CHAPTER II
Methodology
2.1. Description of the management unit
2.1.1 Locations, Area and Status
Sylhet Sadar Upazila (Sylhet district) with an area of 517.43 sq km, is bounded by Companiganj, Gowainghat and Jaintapur upazilas on the north, Balaganj and Fenchuganj upazilas on the south, Jaintiapur and Golabganj upazilas on the east, Chhatak and Bishwanath upazilas on the west. Main rivers: Surma and Kushiara; Baraya and Daldali haors are notable. The upazila is enriched with forest and mineral resources. The area of Sylhet District is between 23055' and 250 02' North latitude and between 900 55' and 920 30' East longitude.
Figure 2. 1: Map of Sylhet District Figure 2.2: Map of Sylhet Sador Upazila
North Sylhet Range-1 consist 31197.55-acre area within six beats. We study two beats and prepare the management plan among them namely Khadimnagor and Tilaghor beat. Khadimnagor beat is established as a National Park and Tilaghor is established as Eco-park. The areas are mostly hilly in nature.
Table 2.1: Area of beats under the North Sylhet Range-1
Name of beat | Area under section 4 (Acre) | Area under section 20 (Acre) | Total area in beat (Acre) |
Khadimnogar | 214 | 1676.73 | 1890.73 |
Ranikhai | 3989.07 | 4413.75 | 8402.82 |
Vatrai | 6282.95 | 2119.17 | 8402.12 |
Tilaghar | - | 112 | 112 |
Saluticor | 2958.93 | 2437.18 | 5396.11 |
Hilakudi | 5049 | 1944.66 | 6993.77 |
Range Total | 18494.06 | 12703.79 | 31197.55 |
Source: Range office 2009
Species diversity:
Flora:
The HF consists of dominant species such as Garjan (Dipterocapus spp.), Chandul (Tetrameles nudiflora), Sal (Shoria robusta), Nagoya (Millennial pentagyna), Simul (Salmalia spp.), and Koroi (Albizia spp.) along with evergreen species such as Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Jam (Syzygium cumini), Sutrong (Lophopetalum fumbriatum), and Ramdala (Duabanga sonneratioides). In addition, bamboo species are Mitinga (Bambusa tulda). Kali (Oxytenanthera nigrociliata), Dolu (Neohouzeaua longispathus). Rupia (Dendrocalanus longispathus), Parua (Bambusa polymorpha) and Muli (Melocanna baccifera).
The LF class fill forest occupies the middle canopy and contains such species as Tilsundi (Talaruma phellocarpa), Chikrassi (Chikrassia tabularis), Gondroi (Cinnamonum spp.) Pitraj (Amoora spp.), Toon (Ton ciliata), Chaitan (Alstonia scholaris), Nageswar (Mesua ferrea), Gamar (Gmelina arborea), and Bohera (Terminalia ballerica).
Fauna:
About 206 species of wildlife fauna have recorded in this area including 7 amphibians, 30 reptiles, 141 birds and 28 mammals. (Bufo melanostictus) is common here. In reptiles Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys), Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Rock Python (Python molurus) and Rat Snake (Coluber mucosus) are very common. In birds Black Francolin (Francolinsu francolinsu), Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis); in mammals Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus), Resus Macaque(Macaca mulatta), Jakal (Canis aureus), Bengal Fox( Vulpes bengalensis) Jungle Cat( Felis chaus) etc. (Chouduary, 2004)
2.2. PHYSICAL FEATURES
2.2.1 Climate
The climate is tropical in general and subjected to heavy rainfall. Total annual average rainfall is 4162mm. July being the wettest having an average of about 1250mm of rain, while December is the driest with no rainfall. May and October are the hottest months having an average maximum temperature around 32oC, while January is the coldest when the minimum temperature drops to about 12oC. During December, the relative humidity is about 74% while during July-August it is over 90% (Choudhury et al, 2004).
2.2.2 Wind and Storms
From November to February, the prevailing winds are from the North-West bringing in cool weather from the Himalayas. From March to May the prevailing winds change through to the South - West. In June to September, the winds change again to the South - East. In April and May, storms developing in the Bay of Bengal bring in winds strong enough to cause significant damage to forest plantations and agricultural crops.
2.2.3 Geology
The plain of the Sylhet district composed with clay and sand, which originated from alluvial. Proportion of the elements’ of plain depending upon the degree of the wash coming from the adjoining hill ranges. The low isolated hill consists with sand and gravel. The hills to the south are composed with tertiary rock. Limestones found in the hill on the northern border of the district joining Jaintia and Khasi hill.
