A multi-purpose National Forest Inventory in Bangladesh: design, operationalisation and key results

Forest Ecosystems

Farid Uddin Ahmed¹  Abdul Khaleque²  S. M. Zahirul Islam³  Abul Kalam Azad³  Sarder Nasir Uddin⁴  Mahmudur Rahman⁵  Asif Reza Anik⁶  Sourav Das⁷  A. Z. M. Manzoor Rashid⁸  Matieu Henry⁹  Md. Shaheduzzaman⁹  Ilias Animon⁹  Purnata Chakma⁹  Saimunnahar Ritu⁹  Kristofer Johnson⁹  Luca Birigazzi⁹  Nikhil Chakma⁹  Mondal Falgoonee Kumar⁹  Laskar Muqsudur Rahman⁹  Rashed Jalal⁹  Rajib Mahamud⁹  Liam Costello⁹  Gael Sola⁹  Shrabanti Hira⁹  Md. Tauhidor Rahaman^1,10  Md. Baktiar Siddiqui^1,10  Rakibul Hassan Mukul^1,10  Zaheer Iqbal^1,10  Aminul Islam^1,10  Ruhul Mohaiman^1,10  Tariq Aziz^1,10  Mariam Akhter^1,10  Ariful Hoque Belal^1,10  Hossain Nishad^1,10  Mohammad Raqibul Hasan Siddique^1,11  Hossain Mahmood^1,11  Frida Sidik^1,12  Khaled Misbahuzzaman^1,13  Md. Akhter Hossain^1,13  Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman^1,13  Mohammed Jashimuddin^1,13  Mohammed Al Amin^1,13  Mohammad Main Uddin^1,13  Syed Shahadat Hossain^1,14  Laurent Saint-André^1,15  Patrick Meyer^1,16  Karl Wurster^1,16  Olaf Kuegler^1,17  Charles Scott^1,17  Heather Hayden^1,17 

[1] Arannyak Foundation;Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS);Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Sholoshahar;Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH);Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO);Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU);Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University;Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;Forest Department, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change;Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University;Institute for Marine Research and Observation, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries;Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences (IFES), University of Chittagong;Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka;National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE);United States Agency for International Development (USAID);United States Forest Service (USFS) / SilvaCarbon;

关键词: South-Asia;    Forest monitoring;    Innovation;    Remote sensing;    Socio-economic;    Partnership;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40663-021-00284-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background National forest inventory and forest monitoring systems are more important than ever considering continued global degradation of trees and forests. These systems are especially important in a country like Bangladesh, which is characterised by a large population density, climate change vulnerability and dependence on natural resources. With the aim of supporting the Government’s actions towards sustainable forest management through reliable information, the Bangladesh Forest Inventory (BFI) was designed and implemented through three components: biophysical inventory, socio-economic survey and remote sensing-based land cover mapping. This article documents the approach undertaken by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to establish the BFI as a multipurpose, efficient, accurate and replicable national forest assessment. The design, operationalization and some key results of the process are presented. Methods The BFI takes advantage of the latest and most well-accepted technological and methodological approaches. Importantly, it was designed through a collaborative process which drew from the experience and knowledge of multiple national and international entities. Overall, 1781 field plots were visited, 6400 households were surveyed, and a national land cover map for the year 2015 was produced. Innovative technological enhancements include a semi-automated segmentation approach for developing the wall-to-wall land cover map, an object-based national land characterisation system, consistent estimates between sample-based and mapped land cover areas, use of mobile apps for tree species identification and data collection, and use of differential global positioning system for referencing plot centres. Results Seven criteria, and multiple associated indicators, were developed for monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management goals, informing management decisions, and national and international reporting needs. A wide range of biophysical and socioeconomic data were collected, and in some cases integrated, for estimating the indicators. Conclusions The BFI is a new information source tool for helping guide Bangladesh towards a sustainable future. Reliable information on the status of tree and forest resources, as well as land use, empowers evidence-based decision making across multiple stakeholders and at different levels for protecting natural resources. The integrated socio-economic data collected provides information about the interactions between people and their tree and forest resources, and the valuation of ecosystem services. The BFI is designed to be a permanent assessment of these resources, and future data collection will enable monitoring of trends against the current baseline. However, additional institutional support as well as continuation of collaboration among national partners is crucial for sustaining the BFI process in future.

【 授权许可】

Unknown