Wild Orchids of Kaptai National Park

Orchid family is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of Monocots. It is currently believed to be the second largest family of flowering plants(only the Asteraceae is larger) with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species, found in 880 genera.The largest genera are Bulbophyllum (2,000 species),Epidendrum(1,500 species), Dendrobium(1,400 species) and Pleurothallis(1,000 species).

The following Orchid species are seen in the Kaptai National Park.

• Pholidota pallida
• Papilionanthe teres
• Dendrobium aphyllum
• Dendrobium sp.
• Acampe papillosa
• Cymbidium aloifolium
• Bulbophyllum lobbii
• Eria tomentosa
• Pelatantheria insectifera
• Oberonia sp.
• Coelogyne sp.
• Aerides odorata
• Smitinandia sp.
• Peristylus constrictus
• Malaxis acuminata(Rare)

Prepared by:
Md.Zahidur Rahman Miah
ACF,Kaptai National Park
Bangladesh.

Jhum cultivation in the Kaptai National park of Bangladesh

Introduction:
Kaptai National Park is situated at Kaptai under Rangamati district of Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT).There are about 26,000 households are dependent on jhum cultivation in CHT.In Kaptai National Park peoples of two forest villages like Kallabunia and Bangchari are partially dependent on jhum cultivation and households number are 10 and 79 respectively.About 50 households of Kamillachari(park adjacent village) are practicing jhum cultivation on Kaptai National Park forest land.Generally forest department seems that the villagers of Kamillachari are now destroying park vegetation by jhum cultivation.In 2008,forest department starts agar(Aquillaria agalocha) plantation on the disturbed jhum area of Kaptai National Park.This is a participatory plantation programme and people can grow agricultural crops with agar seedlings.

Jhum cultivation:
This is the most common and most destructive way of damaging forest in the practice of jhum cultivation.In this system first clear fell the vegetation and burn an area to grow agricultural crops.After harvesting crops the area is abandoned for 7 or 8 years.

Detrimental effects of jhum cultivation:

• forest degradation
  
• loss of biodiversity
• soil erosion and decline of soil fertility
• water shortage due to destroying water-shade
• sedimentation
  

Thinking of tribal people about jhum cultivation:

• appropriate form of agriculture due to indigenous knowledge oriented farming practice.
• jhumia's social fabric including their laws ,customs,festivals,music dances and literature strongly influenced by jhum cultivation.

Conclusion:
Peoples should practice jhum cultivation in modified form by avoiding forest destruction.They need alternative income generation activities.Forest conservation is needed both for wild lives and those are dependent on forest resources.

Prepared by:
Md.Zahidur Rahman Miah
ACF,Kaptai National Park
Bangladesh.

Cattle Grazing in the Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh

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Nijhumdip National Park

Pulpwood Plantation Division, Kaptai,Rangamati

Introduction:

Kaptai Pulpwood plantation division is consisted of twenty Mouzas of Rangamati and Bandarban district and it's area is 60,013.09 acres.Out of the total area there are 47,034.32 acres of reserve forest land is composed by the completion of 20 section of the existing forest act and the rest of reserve forest land is composed by the completion of 6 section of the existing forest act. Kaptai Pulpwood plantation division was created in 1978 for supplying pulpwood to Karnaphuli Paper Mill(KPM) .Since 1992 pulp woods are supplied to KPM by the Kaptai Pulpwood Plantation Division.Rangamati Forest Circle controls the administration of Kaptai Pulpwood Plantation Division.It's headquarter is at the Kaptai under Rangamati district.

Administration:
There are nine Ranges,one Check station,one Depot and a special patrolling team exist in this division.There are two ACF's (Assistant Conservator of Forests) served in the Sadar and Rajochthalli respectively.

Ranges:

1. Sadar Range
2. Raikhali Range
3. Rajvilla Range
4. Dhanuchori Range
5. Lirragao Range
6. Rajochthalli Range
7. Hara Range
8. Noapatong Range
9. Bagmara Range

Check Station:

1. Bangalhalia check station

Depot:

1. Raikhali depot
   

Forest type:
Generally three types of forest are seen in the Kaptai Pulpwood Plantation Division such as:

• Semi evergreen forest
• Moist deciduous forest and
  
• Pulpwood plantation with short rotation

Species composition:
Following plant species are mainly available in the Kaptai Pulpwood Plantation Division.

• Chapalish(Artocarpus chaplasha)
• Koroi(Albizia sp.)
• Akashmoni(Acacia auriculiformis)
  
• Gamar(Gmelina arborea)
• Kadam(Anthocephalus chinensis)
  
• Simul(Bombax ceiba)
• Minziri(Cassia samea)
• Amloki(Emblica officinalis)
• Bahera(Terminalia belerica) etc

Major wildlife:
Following wild lives are mainly seen in the Kaptai Pulpwood Plantation Division.

• Asian Elephant(Elephas maximus)
• Monkey(Macaca mulatta)
• Capped Leaf Monkey(Trachypithecus pileatus)
  
• Barking Deer(Muntiacus muntjak)
• Sambar(Cervus unicolor)
• Hoolock Gibbon(Hylobates hoolock)
• Red Junglefowl(Gallus gallus)
• Kajil Pheasant(Lophura leucomelanos) etc.

Yearly Pulpwoods are provided to KPM:

• 1992-93(8,87388.00 cft)
• 1993-94(14,07827.00 cft)
• 1994-95(19,12,229.00 cft)
• 1995-96(17,62,922.00 cft)
• 1996-97(19,50,810.00 cft)
• 1997-98(13,14219.00 cft)
• 1998-99(12,22,300 cft)
• 1999-00(6,39,886.00 cft)
• 2000-01(7,26,800.00 cft)
• 2001-02(7,72,000.00 cft)
• 2002-03(7,43,500.00 cft)
• 2003-04(7,97,700.00 cft)
• 2004-05(4,75,776.00 cft)
• 2005-06(4,68,014.40 cft)
• 2006-07(8,05,522.20 cft)
• 2007-08(8,84,040.00 cft)
• 2008-09(29,302.56 cft)

Compiled by:
Md.Zahidur Rahman Miah
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Kaptai National Park
CHT South Forest Division.