CHAPTER: (Four)
Results and Discussions
The results and discussions part are described under five different sections as status of trees, regeneration, non wood forest products (NWFP), ecotourism and socioeconomic conditions of the surrounding peoples of Sunamganj range of Sylhet Forest Division. Which are found by,
v Stock survey
v Regeneration survey
v Non wood forest products (NWFP) survey
v Socioeconomic survey
4.1. Present status of trees in Sunamganj forest range,
Sylhet Forest Division.
4.1.1. Species composition
The study ascertains that in the study area there are 5 species under 3 families. The dominant family is leguminosae having two species followed by Myrtaceae, Capparidaceae (one species), (Table 4.1)
Table: 4.1. Tree compositions in Sunamganj forest range, Sylhet Forest Division.
| Range | Family | Local name | Scientific name |
| Sunamganj | Leguminosae | Akashmoni | Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunnex Be. |
| Mangium | Acacia mangium willd. | ||
| Myrtaceae | Hijal | Barrigtonia acutangula(Linn.) Gaertn | |
|
| Karach | Pongnmia pinnata | |
| Capparidaceae | Borun | Crataeva nurvala Bach-Ham |
4.1.2. Present stock of tress in Sunamganj range, Sylhet Forest Division:
The study ascertains that in the study area dominant species is Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis) and Mangium (Acacia mangium willd).in Sunamganj range respectively. Several other species such as Hijal, Karach, and Borun also present in the range. There is no natural stock present in Sunamganj range. The best performance shows the akashmoni in 1999-00 under Sunamganj range. Its density is about 1200 stems per hectare, average basal area is about .007 m2 and average dbh is 8.97 cm and height is 11.63 m respectively. In the case of mixed plantation Hijal shoes the best performance within 2006-07 plantations, having 680 stems per/ha, .0000999 m2 and .785m and 1.11 cm of height, basal area, and DBH respectively,followed by Borun (.767 cm,.586m, .000049 m2, 750) showing average DBH,height,basal area, stem/ha respectively.(Table-4.2)
Table: 4.2. Present stock of trees in sunamganj range, Sylhet Forest Division.
| Type of plantation | Name of tree | Year | Age of plantation (year) | Average DBH. (cm) | Average height (m) | Average basal area (m2) | Stems /ha |
| Mono plantation | Akashmoni | 1999-00 | 08 | 8.97(±2.77) | 11.62(±2.57) | 0.007(±0.004) | 1200 |
| Mangium | 1999-00 | 08 | 11.47(±2.81) | 11.6(±3.08) | 0.11(±0.02) | 350 | |
| Akashmoni | 2006-07 | 01 | 1.38(±0.3765) | 1.114(±0.426) | 0.00016(± .0000826)
| 667 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mixed plantation | Hijal | 2006-07 | 01 | 1.11(±0.213) | 0.785(±0.26) | .0000999(.0000407)
| 680 |
| Karach | 0.767(±0.214) | 0.586(±0.22) | .000049(±.0000249) | 750 | |||
| Borun | 0.782(±0.195) | 0.531(±0.18) | .0000507(±.000021) | 450 |
4.1.3. Comparison between different species of different year of Sunamganj range:
A.Mono Plantation:
Ø In terms of average DBH (cm):
The figure shows that the average DBH of mangium of 99-00 plantation is the maximum, followed by the akshmoni 99-00 plantation and 2006-07 plantations.
Fig; 4.1 Comparison between different species of different year of Sunamganj range [In terms of average DBH (cm)]
Ø In terms of average height (m):
The figure shows that the average height of mangium of 99-00 plantation and akshmoni 99-00 plantation is almost same, followed by the akshmoni 2006-07 plantations
Fig;4.2 Comparison between different species of different year of Sunamganj range [In terms of average height (m)]
Ø In terms of average basal area (m2):
The figure shows that the average basal area of mangium of 99-00 plantation is maximum followed by akshmoni 99-00 plantation and the akshmoni 2006-07 plantations
Fig;4.3 Comparison between different species of different year of Sunamganj range [In terms of average basal area (m2)]
Ø In terms of stems/ha:
The figure shows that the amount of stem/ha of mangium of 99-00 plantation is the maximum, followed by the akshmoni 99-00 plantation and 2006-07 plantations.
