SHARIF A. MUKULDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Science

School of Agriculture and Mineral SciencesShahjalal University of Science and Technology

Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh

E-mail: sharif_a_mukul@yahoo.com

Ecological trade-offs between agroforestry land-use,

biodiversity conservation and management intensification :Case study from in and around Lawachara National Park

Background

- biodiversity loss

- sustainable livelihoods

- Conservationist seeks alternative to conserve

biodiversity

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet

Commercial agroforestry

Cacao agroforestry

Coffee agroforestry

in tropical America

Rubber agroforests

Dummer agroforests

in south-east/central Asia

The ancient form;

- Shifting cultivation;

- involved slash and burn;

not suitable for ecosystem and biodiversity !!!

Traditional homegardens,

- sustainable

- multiple benefits……

Agroforestry in the tropical landscapes:

the scenario

Multifunctional role of agroforestry

The present study

How plant diversity distributes in the

agroforestry land uses

Allocation of biomass and soil carbon..

Management intensification’s effect on

biodiversity….

Lawachara National Park (LNP), NE Bangladesh

Area- 1250 (+281 !) ha; GPS position: 24030/-24032/ N & 91037/-91039/ E ;

Geography and climate…- Topography (hillocks, ), rainfall (), temperature ()

Forests & biodiversity…

- Tropical mixed evergreen forests, exotic plantations;

- Flora (167), birds (246), mammals (26), reptiles (6), amphibians (4);

- Characteristics spp. Hoolock hoolock, Pitta sordida etc.

Dependent population & history…- 26 villages, poor / unemployed, settlements date backs 1940 for…

Ethnic communities & characteristics…- Khasia, Tripura, Garo and Manipuri

The study site

Map

Lawachara National Park

Indo-Burma Global Biodiversity Hotspot

[Source: Cincotta et al. (2000)]

1. Landowners interview

2. Plot survey1. Physical attributes

2. Vegetation

3. Soil

4. Management

Methodology (data collection & analysis)

Sub-plot 2

Sub-plot 4

Sub-plot 1

Sub-plot 3

2 m

2 m

Soil 2Soil 1

Soil 3Soil 4

Depth20 cm

10 m

10 m

4 agroforestry land-use

two are based on indigenous knowledge or

evolved from…

Management

BL=9; LA=10; PA=10; SFT=8

Results

As a safety-nate during emergencies;

Access to better nutrition and education;

Self-sufficiency;

Importance to local livelihoods

Fig: Carbon allocation based on available method

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Above Ground Biomass Below Ground Biomass Soil Carbon

Biomass and soil carbon

To

nn

e/h

a

Forest Betel-leaf agroforestry Lemon Agroforestry

Pineapple agroforestry Shifting Cultivation

Plant diversity

Higher in betel-leaf agroforestry

46 tree (37)

30 shrub (34)

H= 3.285 (2.713)

Conservation implications

Tree with betel vine

Collecting betel leaf

Contd…

Tripura farming

Fruit trees in park boundary

Slash & burnfarming

I’m a forester rather than an ecologist or

statiscian !

Short time survey

The limitations

The 1st International Conference on Forest Related Traditional Knowledge and Cultures

in Asia, October 5-10, 2008; Seoul, Korea

Acknowledgements

All the respondents

My supervisor

Friends

Thanksfor

listening !

© 2008

Photographs: SA Mukul