Earticle

The aim of the study was to reveal the scope and benefits derives from establishing carbon forests in a country like Bangladesh. Carbon forestry is the modernized forestry practice that evolves no cutting of trees or vegetation rather conserves them in the wood. Trees might be the source of carbon sink at large scale by establishing carbon forests. To find out how and in what extent forests of Bangladesh could contribute to global emission reduction, tree species of economic importance were taken into account about their carbon sequestration potential. Data source was a secondary one. Bangladesh has subtropical evergreen and deciduous forest tree species. Here trees can sequester almost 45-55 percent organic carbon in their biomass. On an average, trees in different types of stands can sequester 150-300 tC/ha. Carbon value of these forests might be 7,500-15,000 USD per hactre (assuming 50 USD per equivalent tCO2). Thus, accounting tree carbon credits of total forested lands of Bangladesh, there might be a lump sum value of 1.89×1010-3.79×1010 USD. If soil carbon is added, this amount would jump. Alternatively, there are two times higher spaces as marginal lands than this for starting carbon forestry. However, carbon forestry concept is still a theoretical conception unless otherwise their challenges are addressed and solved. Despite of this, forests of Bangladesh might be the key showcase for conserving biodiversity in association with carbon capture. Protected areas in Bangladesh are of government wealth, however, degraded and denuded waste and marginal lands might be the best fit for establishing carbon forests.

Ecological and ethnomedicinal survey of plants was conducted in one hundred and twenty homesteads in Mbala, Amuda, Umuaku, and Nneato communities of Nneochi Local Governement Area, Abia State-Nigeria. A total of ninety-one medicinal plant species belonging to seventy-eight genera and forty-eight families, used in the treatment of malaria, yellow fever, fibroid, hepatitis, convulsion, hypertension, diabetes, insomnia, ulcer, rashes, low sperm count, snake bite, among others, were documented. Plant remedies were prepared mostly as infusions or decoctions from different plant parts with mainly water, and palm wine/gin sometimes. The highest number of medicinal plant species (73) was recorded in Mbala, followed by Amuda (71), Umuaku (68) and Nneato (61). Medicinal plant species diversity was highest in Amuda (Simpson 1-D=0.9621; H=3.663), followed by Umuaku (Simpson 1-D=0.9481; H=3.471), Mbala (Simpson 1-D=0.9345; H=3.341), and Nneato (Simpson 1-D=0.9307; H=3.277), respectively. Similarity in medicinal plant species was highest between Umuaku and Nneato (76.71%), followed by Amuda and Umuaku (75.95%), Mbala and Amuda (71.43%), while Mbala and Nneato had the lowest similarity (59.52%). The results of the study showed that traditional medicine is pivotal in the treatment of ailments in the study area, and that the indigenous people of Nneochi have recognized the need to conserve medicinal plants of importance ex situ within homesteads due to threats from unsustainable exploitation and deforestation.

To establish in vitro nodal culture conditions of Echinosophora koreensis Nakai, one of rare and endangered species famous for beautiful flowers in the Korean Peninsula, the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on shooting and rooting from in vitro shoots was investigated. In shoot multiplication, addition of 6- benzylaminopurine (BA) to the half-strength Driver and Kuniyuki's media in the range of 2.22 to 8.88 μM induced 2.5 to 2.7 shoots per axillary bud; and addition of 2.27 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) produced 3.2 shoots, during 4 weeks of culture, while zeatin and isopentenyl adenine (2ip) were not effective on shoot multiplication as observed from several combination treatments of BA with other PGRs. Shoots established were smaller than 2 cm in length, in most of the treatments. while in BA 8.88 μM treatment more than 30% of shoots were longer than 2 cm and shorter than 4 cm. In rooting, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) from 5.37 to 21.48 μM showed the rooting rate from 40.0 to 62.5%. Indole butyric acid (IBA) addition had little effect on rooting (＜10%), although some roots in IBA-containing media were longer than those in NAA. Micropropagation from axillary buds of nodular explants was applicable and promising to multiplication and conservation of Echinosophora koreensis Nakai.

Rapid loss in viability of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seed is a major problem. Present effort was undertaken for developing a set pattern for assessing of viability and vigour in seed of various mother tree age of neem (Age I-06 years, Age II-15 years, Age III-25 years and Age IV-＞30 years old). Various viability test viz. triphenyle tetrazolium chloride test, electrical conductivity, excised embryo test, and germination test have been performed on seeds obtained from mother tree age classes. Inconsistency was observed with the TTC and EC test in germination of seed in laboratory as well as nursery. While various vigour tests viz. cold test, chemical stress test (methanol stress test), and accelerated ageing test alongwith ageing index, germination test (G%, MGT and GV) and various seedling growth parameters like seedling length (cm), number of leaves, collar diameter (cm), total biomass (g) alongwith mathematical indices i.e. vigour index, sturdiness quotient, volume index, quality index, root shoot ratio in nursery as well have been taken for study and showed better consistency. On the basis present study results of various viability and vigour test indicated that mother tree age class II performed better in comparison to others and it can be recommended for seed collection. Further it is also recommended that viability of neem seed may be assessed using various laboratory tests like excise embryo test and germination test (G%, MGT and GV) and vigour test may be taken preferably by cold germination test, chemical (methanol) stress test, accelerated ageing test in laboratory and germination alongwith various seedling growth parameters seedling length (cm), number of leaves, collar diameter (cm), total biomass (g) alongwith mathematical indices like Vigour Index, Sturdiness quotient, Volume Index, Quality index, root shoot ratio in nursery as discussed in this study.

