CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This section of the project is described with sections as description of the study area and methodology.
3.1. Description of the study area
3.1.1. The study area
The study was conducted in the Kulaura and Habiganj-2 range of Sylhet Forest Division under Kulaura and Habiganj sadar upazila respectively. Kulaura Upazila (Maulvi bazar district) with an area of 679.25 sq km, is bounded by fenchuganj and Barlekha upazilas on the north, Tripura state of India on the south, Tripura and Assam state of India on the east, Kamalganj and Rajnagar upazilas on the west. manu River, Hakaluki Haor, Langla Hill and Bamachal Tila are notable. (Banglapaedia, 2006) Habiganj Sadar Upazila (Habiganj district) with an area of 253.74 sq km, is bounded by Baniachang and Nabiganj upazilas on the north, Chunarughat and Madhabpur upazilas on the south, Bahubal upazila on the east, Lakhai upazila on the west. Main rivers are Barak, Khowai and Sutung. (Banglapaedia, 2006)
The area of Kulaura and Habiganj-2 range is 13,580.60 acre and 16,255.29 acre respectively. Kulaura range is divided into six beats namely gazipur, vatara, baramchal, monchara, nalduri and murichara. Gazipur, vatara and baramchal is totally reserve forest and the remaining beats are acquired forest. Habiganj-2 range is divided into four beats namely kalenga, rema, cashidpur and chanbari. There is a wildlife sanctuary (area 4435 acre) under Habiganj-2 range. (Table 3.1 & 3.2)
Table: 3.1. Forest area of Kulaura range, Sylhet Forest Division.
| Name of Range | Name of Beat | Reserve forest (acre) | Acquired forest (acre) | Total |
|
Kulaura | Gazipur | 780.00 | - | 780.00 |
| Vatara | 2451.00 | - | 2451.00 | |
| Baramchal | 1850.60 | - | 1850.60 | |
| Monchara | - | 2418.00 | 2418.00 | |
| Nalduri | - | 2700.00 | 2700.00 | |
| Murichara | - | 3381.00 | 3381.00 | |
| Total | 5081.60 | 8499.00 | 13580.60 | |
Source: (Anon, 2008)
Table: 3.2. Forest area of Habiganj-2 range, Sylhet Forest Division.
| Name of Range | Name of Beat | Reserved forest (acre) | Acquired forest (acre) | Total (acre) | Wildlife sanctuary (acre) |
|
Habiganj-2 | Kalenga | 6521 | 109.42 | 6630.42 | 1995 |
| Rema | 3405 | 947.47 | 4352.47 | 1770 | |
| Chanbari | 1774 | 323.40 | 2097.40 | 670 | |
| Rashidpur | 3175 | - | 3175 | - | |
| Total | 14875 | 1380.29 | 16255.29 | 4435 | |
Source: (Anon, 2008)
Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1996. The total area of this sanctuary is 1795 hectare. Its previous name was “Taraphill Reserved Forest”. Its forest type is Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest (Sarker and Haq 1985, Mountfort and Poore 1968) and much of it is primary forest (Uddin et al. 2002a). It is located in Rema, Chonbari, Kalenga beat of Habigonj-2 range under Sylhet Forest Division. This wildlife sanctualy is located within geo-position 24°06´-24°14´ N and 91°36´-91 ° 39´ E (BCAS 1997)
3.1.2. Manpower of two ranges
Table: 3.3. Manpower of Kulaura range, Sylhet Forest Division
| Name of the post | Occupied post |
| Forest Ranger | 01 |
| Deputy Ranger | 02 |
| Forester | 04 |
| Forest guard | 10 |
| Plantation gardener | 04 |
| Boat man | 01 |
| Total | 22 |
Source: (Anon, 2008)
Table: 3.4. Manpower of Habiganj-2 range, Sylhet Forest Division
| Name of post | Occupied post |
| Ranger | 1 |
| Attached officer | 1 |
| Beat officer | 4 |
| Camp officer | 3 |
| Forest guard | 5 |
| Staff | 18 |
| Total | 32 |
Source: (Anon, 2008)
3.1.3. Climatic condition
Kulaura and Habiganj upazila experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. The upazila, Kulaura is within the monsoon climate zone, with annual average highest temperatures of 23°C (Aug-Oct) and average lowest temperature of 7°C (Jan). Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 3,334 mm occurs between May and September. In Habiganj upazila the annual average temperature is maximum 33.2°C and minimum 13.6°C and total rainfall is 3334 mm. From March to May, pre-monsoon storms forming in the Bay of Bengal often cause severe damage to forest plantations. Relative humidity remains high (75-90%) most of the year, with the highest during the months of May to October. Humidity dips below 80% from November to April. (BMD, 2005)
Map: 3.1. Map of Bangladesh showing the forest cover.
Source: Banglapaedia,2006.
Map: 3.2. Map of Maulvibazar district showing the study area.
Source: NACOM, 2004.
Map: 3.3. Map of Rema kalenga wildlife sanctuary.
Source: Banglapaedia, 2006.
Map: 3.2. Map of Habiganj district showing the study area.
3.2. Methodology
The study was based on two parts namely collection of secondary information and primary data collection from the field directly through physical measurement. Then after preparing manuscript following steps were followed.
3.2.1. Reconnaissance survey
Before final survey a reconnaissance survey was conducted to get a clear idea about species composition, topography and socio-economic conditions. All relevant information and literature were collected from various books, journals from seminar library and central library of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet and beat office, range office and DFO office of Sylhet Forest Division and also from internet.
3.2.2. Sampling procedure
In the present study multistage random sampling was followed. There are six beats under Kulaura range of which four beats were randomly selected. And from four beats in Habiganj-2 range three beats were randomly selected. The sampling intensity was 67% and 75% in Kulaura and Habiganj-2 range respectively. From each beat ten plots were randomly selected for stock plant survey, from each plot of stock plant survey one plot were randomly selected for regeneration survey. For non wood forest products namely bamboo and cane survey ten plots were randomly selected from each beat. In case of socio economic survey 36 respondents were randomly selected from four beats in Kulaura range and 22 respondents from three beats in Habigan-2 range. For ecotourism survey 11 tourists were interviewed from Rema kalenga wildlife sanctuary.
3.2.3. Data collection
The predetermined plots were laid out in the field and data were collected by using haga altimeter, sunto, meter tape and dia tape. The survey was conducted for three month (December’07 to February’08). The data were collected according to the following:
Table: 3.5. Plot size for data collection.
| Survey | Plot size |
| Stock plant | 10m×10m |
| Regenaration | 2m×2m |
| NWFP | 20m×20m |
3.2.4. Data analysis
After collection of field data, data were analyzed using EXCEL of Office’2000. The basal area per tree was calculated by the formula given by the Chaturvedi and Khanna (1982):
Basal area per tree = Π×r2 = Π×D2 /4
Where, D = Diameter at breast height in meters
Π = Constant = 3.14
The stem per hectare was calculated with the help of following formula:
For example, in an average, 12 individual was found in 1 plot (10m×10m)
Individual found in 100 m2 area = 12
Individual found in 10000 m2 area = (12/100) ×10000