Fig;4.4 Comparison between different species of different year of Sunamganj range [In terms of stems/ha]
4.1.4 Comparison between different species of mixed plantation in Sunamganj range:
Ø In terms of average DBH (cm):
The figure shows that the average DBH of Hijal is high, by the DBH of Borun and Karach respectively.
Fig:4.5 Comparison between different species of mixed plantation in Sunamganj range [In terms of average DBH (cm)]
Ø In terms of average height (m):
The figure shows that the average height of Hijal is high than others, followed by the average height of Karach and Borun respectively
Fig:4.6 Comparison between different species of mixed plantation in Sunamganj range [In terms of average height (m)]
Ø In terms of average basal area (m2):
The figure shows that the average basal area of Hijal is high than others, followed by the average basal area of Borun and Karach respectively
Fig: 4.7 Comparison between different species of mixed plantation in Sunamganj range [In terms of average basal area (m2)]
Ø In terms of stems/ha:
The figure shows that the stem/ha of Karach is high than others, followed by the stem/ha of Hijal and borun respectively
Fig: 4.8 Comparison between different species of mixed plantation in Sunamganj range [In terms of stem/ha]
4.2. Present status of regeneration in Sunamganj range, Sylhet Forest Division
There is no regeneration found in Sunamganj range,so the result of regeneration survey is nill
4.3. Present status of non wood forest products (NWFPs) in Sunamganj forest range, Sylhet Forest Division.
4.3.1. Species composition
Major NWFPs are bamboo, cane and murta(patipata) in sunsmgonj forest range of which. Muli, jai and betua bamboos are under the graminae family. Canes are under Palmae family. And the murta (patipata) are under Marantaceae Family.
Table: 4.3. Species composition in sunamganj range, Sylhet Forest Division
| Range | Species name | Family | Local name | Scientific name |
| Sunamganj | Cane | Palmae
| Jai
| Calamus guruba
|
| Bamboo | Graminae | Muli
| Melocanna baccifera
| |
| Betua
| Babusa cacharensis R.B.Mayumdar | |||
| Jai
| Bambusa vulgaris
| |||
| Murta | Marantaceae | Murta
| Schumannianthus dichotoma
|
4.3.2. Present status of NWFPs (Bamboo) in sunamganj range:
In the study area the average clump /ha is higher for Betua (375) and Average No of Culms/ha is higher for Betua 7500,followed by muli (3300) but Average Circumference (m) is higher for jai(8.67m). in terms of culms/clump is higher for jai(44.11) followed by betua (22) (Table 4.4)
Table 4.4: Status of Bamboo
| Local name | Scientific name | Family | No of Culms/ha (average) | No of Clump/ha (average) | No of Culms/ Clump | Circumference of each Clump (average ) (m) |
| Muli | Melocanna baccifera | Graminae | 3300 | - | - | - |
| Betua | Babusa cacharensis | Graminae | 7500 | 375 | 22(9.409) | 4.25(1.233) |
| Jai | Bambusa vulgaris | Graminae | 1654.13 | 37.5 | 44.11(5.28) | 8.67(2.35) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the standard deviation
4.3.3. Present status of NWFPs (Cane) in sunamganj range:
In the study area the average clump /ha for Jai is 250, Average No of cane/ha is 3832.5, Average Circumference (m) of each clump is 2.244 (Table 2)
Table 4.5: Status of Cane
| Local name | Scientific name | Family | No of cane/ha (average) | No of clump/ha (average) | No of cane/clump | Average Circumference of each clump (m) |
| Jai | Calamus guruba | Palmae | 3832.5 | 250 | 15.33(± 3.39) | 2.244(± 0..775) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the standard deviation
4.3.4. Present status of NWFPs (Murta) in sunamganj range:
In the study area the average clump /ha for Murta is 840, Average No of culm/ha is 1527.12, Average Circumference (m) of each clump is 0.173 (Table 3)
Table 4.6: Status of Murta
| Local name | Scientific name | Family | No of culm/ha (average) | No of clump/ha (average) | No of culm/clump | Circumference of each clump (average ) (m) |
| Murta | Schumannianthus dichotoma | Marantaceae | 1527.12 | 840 | 1.818(±.982)
| 0.173(±.103)
|
*The value in the parenthesis shows the standard deviation
4.3.5.Comparison between different species of bamboo of sunsmgonj rangege in terms of no of culm/ha
The highest culm/ha found in betua bamboo (7500 culm/ha) and the lowest culm/ha found in jai bamboo (1654.13 culm/ha). Muli bamboo are 3300 in terms of culm/ha.
