This study was conducted to investigate the historical management system of village common forests (VCF) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and observe the current issues related to their sustainability...This study was conducted to investigate the historical management system of village common forests (VCF) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and observe the current issues related to their sustainability. The study on historical context was based on secondary information to establish the linkages of VCF development and management in the CHT. Field visits to four VCF in the Bandarban Hill Districts were also conducted to cross check the information collected from secondary sources to observe the current status and management pattern of these VCF through semi-structured interviews, group discussion, key-informant interviews and biodiversity assessment. VCF in the CHT undoubtedly play an important role in biodiversity conservation and as well as supporting daily necessities of the community people. We found that VCF still are the source of fuel wood, herbs, roots, bamboo shoots, wild fruits, vines or leaves for cooking or medicinal use necessary to sustain the lives of the indigenous communities in the CHT. Field visits to different VCF show that the VCF are necessarily small in size (57 ha) and around 108 families are dependent on these community managed village forests. A total of 163 plant species from 60 families were also recorded from these VCF including some rare plant and animal species which are not usually found in the reserve forests and the un-classed state forests due to continued deforestation and land degradation. However, population pressure combined with improved marketing facilities, ignorance, over exploitation, personal greed, tenure insecurity, faulty government policies regarding settlement of land and breakdown of the traditional systems exerting pressures on these VCF and the overall condition of these important biodiversity rich areas are degrading or shrinking in size and number gradually. Recognizing the traditional and customary resource rights of the indigenous communities in the CHT, acknowledging resource management system, providing tenure security, encouraging communities through legal and financial incentives in protecting these VCF or any other state owned forest areas solely for the conservation of biodiversity following an intensive management plan, resolving long lasting land related conflicts, and at the same time upholding the spirit of CHT Peace Accord 1997 could be important policy tools for the sustainability of these VCF in the CHT. Lessons learned from this study will be useful in formulating effective policies for community based forest management in Bangladesh and other developing countries.展开更多
Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology ...Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.展开更多
文摘This study was conducted to investigate the historical management system of village common forests (VCF) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and observe the current issues related to their sustainability. The study on historical context was based on secondary information to establish the linkages of VCF development and management in the CHT. Field visits to four VCF in the Bandarban Hill Districts were also conducted to cross check the information collected from secondary sources to observe the current status and management pattern of these VCF through semi-structured interviews, group discussion, key-informant interviews and biodiversity assessment. VCF in the CHT undoubtedly play an important role in biodiversity conservation and as well as supporting daily necessities of the community people. We found that VCF still are the source of fuel wood, herbs, roots, bamboo shoots, wild fruits, vines or leaves for cooking or medicinal use necessary to sustain the lives of the indigenous communities in the CHT. Field visits to different VCF show that the VCF are necessarily small in size (57 ha) and around 108 families are dependent on these community managed village forests. A total of 163 plant species from 60 families were also recorded from these VCF including some rare plant and animal species which are not usually found in the reserve forests and the un-classed state forests due to continued deforestation and land degradation. However, population pressure combined with improved marketing facilities, ignorance, over exploitation, personal greed, tenure insecurity, faulty government policies regarding settlement of land and breakdown of the traditional systems exerting pressures on these VCF and the overall condition of these important biodiversity rich areas are degrading or shrinking in size and number gradually. Recognizing the traditional and customary resource rights of the indigenous communities in the CHT, acknowledging resource management system, providing tenure security, encouraging communities through legal and financial incentives in protecting these VCF or any other state owned forest areas solely for the conservation of biodiversity following an intensive management plan, resolving long lasting land related conflicts, and at the same time upholding the spirit of CHT Peace Accord 1997 could be important policy tools for the sustainability of these VCF in the CHT. Lessons learned from this study will be useful in formulating effective policies for community based forest management in Bangladesh and other developing countries.
文摘Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.