The study was undertaken to assess the tourist’s carrying capacity and to explore ecotourism potential of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, the only safari park of Bangladesh. Carrying capacity was assessed both from physical and social aspect. On the other hand, 250 visitors were interviewed with semi structured questionnaire for ecotourism prospect evaluation along with some secondary data. The total daily-allowed visit was 17,300 with rotation coefficient of 3.46. Maximum daily average numbers of tourists were relatively below the physical carrying capacity of the Park (5,000). The social carrying capacity was 4.38 persons per day. As there are different categories of visitors, their choice of encounters and number of expected encounters also varied. Each year, the total tourist’s number varied significantly (p≤0.05). That proved the safari park had immense tourist prospect. 85 percent visitors were from lower and middle class family as entrance fees and other fees inside were very cheap in relation to other private amusement place. The ecological perspective of the park will remain unaltered if the carrying capacities of the area are followed with sustainability. Therefore, it is the proper time for taking appropriate decision.

Based on the guiding ideology of “Close-to-nature forestry”, the soil chemical properties of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) plantation forest which was early done by canopy gap control were analyzed of Liangshui nature reserve in northeastern China. The results indicated that the nurture of forestry crevice diaphanous tended to improve the soil nutrient contents and significant differences of soil nutrients existed among different levels of soil for the same forest type of Korean pine. At 0＜H≤20 cm layer, the content of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in artificial pure Korean pine forest are 640.28 mgㆍkg-1, 7.54 mgㆍkg -1, 275.91 mgㆍkg-1, 1.114% and 0.075%, they all higher than the other kinds of forests and for average 1.1 times, 1.4 times, 1.3 times, 1.6 times and 1.2 times. From the layer of 0＜H≤20 cm to 20 cm＜H≤40 cm, soil nutrient indicators showed various degrees of decreasing in which organic matter had the greatest decline, decreasing by 170.64% while PH had the lowest decline, decreasing by 4.66%.

Forest Survey consists of road survey, topographic survey, tree mapping survey, stream survey and also ridge survey. Information from forest survey is important and become essential in preparing base map to be used for forest harvesting planning and control. With the current technologies technique of data processing and mapping from traditionally hand drawn method had shifted to a computer system particularly the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD). This gives great advantages to the forest managers and logging operators. However data processing and mapping duration could be further reduced by integrating CAD with other established software such as Microsoft Excel. This time study to show that there is significance difference in term of duration for data processing and efficiency using AutoCAD in combination with Microsoft Excel program as compare to the use of AutoCAD program alone. From the study, it shows that the integration of AutoCAD and Microsoft Excel is able to reduce 70% of duration for data processing and mapping as compared to the use of AutoCAD program alone.

To examine surface erosion and sediment export patterns on a hillslope, which was devastated by a shallow landslide and which was slowly revegetating by natural plant species, we surveyed variations in surface erosion depth on the upper-, middle- and lower-section of the hillslope, and subsequent sediment yield from the whole hillslope. The result showed that, with the passing of year, surface erosion on the devastated hillslope was regulated by higher rainfall intensity due to the supply-limitation of exportable sediment, and its variation range decreased. In addition, surface erosion on the upper-section with steep slope was regulated by higher rainfall intensity, which might result in raindrop erosion, compared to it on the lower-section with relatively gentle slope. Besides, the sediment yield from the devastated hillslope had nonlinear relationship with surface erosion depth on the hillslope because sediments on the hillslope are exported downwards while repeating their cycle of transport and redistribution. Our findings suggest the establishment of management strategy to prevent sediment-related disasters occurred during torrential rainfall events, which was based on the continuous field investigation on the hillslope devastated by landslides.

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Xanthoceras sorbifolia of seeds oil on RAW264.7 macrophages and TPA (12-O-tetra decanoylphorbol-acetate)-induced ear edema mice. MTT assay method to measure cytotoxicity was formed in RAW264.7 cell. The anti-inflammatory effect was measured by ability to inhibit production nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 cell. Hexane and eight-percent methanol fractions from Xanthoceras sorbifolia seeds oil did not show cytotoxicity. Hexane and eight-percent methanol fractions were showed significantly inhibitory effect on NO production. TPA-induced acute edema was developed in the mouse ears, and Xanthoceras sorbifolia seeds oil dissolved in acetone was applied to inflamed ears. It was found out that Xanthoceras sorbifolia seeds oil could significantly reduce th ear swelling, compared to the control. Overall results indicate that the Xanthoceras sorbifolia seeds oil has anti-inflammatory activity and could be used as a resource of anti-inflammatory materials.