Fig: 4.9.Comparison between different species of bamboo of sunsmgonj rangege in terms of no of culm/ha
4.4. Present socio-economic status of surrounding people in Sunamganj forest range, Sylhet Forest Division
4.4.1. Status of Household of Sunamganj Range of Sylhet Forest Division
In the present study area Sunamganj range has 6 beat and had surveyed 4 beat. Among the range,(Sunamganj sadar, Soktiarkhola,Chatak, Moheshkhola) beat has 659 Household and 55 Household were syrveyed.(Table 4.7.)
Table 4.7. Household information of surrounding peoples of Sunamganj range of Sylhet Forest Division
Name of the range | Name of the beat | Name of village | Total Household | Total Household surveyed | Total family Member |
| Sunamganj range | Sunamganj sadar | Chalbon | 95 | 5 | 35 |
| shologhor | 115 | 6 | 42 | ||
| Soktiarkhola | Laurergor | 105 | 8 | 56 | |
| barektilla | 74 | 7 | 49 | ||
| Chatak | Farahpunji | 40 | 6 | 42 | |
| hadachanpur | 150 | 10 | 69 | ||
| Moheshkhola | Holidakanda | 45 | 7 | 49 | |
| nolgora | 35 | 6 | 42 | ||
|
| Total |
| 659
| 55(8.34%)* | 384 |
*the value in the parenthesis shows the sampling intensity.
4.4.2 Educational Status of the family member of the respondents.
In the study site illiteracy rate is high (54.5%), followed by primary level (33.8%) and SSC or above (10.9%). So the over-all educational level of this range is not satisfactory (Table 4.8.)
Table 4.8. Educational Status of the respondents of Sunamganj range
| Educational qualification | ||
| Illiterate | Primary | SSC/above |
| 30(54.5%) | 19 (33.8%) | 6(10.9%) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.3 Occupation of Household Head in the study Area:
In the study site the main occupation of the respondents are Labour (32.7%) followed by business (27%) and agriculture (12.7%).Some are involved in fishing. Only (3.6%) of the respondents are involed with other occupation (Fig 4.10.)
Fig 4.10. Occupation of the local people of Sunamganj range
4.4.4 Average family size & earning members of people of Sunamganj range
In Sunamganj range average family size is 6.98 and average earning members is 1.60.Among the all family member about 86% male are average earning member but female earning members is very low (Table 4.9.)
Table 4.9. Average family size & earning members of surrounding peoples of Sunamganj range:
| Sex | Average family size | Average Earning members |
| Male | 4 | 1.39 |
| Female | 2.98 | 0.21 |
| Total | 6.98 | 1.60 |
* 220 male and 164 female of total family members of respondents
4.4.5 Land holdings & Ownership patterns of people of sunamganj Range:
Land holding on different ownership pattern showed below, which shows that on an average 65.14 decimal land are used as homestead purpose and 259.67 decimal land used as agricultural land.(Table 4.10)
Table 4.10. Land holdings &Ownership patterns of Sunamganj Range
| Land use pattern | Average land holding on different ownership patterns (Decimal) | |
| Self-owned | Lease | |
| Homestead | 65.14 | - |
| Agriculture | 259.67 | - |
4.4.6 Housing condition of the respondents of Sunamganj range:
In the study area maximum percentage (67.27%) of house is made of mud, followed by sungrass/bamboo (27.28%).And very few amount of tinshed house is present in the study area .Which shows the poor condition of the area.(fIg:4.11)
Fig: 4.11. Housing condition of the respondents of Sunamganj range
4.4.7. Average number of Livestock resources of the Households of Sunamganj range of Sylhet forest division:
In the range maximum people have chicken (in an average 2.45 per family) & goat (.69 per family). Followed by cow (.38 per family).from this livestock they (Table 4.11.).
