Protect Bhawal Sal forest

How suitable are species other than Sal?

Bhawal National Park is located at 2401/ N latitude and 90020/ E longitude, about 40 km N of Dhaka on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, encloses a gazette notified area of 5,022 ha (inclusive of 584 ha transferred for army and air force bases), and is under the territorial jurisdiction of Dhaka forest division. The park was established by the forest department in 1974 and formally published in gazette(1982) to protect the near complete depletion of vegetative cover and wildlife in the area as well as to halt the process of acquisition of land for other purposes because of its close proximity to Dhaka. There are both privately area of 950 ha within the gazette notified national park area which is divided into recreational zone and a protection zone. There are about 202 ha of private land in the identified core area and about 650 people live within this core area.
Forests under forestry use
The Hill forests contribute 508,991 ha (45.4%) followed by the littoral mangrove forests and coastal aforestation extending over 489,872 ha (43.7%) and plain Sal forest account for the rest 121,884 ha (10.9%) of the forest area.The share of forest land in total national area during 1970 remained 15 percent and fell to about 14 percent during 1980 and slipped further to about 13 percent during 1990.Public forest lands account for about 14.9 percent and the village forests for anther 1.8 percent of the area of the country.
The depleted forest within the gazette notified national park has recovered to a considerable extent now and is nearly a pure stand of 15-20 old Sal which is of uniform height and occupies almost 100 percent of the canopy. The under storied vegetation is low and relatively open and contains relatively few species. The Sal trees are, however, short, of small diameter and of poor form and because of low vigour of the coppices, is not expected to grow much more.
Bhawal Sal forest of Gazipur is tropical moist deciduous type of forests. Actually this forest is present in lowland and flood plain based area. In our country only very this forest contains pure sal. Because the natural and climatic condition of this region is very much suitable for growing pure Sal tree. Besides this forest contains a huge variety of floral composition. Moreover different types of mammals, reptile, aves, amphibian depends on these kinds of trees, as their habitat as well as niche.
The scenario of the sal forest was quite good couple of years back. But at present the forest faces a miserable condition. There are many reasons for depletion of the resources. From the study the following causes were found: Human settlement, Industrialization Agricultural activities, Logging, Cattle ranching, Brick field, Saw mills, Encroachment, Fragmentation of forest land by road construction, Existing population pressure, other usage.
Once upon a time Bhawal Garh was so rich and transitional zone of floral composition because of its geographical settings and climatic characteristics. Sal was the special but recently Bahera, Amloki, Gandhi gazari, Karoi Palash, Dhaki-jaam, Chambal, Bajna, Haritaki, Sonalu, Mango, Jack-fruit trees are planted here. This forest also includes lower amounts of Herbs, Shrubs, Grasses, Creepers and Vines. Deer, Owl, Wild cock, Cobra, Frog, Cockroach, Monkey, Rat, Python, Doeal, Cuckoo etc are naturally found in this Bhawal forest This forest has many kinds of insects, apes, reptiles and its wetlands contain different types of endemic fishes. But at present most of these distinct flora and fauna species are in danger and struggling for existence.
To control ecological balance any country needs 25 percent forest. We have no sufficient forest in our country. We have only 9% (17% in official record). Furthermore, our forests are being destroyed day by day. We should take proper step to check deforestation. Government should impose some policies and law to protect forests. Already government has take some steps such as, extension and development of existing facilities for Bhawal National Park, creation of recreational facilities, improvement and extension of existing wildlife breeding centre, conservation and development of endangered wild animals, afforestation of degraded Sal forest and upon fallow land. Government can utilize the lower lands which are used by the local people, increase opportunities for eco-tourism, education and research. By increasing awareness of the local people near the Bhawal National Park we can protect this forest from deforestation, by training the employer who are engaged with the forest department.
Biological resources and biological diversity form the basis of both the ecology and economy of Bangladesh. The agricultural activities, fisheries and livestock along with a number of other sections are heavily dependent directly or indirectly on biological resources.Bhawal forest is our biological resource. So we must protect this forest for our survival and development.
Ashraful Alam is research coordinator, Society for Environment and Nature Study (SENS) Dept. of Environmental Science and Resource Management Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Sontosh, Tangail. E-mail: [email protected]