Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark
 
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Location of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark in Bangladesh |
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The Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark ( Bengali বোটানিক্যাল গার্ডেন ও ইকো-পার্ক, সীতাকুণ্ড Boṭānikyāl Garden o Iko Park, Sitakunda ) is an ecologically oriented amusement park and recreational area in the evergreen rainforest Chandranath in the Upazila Sitakunda, Chittagong district in Bangladesh .
Ecoparks in Malaysia
Ecopark is a short form of Ecological Park (German: ecological park ). The concept of the Ecoparks in Bangladesh provides for areas with a combination of nature reserve and amusement parks that are operated without impairing the natural environment and biodiversity . For this purpose, forest areas are designated, which often have natural monuments or a special flora or fauna. Although the protection of nature in the Ecoparks has priority over the tourist development and use, attractions are set up to attract and entertain visitors and a tourist infrastructure is set up.
The Ecoparks are one of several ways to protect natural areas in Bangladesh. Compared to national parks, game reserves and safari parks, the role as a local recreation area is given much greater consideration. Nevertheless, the Ecoparks primarily serve the conservation and development of threatened plant species, the protection and development of existing flora and fauna, the reproduction and development of local plant species, environmental protection and socio-economic development of the region's population, the promotion of ecotourism and the creation of new opportunities for research and teaching.
By 2008, nine ecoparks had been set up in Bangladesh. The Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark was followed by the Bashkhali Ecopark, Madhabkunda Ecopark, Madhutila Ecopark, Bangabandhu Jamuna Ecopark, Kuakata Ecopark, Tilagarh Ecopark, Jafflong Garden Park and the Borshijora Ecopark.
Location and infrastructure
The Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark is located about 37 kilometers northwest of the city of Chittagong and six to seven kilometers from the coast of the Bay of Bengal in the evergreen rainforest area Chandranath in the Upazila Sitakunda, Chittagong district . The Dhaka-Chittagong motorway runs about one kilometer to the west. From 2000 to 2004 a government development project was carried out for the region. In this context, the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark was established in 2001 on a denatured area of 808 hectares as the first Ecopark in Bangladesh. 403 hectares are designated as an Ecopark and 405 hectares as a botanical garden . The landscape of the Ecopark is characterized by numerous hills and streams, there are several waterfalls, springs, including a thermal spring, and fountains. The facilities created for between 100 and 750 visitors per day, depending on the season, and up to 50,000 visitors on a weekend during the religious festivals from February to April include an observation tower, several picnic areas, a greenhouse with orchids , a cactus house , a rosarium , a Orchards , a large water lily pond and a rest house.
On the northern edge of the Ecopark is the 410 meter high Chandranath Hill, on the summit of which is the historic Temple of Chandranath . It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shiva . The shaktistischen According to tradition, is at the site of the temple of the right arm Satis , please one of 51 parts of the body to the ground. From the main entrance of the Ecopark there is a five kilometer long path with 1600 steps to the temple.
flora
The Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark has small areas of natural forest. After it was designated as a Reserve Forest in 1901, the forest area was used intensively for decades, with the result that the once forested hilly landscape was largely only overgrown by bushes and ruderal plants. With the establishment of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark the reforestation was connected, most of the current vegetation consists of plantings carried out since the turn of the century. 154 types of plants are cared for in the botanical garden, including fruit trees and medicinal plants. The vegetation of the Ecopark includes 412 species of vascular plants from 315 genera and 94 families . 144 of these are herbs , 188 trees , 75 bushes and 55 climbing plants . Besides the oleander-leaved stone yew ( Podocarpus neriifolius ), two species of the genus Gnetum and the sago palm fern ( Cycas pectinata ), more than two dozen plants that are rare or threatened in Bangladesh are of particular importance .
Mostly after the establishment of the Ecopark, a large number of exotic plants were introduced, 103 types of vascular plants from 90 genera and 43 families, including 46 tree species. In particular, the trees that do not belong to the natural fauna, but also various medicinal plants were very consciously planted because they adapt better to a new environment, multiply faster and show faster growth. This decision was based on the fact that many residents of the Ecopark collect firewood and construction wood and medicinal plants for their own needs and for sale. The fast-growing trees are better suited to meeting the need for wood than the slow-growing native species, and numerous Ayurveda medicinal plants are not part of the natural flora of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark. The situation is similar with the silver hair grass , which in numerous parts of the Ecopark develops increasingly dense stands that hardly leave any room for other plants. Since the silver hair grass is collected by the local population and used or sold as building material, fodder and for the manufacture of bags and baskets, it makes a significant contribution to the income of many families. This also increases the acceptance of the Ecopark among the population.