Table 4.11. Livestock resources of the Households of Sunamganj range:
| Cow | Goat | Duck/Chicken | Others |
| 21 (.38) | 38 (.69) | 135 (2.45) | 5 (.09) |
4.4.8. Extent of income of respondents of Sunamganj range:
As illustrated in (Table 4.12.). There is variation in average monthly income between households. In here, total populations are divided into five (5) categories. Approximately half above of the populations (56.36%) earn between 3000 and 6,000 BDT, and approximately 1/3 of the populations (38.18%) earn less than 3,000 BDT a month. and only (1.81%) of the population earns between 9,000 and 12000. In below the following table, details data was given here
Table 4.12. Income status of the of respondents Sunamganj range:
| Parameter | Income(I) classes (expressed in thousand) | ||||
| 3>I | 3≤ I <6 | 6 ≤ I <9 | 9≤I<12 | I ≥12 | |
| No. of respondents | 21 (38.18%) | 31 (56.36%) | 2 (3.36%) | 1 (1.81%) | - |
*The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.9. Livelihood facilities found in Sunamganj range:
Shows the livelihood facilities found in sunamganj range. In the study area all pupil enjoy the religious facilities like mosque, temple etc. Then the educational facilities, almost (45.45%) of Household get the educational facilities supplied by some NGOs .but the facilities are limited to primary level. the people of the area are not facilitated with higher educational facilities because of poor socio-economic condition. Electricity facilities are not very satisfactory. Only (12.72%) people get the facilities
Figure 4.12. Livelihood facilities in Sunamganj range:
4.4.10. Available livelihood activities in Sunamganj range of Sylhet forest division
In my study area I found that the main livelihood activities is agro farming (87.27%),followed by day Labour (43.6%). the dependency of local people for fuel wood from forest is not so high, the percentage is about (34.5%).followed by business (27.2%),fishing(18.1%).a few people are involved with coal collection(3.6%).the figure shows the economic condition of the people lower because the leading percentage of people are involved with agro farming and day Labour
Fig 4.13. Livelihood activities in Sunamganj range.
4.4.11. Sources of planting materials for Homesteads in Sunamganj range:
The Household of Sunamganj range collect maximum amount of planting materials from their own stock (70.9%), followed by nursery (9.09%)
Table 4.13. Sources of planting materials for Homesteads in Sunamganj range
| Sources | No. of respondents |
| Market | - |
| Nursery | 5(9.09%) |
| Forest Department | - |
| Self | 39(70.9%) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.12. Household species Diversity with relative abundance in North Sunamganj Range
The species diversity in Sunamganj range is not so high. In my study area I found am, kanthal, coconut, banana, kajubadam, papya, boroi, lemon, jam, etc fruit species and some other timber species such as-Akashmoni, shimul, sajna, arjun, krisna,gamar etc. In sunamganj range average abundance of kanthal, papya, coconut, banana, krisna, banana is more and shimiul, arjun, jam are less (Table 4.14.).
Table 4.14. Household species Diversity with relative abundance in sunamganj range.
