Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences of Chittagong University (CU) has started a research to develop a management technique suitable for different species of forest trees at different zones considering the climate change in Bangladesh in future.

A detailed study for identifying and collecting the information about naturally adaptable, currently migrated species and exotic seed sources will be carried out.

It will also find out the seed germination techniques and nursery practices of selected forest tree species with higher temperature and higher moist condition from the normal settings. The Institute is conducting the research under a project financed by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It has also set up a computer aided Geographical Information System (GIS) and a tree propagation laboratory.

Prof Mohammed Al-Amin of the Institute is working as the principal investigator with a team of research students.

Prof Al-Amin said the average maximum temperature of Chittagong is 30.710C (Max. 38.50C), while 30.250C (Max. 37.60C) in Noakhali, 30.120C (Max. 38.10C) in Tangail and 31.180C (Max. 43.30C) in Rajshahi over the last 17 years.

Nevertheless, future climate change scenarios for Bangladesh show that in 2030 the temperature will increase by one degree centigrade that may rise by 1.4 degrees centigrade in 2050 and 2.4 degrees centigrade in 2100 with lowest scenario, he said.

The rainfall changes in 2030, 2050 and 2100 might seen a rise of five, six and 10 per cent respectively.

"Many of the existing forest trees may not survive during the periods and the changes may hamper the existing forests to a great extent for which we start the research to find out the new species of trees adaptable to the changing climate" Prof Amin said.

He said according to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a 1.5 degrees centigrade increase in temperature is equivalent to a potential northward shift of 50 to 80 kilometres per decade or an altitude shift of 40-55 metres per decade, which is also a threat to the existing forests in the country.

"We would find out how the national climate change scenarios can be applied to the regional to local level, which forest tree species is on the verge of extinction or low productivity due to loss of its favourable climate for growth, which species are invading naturally because of changing climate and which desirable species can exist or grow nicely with the climate change," he said.

The research also aims to develop the methodologies of nursery practices and seedling establishment procedures of selected suitable species considering the contribution of different forests of different climate zones with their special data while experiments will be carried out to choose environmentally, ecologically and economically feasible forest tree species.

At least seven crore people will be benefited of the project. The laboratory with propagation facilities and techniques will enrich 350 people, including 240 undergraduates, 40 postgraduates and 40 academic staffs every year, sources said.

Seventeen students of the institute are doing their Ph D, M Phill, M Sc (thesis) and undergraduate thesis under the project, they said.

Chand Sultana Khanam, an M Phil student under the project, said she is very happy with her research and the laboratories that would help them represent the forests of the country in the world arena.

The research is very necessary for the developing countries, said Mohammad Nasir Uddin Khandakar, an M Sc student.

“Though this type of research work is first time in Bangladesh , its findings will help the researchers and forest related people to a great extent,” he added.

Prof Amin said the immediate objectives of the project are to assess the present status of forest tree species and their natural regeneration, identify naturally alien species available in forest areas with their economic importance and the seed sources to collect the seeds for experiments.

The long-term objectives of the project include assessing the contribution of climate change scenarios on forest tree species of different regions and making maps showing specific areas, which will be suitable for a species until 2050 and 2100, he added.