**2.3 Natural mangrove forests and mangrove plantation**

The mangrove forests cover an area of 801,700 hectares along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Out of the total coastal forest, 601,700 hectares are natural mangroves, the Sundarbans—the single largest chunk of productive mangrove forest of the world—and 200,000 hectares are coastal plantations [19, 20]. This forest

includes fairly dense evergreen plant species, which are adapted for life under saline conditions and frequent inundation by the tides. Major plants of this forest are *Heritiera fomes*, *Excoecaria agallocha*, *Sonneratia apelata*, *Avicennia officinalis*, *Avicennia alba*, *Hibiscus tiliaceus*, *Phoenix paludosa*, and *Acrostichum aureum* [20].

The Sundarbans harbors 334 species of plants and 269 species of wild vertebrates. The Sundarbans is currently the last abode of important elements of South Asia's threatened megafauna, including the Bengal tiger, Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphins and saltwater crocodiles, a number of threatened bird species, and at least 176 species of fish [5, 16]. The flagship tree species of Sundarbans, a mangrove *Heritiera fomes*, has also been declared as an "endangered species" in 2010 under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category of threatened species [21].

#### **2.4 Freshwater swamp forests**

This type of forest is situated in the lowlands of the northeastern region of Bangladesh. Freshwater swamp forest consists of flood-tolerant evergreen trees of about 10–12 m in height. These trees have vast rooting system and form a close canopy. The major tree species of this forest are *Barringtonia acutangula*, *Millettia pinnata*, *Saccharum spontaneum*, *Phragmites karka*, *Acanthus ilicifolius*, *Alpinia allugas*, and *Schumannianthus dichotoma* [5, 10]. Seeds of these trees disperse through water and regenerate in mudflats. The freshwater swamp forests are the home of many species of wading birds, reptiles, and amphibians [5].

### **2.5 Homestead forest**

There are approximately 25.53 million homestead forests in Bangladesh [22] to fulfill the basic needs of the householders such as fruits, vegetables, other foods, and timbers. Planting native fruits and timber trees and bamboos near homesteads is a traditional land use practice in Bangladesh; however, amount of this forest is declining at an alarming rate due to various reasons. Major plants of the homestead forests are *Mangifera indica*, *Artocarpus heterophyllus*, *Syzygium cumini*, *Bambusa* spp. *Areca catechu*, and *Musa* spp. Homestead forests are the home of many threatened mammals including jungle cat, fishing cat, golden jackal, Bengal fox, mongoose, and civets [5].

#### **2.6 Village common forest**

Village common forests are natural forests other than the government reserve forests near the households of the indigenous communities that are managed to fulfill their daily demands [23, 24] and also harbor considerable biodiversity. Most of the village common forests are situated in the southeastern hilly areas of the country. Village common forests are small forest patches but harbor a good number of threatened wild animals [13].

### **3. Protected areas of Bangladesh**

Protected areas and forests of Bangladesh are home of many flagship species of global concern (**Figure 2**). Terrestrial PAs particularly in northeast and southeast regions of the country contain considerable biodiversity, and those in the CHT are part of the Indo-Burma biological hotspot. Madhupur National Park, the first protected forest situated in the central part of Bangladesh was established in 1962

**19**

**4.1 Amphibians**

*Forest Biodiversity and Deforestation in Bangladesh: The Latest Update*

were declared after the signing of the Rio Convention in 1992.

**4. The status of wildlife diversity in Bangladesh**

under the provision of the Forest Act 1927. After the implementation of the Wildlife Act 1974, the legal status of the PAs was improved considerably. Several new PAs

A total of 41 protected areas have been declared for the conservation of wild animals of Bangladesh, of which 20 are wildlife sanctuaries, 17 are national parks, 2 are special biodiversity conservation areas, 1 is marine protected area, 1 is eco-park, and 2 are vulture safe zones (**Figure 2**). Moreover, five migratory bird flyway sites have been declared in 2011 for the conservation of migratory birds of the country. Many globally threatened species such as Asian elephant, Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, leopard, clouded leopard, marbled cat, hoolock gibbon, slow loris, Chinese pangolin, and greater hornbill are still found in those PAs [5, 10]. The Sundarbans is the home of the only viable population of Bengal tiger in the country. Many other threatened wild animals like saltwater crocodile, Irrawaddy dolphin, white-bellied sea eagle, lesser adjutant stork, rock python, and king cobra are still in good condition in the Sundarbans [10, 16, 20]. PAs in deciduous forests (particularly Madhupur NP) also support a good population of capped langur. Biodiversity and forests of Bangladesh provide a buffer against climate change and provide sources of natural products of value to both local villagers and in the markets. Forests also serve to hold soil from excessive erosion and to maintain the integrity of watersheds and freshwater supplies. Tourism, both foreign and domestic, to natural areas of the country has been advertised for its potential to allow sustainable development of ecosystems and to provide incentives to preserve these areas instead of converting them to other uses. Bangladesh has a great potentiality to develop sustainable ecotourism in the PAs spread over the whole country [25].