Surma valley broken by many low isolated hill and low range. Northwards, it ends against the food of the Garo, khasi and Jaintia hill but southern hills boundary by different character of high land. This variation arises from different geological structure.
The top of the arches are usually narrower than the bottom of the trough and strata dipping at high angle. The strata of Surma valley belong fully to the newer division were oldest series of the tertiary’s are absent. The oldest rock found in the Burial series, which occupied very small area. The lower bed of surma series extent from high to compact group of hill. Those beds consist with impure sand stone and shale’s. The upper beds of the surma series are composed of soft sandy shale’s with their sand stones. The lower beds of the tipams are much harder than the upper bed.
The flat ground is largely occupied by a rather clay alluvium most of this is utilized rice cultivation but, specially in Sylhet, there are large areas too low-lying for any cultivate and many of these contain large 'beels' or 'haors' - broad expanses of perennial water. In this alluvial ground, the large streams have cut deep beds following very torturous and unstable courses. Changes in these courses have led to the formulation of many crescent-shaped lakes (annual beels) which in the course of time become silted up, but remain easily recognizable by their characteristic shape. (Choudhury 1971).
2.2.4 Soil
The topsoil of the Khadimnagar Hills and Tilaghor Hills are generally hard and clayey. At some points, they look to be sandy. It has reddish to blackish colored magniferous pebbles scattered here and there. At steeper slopes, soils become shallower and drier, often over weathering sandstone or ironstone cementation. Under remnant high forest, organic matter contents can be moderate, but on sandy soils, and after clearing for plantations, levels decline. Soils are only moderately fertile in most forested areas, and are generally of low pH. Textures are mostly sandy loams over sandy clay loams. (Choudhury et al, 2004)
2.2.5 Topography
The district of Sylhet is a board and level valley bounded on the east, south and north by hills of varying heights. On the north is the Indian boundary. At the foot of the hills form, a wall along whose base runs the district or six miles wide, in places even more, this goes under water in the rains and covered with high reed jungle patches. A little to the north of Sylhet town there are numerous isolated hillocks, called tillas, from one to two hundred feet in height. The reserved forest of Tilagarh and Khadimnagar are included tillas. Further, on the north from Chiknagul, on the road between Sylhet and Jaintiapur, these hills take the form of hill ranges. Shari and Jafflong reserves are included in these hills. (Choudhury, 1971)
2.2.6 Rivers
Surma and Kusiyara are the principal rivers of Sylhet, which branches the main rivers Barak originated from India. The Surma receives the Sari river, the Goyaigong, Chengar khal and the Piyonggong where Kusiyara joined with Manu tributary. In the rainy season the water of those rivers are saturated with matter waste from the surrounding lulls and in the time of flood a large portion of this silt is deposited in the immediate neighborhood of the streams.
Two salient facts about the drainage system of Sylhet are the enormous quantity of rainwater, which is precipitated upon the district itself, or drains into it from the surrounding hills, and the absence of a sufficiently steep gradient to carry this huge rainfall off. As a natural consequence water tends to collect in the rainy season in every hollow, and the larger depressions, which are known as haors, From June to September they are considerable lakes while during the dry season the water recedes to the lowest parts only and the reminder is covered with high reeds and grasses. Winter cultivation is being extended in these areas. It has observed that the silt that poured into them every year (Choudhury, 1971) is gradually raising the level of these swamps.
2.3.4: Plantation:
The Forest Department's great strides in plantation forestry have accumulated for the last 5 decades the current bulk of forest plantations, without doubt the most important forest resource of the Division. The management system of clear felling and conversion to plantations was introduced, in 1950. Official record shows that during 2001-2004, 230.71 ha of plantation is done of which 170 ha SR, 50.71 ha OLR and 10 ha Teak. During 2000/01-2005/06, 347.45 km of strip plantation is raised. Of the long rotation species, Teak is the predominant species, the rest comprising of Jarul, Garjan, Sal, Champa, Acacia, Mangium and Chapalish. In NS-1 2004-2005, Forestry sector project (FSP) produced total 40000 seedlings. Among them 20000 for sale, 7000 for institution, 3000 for street plantation and 10000 for stump.
2. 2. Methods
The methodology for various aspects required to preparing this management plan is described briefly in below
2.2.1. Socio-economic survey
The study was carried out in and out side areas of the Khadimnagor beat and Tilaghar beat. A total of 90 respondents were surveyed randomly. Transect method was applied to reach the respondents and while choosing the respondents we put emphasize on their age maturity. The survey was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire. The respondents were free to answer and express their opinion.
