversity as it involves slash and burn of the natural vegetation, clearing of the
forest floor, increase surface runoff of water and soil erosion, introduction of single or few species
instead of diverse plant species.
Tobacco Cultivation
Extension of tobacco cultivation in Lama, Ali Kadam and Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban
district, and recently in Khagrachari and Rangamati has also contributed towards deforestation in
two ways: through bringing fringe forest lands under tobacco cultivation and, supplying fuel wood
for tobacco curing from adjacent forests. Tobacco is also responsible for the erosion of agro-
biodiversity in their cultivation areas.
Brick Fields
Brick fields in and around the vicinity of forests have been identified as one of the notorious causes
of deforestation and biodiversity loss. Brick field owners who are the elites and patrons within
existing power structures, have good liaison with political and government officials. Brick fields in the
vicinity of forests have caused not only deforestation, but it has also caused environmental
degradation of the biological production systems. Farmers of many areas reported that their fruit
production in the areas had declined because of smoke originating from the brick fields. Moreover,
the energy used for burning bricks comes mostly from woody biomass of the forests.
Land Use Change
Land transfers have taken place where forested land get diverted for human settlement,
development of industry, fishery, irrigation, energy and power, mining, tourism, educational
institutions and Bangladesh army, navy and air force. The extent of such transfers of forest lands was
about 20,016 ha.
Roads and Rail Lines Through Forests
Communication networks through forests fragmented the natural habitats of both flora and fauna in
Sylhet, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mymensingh, Tangail and CHTs. Road construction or development
of communication systems through forests or protected areas facilitates encroachment and
extraction of resources from the forests. Such networks also restrict wildlife into limited area and
often killing of those during crossing the roads.

Conclusion

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to global climate change and As a result, sea
level rises. The government should immediately seek appropriate regulation countermeasures to
this inevitable event. Also, just focus on the ecological aspect does not guarantee the long-term
security of the country's biodiversity conservation since man largely depend on these resources for
their existence. The government should be active involving local communities in the management of
natural resources.A well-coordinated program for monitoring and management The country's
biodiversity is an urgent task. Inadequate institutional capacity and lack of trained staff labor are
biodiversity attributes and conservation issues do not work well Finally, government legislation
related to biodiversity needs urgent reform taking into account developments in the country's socio-
political context and the environment.

Reference

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