Once outside Bangladesh’s frenetic cities and towns, the land is lush and peaceful. Deforestation, however, is making it less green – a problem that threatens biological diversity.

Cox’s Bazar, on the southeast coast near the border with Myanmar, once had some of the most pristine and biologically diverse forests in Bangladesh.

But swathes of forest have been cleared for cultivation, felled to make way for refugee camps, and stripped for firewood.
This has resulted in widespread loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Most of the area, specifically forests under Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division, is now covered in degraded secondary undergrowth.

As part of a conservation strategy, FAO in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Forest Department, has started to assess the area’s floral diversity – the diversity of naturally occurring indigenous or native plants.

A team of experts, comprised of foresters and botanists, assessed 170 plots that were randomly selected using satellite images. The team will identify indicator species to monitor the long-term health of the forests, as well as potential ‘mother trees’ that can be harvested for high-quality seeds to reforest the areas. They collected unknown species for identification and examination. FAO’s technical expertise will help to build the capacity of the Bangladesh Forest Department and increase environmental awareness among local communities.

Mohammed Kamal Hossain, a professor at the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, said that the survey will form the basis for a conservation strategy. He said: “We shall be able to determine the status of the key floral species and determine the best conservation strategies for this area and develop a management plan. It is important to promote and protect native species.”