Bangladesh is the home of 1952 species of invertebrates, 653 fish species (251 freshwater; 402 marine) [2, 10, 16], 50 species of amphibians, 147 species of reptiles, 566 species of birds including residents and migrants, and 127 species of mammals [16]. Many of these species are reported from Bangladesh in the last couple of decades; especially the number of amphibians and reptiles has grown up very fast, and it is expected to go even higher in near future [26, 27]. A total of 11 species of mammals, 19 species of birds, and 1 species of reptile has gone extinct from Bangladesh over the last century [16]. Many species such as hoolock gibbon, long-tailed macaque, Malayan sun bear, Asian elephant, and gharial are at the brink of extinction and demand attention for conservation management [16]. Distribution of some distinct wildlife species

Among the 50 recorded species of amphibians, 46 species are found in forested

areas of which 36 species are exclusively restricted to different types of forests [16]. The number of recorded amphibians from Bangladesh is even higher in other reports, and the reported species is up to 57 [27]. About 33% amphibian species are threatened in different categories (**Figure 4**). According to IUCN's Red List, Fuller's caecilian (*Chikila fulleri*) and Khare's stream frog (*Pterorana khare*) are critically endangered and restricted to the particular forests in Bangladesh. Bush frogs like Doria's pygmy frog (*Chiromantis doriae*), Anderson's bush frog (*Philautus andersoni*), and pied warty frog (*Theloderma asperum*) are endangered species and only found in mixed-evergreen forests of the country. Cascade frog (*Amolops marmoratus*) is a vulnerable species and restricted to some particular hill streams of Bangladesh.

has been mentioned with the major forest types in Bangladesh (**Figure 3**).

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86242*

#### *Forest Biodiversity and Deforestation in Bangladesh: The Latest Update DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86242*

*Forest Degradation Around the World*

threatened species [21].

**2.5 Homestead forest**

goose, and civets [5].

**2.6 Village common forest**

of threatened wild animals [13].

**3. Protected areas of Bangladesh**

**2.4 Freshwater swamp forests**

includes fairly dense evergreen plant species, which are adapted for life under saline conditions and frequent inundation by the tides. Major plants of this forest are *Heritiera fomes*, *Excoecaria agallocha*, *Sonneratia apelata*, *Avicennia officinalis*, *Avicennia alba*, *Hibiscus tiliaceus*, *Phoenix paludosa*, and *Acrostichum aureum* [20]. The Sundarbans harbors 334 species of plants and 269 species of wild vertebrates. The Sundarbans is currently the last abode of important elements of South Asia's threatened megafauna, including the Bengal tiger, Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphins and saltwater crocodiles, a number of threatened bird species, and at least 176 species of fish [5, 16]. The flagship tree species of Sundarbans, a mangrove *Heritiera fomes*, has also been declared as an "endangered species" in 2010 under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category of

This type of forest is situated in the lowlands of the northeastern region of Bangladesh. Freshwater swamp forest consists of flood-tolerant evergreen trees of about 10–12 m in height. These trees have vast rooting system and form a close canopy. The major tree species of this forest are *Barringtonia acutangula*, *Millettia pinnata*, *Saccharum spontaneum*, *Phragmites karka*, *Acanthus ilicifolius*, *Alpinia allugas*, and *Schumannianthus dichotoma* [5, 10]. Seeds of these trees disperse through water and regenerate in mudflats. The freshwater swamp forests are the home of

There are approximately 25.53 million homestead forests in Bangladesh [22] to fulfill the basic needs of the householders such as fruits, vegetables, other foods, and timbers. Planting native fruits and timber trees and bamboos near homesteads is a traditional land use practice in Bangladesh; however, amount of this forest is declining at an alarming rate due to various reasons. Major plants of the homestead forests are *Mangifera indica*, *Artocarpus heterophyllus*, *Syzygium cumini*, *Bambusa* spp. *Areca catechu*, and *Musa* spp. Homestead forests are the home of many threatened mammals including jungle cat, fishing cat, golden jackal, Bengal fox, mon-

Village common forests are natural forests other than the government reserve forests near the households of the indigenous communities that are managed to fulfill their daily demands [23, 24] and also harbor considerable biodiversity. Most of the village common forests are situated in the southeastern hilly areas of the country. Village common forests are small forest patches but harbor a good number

Protected areas and forests of Bangladesh are home of many flagship species of global concern (**Figure 2**). Terrestrial PAs particularly in northeast and southeast regions of the country contain considerable biodiversity, and those in the CHT are part of the Indo-Burma biological hotspot. Madhupur National Park, the first protected forest situated in the central part of Bangladesh was established in 1962

many species of wading birds, reptiles, and amphibians [5].

**18**

under the provision of the Forest Act 1927. After the implementation of the Wildlife Act 1974, the legal status of the PAs was improved considerably. Several new PAs were declared after the signing of the Rio Convention in 1992.

A total of 41 protected areas have been declared for the conservation of wild animals of Bangladesh, of which 20 are wildlife sanctuaries, 17 are national parks, 2 are special biodiversity conservation areas, 1 is marine protected area, 1 is eco-park, and 2 are vulture safe zones (**Figure 2**). Moreover, five migratory bird flyway sites have been declared in 2011 for the conservation of migratory birds of the country. Many globally threatened species such as Asian elephant, Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, leopard, clouded leopard, marbled cat, hoolock gibbon, slow loris, Chinese pangolin, and greater hornbill are still found in those PAs [5, 10].

The Sundarbans is the home of the only viable population of Bengal tiger in the country. Many other threatened wild animals like saltwater crocodile, Irrawaddy dolphin, white-bellied sea eagle, lesser adjutant stork, rock python, and king cobra are still in good condition in the Sundarbans [10, 16, 20]. PAs in deciduous forests (particularly Madhupur NP) also support a good population of capped langur.

Biodiversity and forests of Bangladesh provide a buffer against climate change and provide sources of natural products of value to both local villagers and in the markets. Forests also serve to hold soil from excessive erosion and to maintain the integrity of watersheds and freshwater supplies. Tourism, both foreign and domestic, to natural areas of the country has been advertised for its potential to allow sustainable development of ecosystems and to provide incentives to preserve these areas instead of converting them to other uses. Bangladesh has a great potentiality to develop sustainable ecotourism in the PAs spread over the whole country [25].