| Local name | Scientific name | Average abundance | Reasons for preference |
| Bamboo | Bambusa spp | 2.33(culm) | Housing materials & fencing |
| Kanthal | Artocarpus heterophyllus | 4.50 | Fruits & fodder |
| Am | Mangifera indica | 2.50 | Fruits |
| Gamar | Gmelina arborea | 2.00 | Timber |
| Coconut | Cocos nucifera | 2.50 | Fruits& ornamental |
| Shimul | Bombax ceiba | 0.05 | Timber |
| Sajna | Moringa olifera | 1.00 | Food |
| Arjun | Terminalia arjuna | 0.05 | Medicine |
| Akashmoni | Accacia auriculiformis | 0.50 | Timber |
| Kajubadam | Anakardium occidentale | 0.50 | Fruits |
| Jam | Syjygium grandis | 0.66 | Fruits |
| Boroi |
| 2.33 | Fruits |
| Papya | Carica papaya | 4.50 | Fruits |
| Krisna |
| 2.50 | Timber |
| Lemon | Citus spp | 2.00 | Fruits |
| Banana | Musa sapientum | 2.50 | Fruits |
4.4.13. Major livelihood problems in sunamgomj range:
Electricity (100%) and water (100%) is the main problem of all over the range according to respondents. followed by poor communication(80%),education(77.7%) and fewer income generation (67.27%).(56.3%) faces the various health problem due to absence of proper hospital and doctor facilities.
Table 4.15. Major livelihood problems in sunamganj range
| Problems | No. of respondents |
| Fewer income generation activity | 37(67.27%) |
| Poor communication | 44(80%) |
| Electricity | 55(100%) |
| Water | 55(100%) |
| Education | 40(77.7%) |
| Health facilities | 31(56.3%) |
Fig 4.14. Major livelihood problems in sunamganj range
4.4.14. Number of respondents Enter into the forest and the average duration
Only 9.0% of respondents are entered into forest though the amount of forest from which the people can collect various thing of their daily livelihood is very lower The average duration in dry season is 4(hr./day) and in rainy season it is 2 (hr./day) for the range..
Table 4.16. Number of respondents entering into forest and the average duration
| No. of respondents | Average duration (hr./day) | |
| 5(9.0%) | In dry season | In rainy season |
| 4 | 2 | |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.15. Terms of access in the forest (among the people who enters the forest)
Maximum percentage of people (80%) of sunamgomj range who enter into the forest in terms of open access (Table 4.17)
Table 4.417. Terms of access in the forest (among the people who enters the forest)
| Terms of access | No. of respondents |
| Conditional | 1(20%) |
| Open access | 4(80%) |
| Others | - |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.16. Collecting process of forest resources in sunamganj range:
Highest numbers of people (80%) of sunamganj Range collect forest resources by shoulder load (Table 4.18.)
Table 4.4.18. Collection process of forest resources in sunamganj range
| By boat | By shoulder | Others |
| 0 | 4(80%) | 1(20%) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.17. Purpose of forest resources use in sunamganj range:
All the people who collect forest resources use for own consumption whish is 100% in percentage value
| Own consumption | Selling | Others |
| 5(100%) | - | - |
Table.4.19. Purpose of forest resources use
4.4.18. Season in which people have no/little work:
According to survey maximum no of respondents (67.27%) said that in the month of October they have no work, followed by November (27.27%), September (5.46%) respectively.
Fig 4.15.Season in which people have no/little work
4.4.19. Establishment of colony in the locality (No. of respondents)
Maximum no of respondents are living in the site as recent past (52.7%), followed by one generation (34.5%), more than one generation (12.7%) respectively
Table.4.20.Establishment of colony in the locality (No. of respondents)
| Recent past | One generation | More than one generation |
| 29(52.7%) | 19(34.5%) | 7(12.7%) |
* The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.4.20. Available financial and technical supporting organization
Table shows that very few support the people of the range get from the NGO BRAC (16.36%)(table4.21)
Table.4.21.Available financial and technical supporting organization
| Name the organization | No. of respondents |
| BRAC | 9(16.36%) |
| No support | 46(83.6%) |
- The value in the parenthesis shows the percent value
4.5. Potentiality of forest resources:
My study area sunamganj range has a number of potentialities though the stock and the condition of regeneration is not satisfactory.
The total amount of land of the range is 17026.77 (acre) in which the total forest cover is about 1208.79(acre) and total amount of encroached land is 15916.78(acre).In the amount of percentages forest cover is almost 7% on the other hand the amount of encroached land is about 97%..{4.16)
Fig4.16: Forest land utilization
So it has a great chance to increase and build up forest cover of suitable species by utilizing this huge number of encroached land through social forestry program.