Collection of secondary information
Collection of Primary information
Discussion
Socio-economic Status in the selected areas
Data analysis
Fig: 2.3. Socio-economic survey activities outline
2.2.3. Volume and stock estimation
a) Volume and stock of the species:
To calculate the volume of tree we used the following formula, which is as follows
V = πr2hR
Here, r = radius of the tree at breast height
h = Height of the tree
R=Form factor
Data were collected from the Khadimnogar and Tilaghar Beats under North Sylhet Range-1. Measurement on diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height was taken from 10m× 10m sample plots. For calculating volume per hectare, we use the following formula-
V =V1 ×N
(V = volume of the tree, V1=Average volume, N=Total number of tree per hectare)
b) Volume table preparation:
We used regression equation method for preparing volume table, which the relationship between volume as dependant variable and dbh, height and form etc., as independent variable are given mathematical expression by a regression equation. These regression equations were tested to select best-fit equation for volume table preparation.
1. V = α + βd2h
2. V = α + βdh
3. V = α + βd2/h
4. V = α + βd/h
5. V = α + β/dh
In all the above equations,
V = Volume in cubic meter,
α = regression constant,
β = regression coefficient,
d = diameter at breast height in meter,
h = height of the tree in meter
3. Market survey
For proper market survey we have visited several sawmills, furniture enterprise, local NTFP and fuel wood markets, wildlife market and medicine market etc. We have used a semi-structured questionnaire for taking interviews of the respondents during market survey. Additional information’s were also gathered as much as possible. The specific survey location was, Khadimnagar bazaar, Shahporan, Shibganj, Bondor, Tilaghar, amborkhana, Modina market, Toker bazaar, Kazir Bazar, Lama Bazar, and Kadamtoli.
Table 2.2: Survey type and corresponding location
Survey name | Location | Remarks |
Sawmill survey | Khadimnagor, Shahporan, Entire Sylhet city. | 60 |
Furniture market survey | Khadimnagor, Shahporan, Entire Sylhet city | 20 |
Fuel wood market survey | Khadimnagor, Shahporan, Entire Sylhet city | 15 |
Medicinal market survey | Bondor Bazar | 05
|
Non timber market survey | Khadimnagor, Shahporan, Entire Sylhet city | |
Wild life market survey | Bondor Bazar | 4 |
We use some different methods for each individual survey.
For Socio-economic survey, we use a semi-structured questionnaire survey and take 90 respondents randomly. From the respondents we collect the household income, expenditure, occupation, education etc.
For resources stock we use the secondary data from various sources like, sylhet forest divisional office, journal, previous management plan and forest divisional plantation data.
For market survey, we directly observe the market and collect the data by different questionnaire survey. In market, we have done the Sawmill survey, furniture survey, fuel wood survey, non-timber survey, wild life survey and medicinal plants products survey etc. From Sawmill, we collect the data about the name of the species, purchasing prices, selling prices and the market channel of the products.
In furniture shop, we collect the data about the demand and supply of the furniture and the overall variation of furniture in the market.
In fuel wood market, we get data about the purchasing prices, selling prices and the marketing channel and demand.
For medicinal market survey, we collect the price, demand, sources, marketing channel and of their products that found in market.
In wildlife survey, the information about the name and prices of the wildlife are taken.
For volume table stock preparation, we use regression equation method where volume is dependent variable and dbh, height, form are independent variable. The regression equation V = α + βd2h is best-fit equation for volume table preparation.
We will prepare the 10 years (2009-2019) management plan for the North Sylhet Range -1. At first, we will give a brief description about the requirements of plantation establishment like, description about nursery establishment, planting, weeding, thinning etc. Then we will describe all the working circles (timber, non-timber, bamboo, cane, miscellaneous) which include the following possible information-
For example, Teak working circle
Total area of plantation; Total mean annual increment; Total area to be harvested per year for maintaining sustainability; prescribed Silvicultural system
The following information will also give for each working circle:
a) Preparation for plantation: Total area to be planted per year; Spacing; Total number of seedling required; total amount of vacancy filling.
b) Preparation for cost analysis: Harvesting cost; Plantation establishment Cost; Income
Furthermore, we will prepare a table, which shows the cost-benefit summary for proposed 10 years management plan. After then we will prepare a prescription for all Working Circle.
Prescription for timber working circle will include the following information:
The total amounts of plantation; suggest total harvesting area from the total plantation to maintain sustainability; harvesting location; types of regeneration
