Others

Assisted in MSc thesis works of Nilotpal Sarkar, under the supervision of Dr. Shyamal Karmakar, Associate Professor, IFESCU.

Abstract

Swamp forests are considered a crucial component of the environment from the biodiversity and climate change mitigation points of view. This study was conducted in Ratargul Swamp Forest and Lakshmi Baor, situated in the North-Eastern Great Depression region of Bangladesh, to assess the soil organic carbon (OC) and soil organic matter (OM). Grab soil sampling was followed for the collection of soil samples. Samples were collected from three land classes based on elevation from the water level, viz., low, medium, and high inside the swamp forest, where few control samples were collected from the adjacent non-inundated area. Samples were collected from two layers – 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm from each sampling point after making a composite sample following the standard soil sampling procedure. The collected soil samples were analyzed for soil organic matter and organic carbon contents in the lab following the standard protocol of soil analysis. Lakshmi Baor has more organic carbon and organic matter concentration at 0-15 cm depth than 15-30 cm depth. On the contrary, the Ratargul Swamp forest soil sample showed higher organic carbon and organic matter concentrations at 15-30 cm depth than 0-15 cm depth. In the Lakshmi Baor area, total OC content was found higher in both layers of low land (19474.14 t C in 0-15 cm and 19748.20 t C in 15-30 cm). Whereas medium and high land showed significantly lower carbon concentrations. Total OC content was found higher in both low and medium land classes compared to high land in the case of Ratargul Swamp Forest. Land use class has no significant effect on the storage of soil OC and OM. In the case of Ratargul Swamp Forest, vegetation cover, barren land, and modified land have OC content of 4.59%, 5.04%, and 5.14%, respectively. Similarly, vegetation cover, barren land, and modified land have OC content of 4.86%, 4.54%, and 5.70%, respectively, in Lakshmi Baor. This result indicates higher OC storage compared to other terrestrial forest soils in Bangladesh. The findings of the study will help policymakers in formulating a new policy or strategy regarding carbon trading and swamp forest management in Bangladesh.

Assisted in BSc project work of Nilotpal Sarkar, under the supervision of Dr. Shyamal Karmakar, Associate Professor, IFESCU.

Abstract

Community-based forest management, popularly known as co-management, has been practiced in some important protected areas for the past 13 years. Financial aid has been provided by foreign donor agencies for capacity building in the forest departments as well as for creating alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent local people. However, the main objective of co-management is to arrest forest degradation and biodiversity loss. This study investigated whether such initiatives have improved the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) in terms of people's livelihoods and tree diversity. Four out of the 10 beats of TWS were randomly selected for conducting a tree and regeneration survey. The phytosociological attributes of TWS were assessed and compared with the adjacent reserve forest (control site). Following a stratified random sampling procedure, a total of 39 square plots (20 m × 20 m) were established in both TWS (24 plots) and control (15 plots) sites. Results showed that TWS maintained greater tree diversity compared to the control site. Interviewing a total of 100 people (with only 60 involved in co-management), this study sought to determine the impact of co-management activities on people's livelihoods. Results showed that most of the respondents (about 60%) think the co-management committee is not functioning well, while 32% deemed it moderately good for people, and 10% believed it had a poor effect on people's livelihoods as well as forest conservation. Co-management is practiced successfully in many developing countries throughout the world for natural resource management. Further study may be conducted to find out the ways to make the co-management concept a successful forest management tool in Bangladesh.

As an assignment of the Human Dimensions in Environmental Management course, taken by Dr. Mohammed Al Amin, Professor, IFESCU.

This study presents a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for Forest Rangers, Foresters, and Forest Guards across five districts of Bangladesh—Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Patuakhali, and Cox’s Bazar—under the course “Human Dimensions in Environmental Management.” The primary objective was to identify critical competency gaps and develop a strategic training plan aligned with national climate-resilient afforestation and ecosystem management goals. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and structured questionnaires administered to 57 forest personnel, subsequently analyzed using KJ and SWOT methods. The findings revealed considerable knowledge, skill, and attitude deficits, particularly in climate change adaptation (only 32% of foresters had prior related training), biodiversity conservation, modern silvicultural practices, and participatory forestry/co-management. Operational weaknesses included inadequate technical expertise, poor communication, and challenges from social/political interference and manpower crises, hindering effective management. The TNA culminated in a strategic five-day modular training framework tailored to each staff category, emphasizing core areas such as Climate Change and Carbon Sequestration, Social Forestry, Biodiversity Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Law Enforcement/Self-Defense, thereby highlighting the urgent need for targeted capacity-building to strengthen institutional competency and promote climate-resilient forest governance in Bangladesh.