In sunamganj range there is a large amount of reed land. In the range only chattak beat and Dowarabazar beat consist of 3243.64 ha of reed land. (Haider et al 2006). But of this huge amount of reed land, maximum are encroached.
About 90% of the people in and around the reed land use reed resources for family consumption. The extent of consumption varies by economic status of the people. The very well off people doesn’t live around the reed lands. This could be because reed land areas being low lying and not a very pleasant place to live in the rainy season, most wealthy people might have already migrated to other places. Almost all of these categories of people use reed resources as house construction materials, fuel and fodder. The reeds are Binna, Murta, Nal, Khagra and Ikra. A large number of people around the reed lands fish in the beels within the notified area for consumption. Reed resources don’t seem to have much commercial value because only few people sell them in market. It could be that those who use reeds do not to buy them rather they collect themselves from the forest. It may be further noted that the reeds do not provide cash benefit to the people but almost entire population depend on it for material benefits which in monetary terms will be enormous (BCAS, 1997).
In the study site the main occupation of the respondents are Labour (32.7%) followed by business (27%) and agriculture (12.7%).Some are involved in fishing. Only (3.6%) of the respondents are involved with other occupation
In my study area I found that the secondary livelihood activities is agro farming (87.27%),followed by day Labour (43.6%). the dependency of local people for fuel wood from forest is not so high, the percentage is about (34.5%).followed by business (27.2%),fishing(18.1%).a few people are involved with coal collection(3.6%).So the data shows that the economic condition of the people is lower because the leading percentage of people are involved with agro farming and day Labour. So from the result we can see the poor socio-economic condition of the people. And the people are very interested about agro farming (87.27%), so there is a huge chance or possibility to initiate a successful social forestry programme by which forest department will be benefited by increasing the forest cover and the peoples will be benefited by the up liftment of socio-economic condition. Sustainable management will only be possible if governments undertake participatory management of reed forests involving the stakeholders in and around the reed land areas.
According to stock survey the best performance shows the akashmoni in 1999-00 under Sunamganj range. Its density is about 1200 stems per hectare, average basal area is about .007 m2 and average dbh is 8.97 cm and height is 11.63 m respectively. In the case of mixed plantation Hijal shows the best performance within 2006-07 plantations, having 680 stems per/ha, .0000999 m2 and .785m and 1.11 cm of height, basal area, and DBH respectively, followed by Borun (.767 cm,.586m, .000049 m2, 750) showing average DBH, height, basal area, stem/ha respectively. So akashmony and hijal has good response for frequently cultivation and from the NTFP survey we can see that murta (no of clump/ha is 840) is more suitable from other NTFPs
The total amount of revenue earned from the range in last 5 year is about 1, 23, 43,537 taka, which is collected from fautimahal and seized produce. From 13 fautimahal the earning in last ten year is about 600022 Cft timbers which cost near about 15700807.42 taka. The role of fautimahal in total revenue is about 75.75%.So if the fautimahals are managed properly and strictly by the forest department the amount of revenue may increase.(fig 4.16& 4.17)
Fig.4.16. last 5 years revenue collection of sunamganj range
Fig4.17. last 10 years revenue collection from fautimahal of sunamganj range
There is a number of haor, baor and beel is distributed all over the Sunamgonj range. Tanguar haor is very famous in national and international area. If government takes proper initiative to develop the communication, security and accommodation facilities, there would be a great chance to become the area a tourist spot.
4.6. Problems found in sunamganj range:
Ø Communication problem
Ø Transportation problem
Ø Security problem within the range
Ø Lack of manpower
Ø Encroachment
Ø No boundary demarcation.
Ø Difficult to protect seize products.
Ø Inadequate supply of fund.
Ø Lack of planning
Ø Problems in infrastructure of administration.
Ø Lack of taking initiative for plantation.
Ø Lack of proper monitoring of running project.
Ø Influence of social leader.
Ø Poor socio-economic condition influence people to destruct resources.
Ø Lack of awareness among the people about current project and its benefit.