| Art | Common name | family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydnocarpus kurzii | Achariaceae | rare or threatened species | |
| Andrographis paniculata | Kalmegh | Acanthus family (Acanthaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Justicia oreophila | Acanthus family (Acanthaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Castanopsis indica | Beech family (Fagaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Cycas pectinata | Cycadaceae | rare or threatened species | |
| Anisoptera scaphula | Wing fruit family (Dipterocarpaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Gnetum latifolium | Gnetaceae | rare or threatened species | |
| Gnetum montanum | Gnetaceae | rare or threatened species | |
| Acacia auriculiformis | Legumes (Fabaceae) | exotic kind | |
| Acacia mangium | Legumes (Fabaceae) | exotic kind | |
| Entada rheedii | African dream herb | Legumes (Fabaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Xylia xylocarpa | Legumes (Fabaceae) | exotic kind | |
| Holarrhena pubescencs | Dog poison family (Apocynaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Rauvolfia serpentina | Indian snake root | Dog poison family (Apocynaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Wrightia antidysenterica | Dog poison family (Apocynaceae) | ||
| Litsea monopetala | Laurel family (Lauraceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Pterospermum acerifolium | Mallow family (Malvaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Pterygota alata | Buddha Nut | Mallow family (Malvaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Sterculia colorata | Mallow family (Malvaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Sterculia villosa | Mallow family (Malvaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Psidium guajava | Real guava | Myrtle family (Myrtaceae) | exotic kind |
| Calamus erectus | Palm family (Arecaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Calamus latifolius | Palm family (Arecaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Baccaurea ramiflora | Phyllanthaceae | rare or threatened species | |
| Zanthoxylum rhetsa | Rhombus family (Rutaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Haldina cordifolia | Red family (Rubiaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Dillenia scabrella | Rose apple family (Dilleniaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Aquilaria malaccensis | Agarwood tree | Daphne family (Thymelaeaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Podocarpus neriifolius | Oleander-leaved stone slice | Stonecaceae (Podocarpaceae) | rare or threatened species |
| Imperata cylindrica | Silver hair grass | Sweet grasses (Poaceae) | |
| Mangifera sylvatica | Sumac family (Anacardiaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Swintonia floribunda | Sumac family (Anacardiaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Oroxylum indicum | Trumpet Family (Bignoniaceae) | rare or threatened species | |
| Stereospermum tetragonum | Trumpet Family (Bignoniaceae) | ||
| Stereospermum personatum | Trumpet Family (Bignoniaceae) | rare or threatened species |
fauna
The Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Ecopark is populated by a number of mammals , birds, and amphibians. The amphibian fauna was recognized as being poor in species compared to five other protected areas in Bangladesh and their up to 28 species, with only 13 proven frogs. The most important reason for this is the low proportion of original natural forest and the low protection status of an ecopark compared to national parks and game reserves.
| Art | Common name | family | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duttaphrynus melanostictus | Black-scarred toad | Toads (Bufonidae) | |
| Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis | Dicroglossidae | ||
| Hoplobatrachus tigerinus | Dicroglossidae | ||
| Minervarya asmati | Dicroglossidae | Endemic to Bangladesh | |
| Minervarya nepalensis | Dicroglossidae | ||
| Minervarya syhadrensis | Dicroglossidae | ||
| Hylarana leptoglossa | Real frogs (Ranidae) | ||
| Hylarana taipehensis | Real frogs (Ranidae) | ||
| Microhyla berdmorei | Narrow-mouth frogs (Microhylidae) | ||
| Microhyla ornata | Narrow-mouth frogs (Microhylidae) | ||
| Kaloula pulchra | Indian bullfrog | Narrow-mouth frogs (Microhylidae) | |
| Polypedates leucomystax | Rowing frogs (Rhacophoridae) | ||
| Chiromantis vittatus | Rowing frogs (Rhacophoridae) |
literature
- Md. Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman and Gazi Mosharof Hossain: Floristic composition and phytodiversity status of Sitakunda Ecopark, Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: Jahangirnagar University Journal of Biological Sciences 2016, Volume 5, No. 1, pp. 29–45, doi: 10.3329 / jujbs.v5i1.29741 (list of flora from 2013 to 2015).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Ecopark , website of the free online encyclopedia Banglapedia , accessed on May 18, 2019.
- ↑ a b c Mohammad Shamsuddoha and Tasnuba Nasir: Change of Livelihood Due to Establishment of Sitakunda Eco Park . In: Revista de Turism 2010, No. 9, pp. 80-84, digitized .
- ↑ a b Khaled Misbahuzzaman and Mohammad Jahangir Alam: Ecological Restoration of Rainforest Through Aided Natural Regeneration in the Denuded Hills of Sitakunda, Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 2006, Volume 8, No. 6, pp. 778-782.
- ↑ a b Tapan K. Nath and M. Alauddin: Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh: Its impacts on a rural community . In: International Journal of Biodiversity Science & Management 2006, Volume 2, No. 1, pp. 1-11, doi: 10.1080 / 17451590609618095 .
- ↑ Glen Anderson and AHM Mostain Billah: Review of Issues and Options for the Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas Management in Bangladesh . International Resources Group, Washington, DC 2006, digitized .
- ↑ a b Md. Kamrul Hasan and Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz: Species diversity and habitat preferences of amphibian fauna in six protected areas of Bangladesh . In: Bangladesh Journal of Zoology 2014, Volume 42, No. 1, pp. 105-116, doi: 10.3329 / bjz.v42i1.23341 .
- ↑ a b Md. Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman and Gazi Mosharof Hossain: Floristic composition and phytodiversity status of Sitakunda Ecopark, Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: Jahangirnagar University Journal of Biological Sciences 2016, Volume 5, No. 1, pp. 29-45, doi: 10.3329 / jujbs.v5i1.29741 .
- ↑ Shourav Dutta et al .: Floral diversity of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park in Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity 2014, Volume 22, No. 2, pp. 106-118, ISSN 0971-4642 .
- ↑ Shourav Dutta et al .: Exotic Plants and their Usage by Local Communities in the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-Park, Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: Forest Research 2015, Volume 4, No. 1, Article 136, doi: 10.4172 / 21689776.1000136 .
- ↑ Shourav Dutta and Mohammed Kamal Hossain: Infestation of Imperata cylindrica L. and its impacts on local communities in secondary forests of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh . In: International Journal of Conservation Science 2016, Volume 7, No. 1, pp. 167-180, ISSN 2067-533X .
Coordinates: 22 ° 36 ′ 5.9 ″ N , 91 ° 40 ′ 17.5 ″ E