DEVELOPMENT OF HOMESTEAD FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT THE RURAL PEOPLE LIVING ADJACENT TO THE SUNDARBAN

The research was carried out to assess the contribution of plant diversity to the ecological and socio-economic condition of the rural household in the areas adjacent to the Sundarban of Bangladesh. Data were collected through a semi-structured goal oriented questionnaire during the period of July 2013 to June 2016. A total of 90 household were randomly selected from three upazilas namely Dacope, Sharankhola and Shyamnagor from the district of Khulna, Bagerhat and Shatkhira, respectively as research area.. Samanea samon, Albizia procera, Acacia auriculiformis, Azadirachta indica, Swietenia macrophylla and Acacia nilotica species were selected by the farmers for plantation in their homesteads for early gaining fuel wood as well as earning more money through timber production. The pattern of fuel wood consumption in the study areas for ‘fuel wood collected from own home garden’ per household per month were found for Dacope, Khulna 72kg (30%), Sharankhola, Bagerhat 144kg (60%) and Shymnagar, Satkhira 112kg (47%) and for ‘deficit fuel wood’ per household per month were found 168kg (70%), 96kg (40%) and 128kg (53%) respectively. The most wanted species are Samanea samon, Albizia procera and Acacia auriculiformis for home garden plantation. The mean total height of timber plants for Dacope 4.88±0.41m, Sharankhola 4.87±0.45m and Shahnagar 4.08±0.36m were recorded as well as mean survival were 70%, 80% and 70% respectively. The mean annual increment was 1.63m/year, 1.62m/year, 1.36m/year and growth rate (regression co-efficient) were 1.78, 1.73, and 1.48 respectively. The predicted mean total height (m) of ten years old plantations of timber plants for the each study areas were also determined. An understanding of the decision-making process of the farmers who practice homestead forestry is important in expanding and improving the practice.