Durham E-Theses Resource assessment of deciduous forests in Bangladesh Islam, Sheikih Tawhidul How to cite: Islam, Sheikih Tawhidul (2006) Resource assessment of deciduous forests in Bangladesh, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3889/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk Resource Assessment of Deciduous Forests in Bangladesh Sheikh Tawhidul Islam May 2006 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author or the university to which it was submitted. No quotation from it, or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author or university, and any information derived from it should be acknowledged. This thesis is submitted in accordance with the regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Durham, DepaJ1ment of Geography. - 3 MAY 2007 --I '~ I V\!2'S,/ ~ rJ 6'Ob( 1St.- Resource Assessment of Deciduous Forests in Bangladesh Sheikh Tawhidul Islam ABSTRACT This research makes a new assessment of both the physical and social dimensions of deciduous forest resources located in the central part of Bangladesh. Satellite remote sensing data and techniques are used to detect spatial and temporal forest change, to measure forest biophysical vatiables and to appraise their potential for developing model predictions based on a field survey conducted in 2003. Post classification assessment and regression analysis were the main methods in remote sensing data analysis. The study focused on a part of deciduous forest (64 sq km) located in Madhupur thana for fine-scale forest assessment. Remote sensing results suggest that only 16 percent forest left in the study area compared to 3826 hectares in 1962. The forest biophysical variables show strong association with spectral information of satellite data. For instance, an R-squared of 0.79 for predicted variable (for tree height) was achieved while regressing with field data, indicating that remote sensing methods can be efficiently used even in the tropical forests where heterogeneity is common. The second part of the thesis focuses on the underlying social factors/drivers that impacted on the forest, ranging from social dynamics such as land tenancy disputes, histOlical legacies and local cOITuption to policy failure by employing the theoretical framework of political ecology. Political ecological analysis in this research helped to evaluate the role and inter-relations of power, the ideological dilemmas and methodological disputes (i.e. the way forest problems are perceived) over forest resources in the study area. Field survey and observation was also found useful in gathering information about social variables by interviewing local inhabitants, forest officials, NGO activists, and politicians. The research employs methodologies from both science (i.e. remote sensing) and social science (i.e. political ecology) and the findings suggest that these two strands can work together for the better management (including resource assessment, monitoring and progress evaluation) of resources in Bangladesh. II Table of Contents Abstract II Table of contents III List of tables IX List of figures XI Glossary XIV Appendices XVI Declaration of Copyright XVII Acknowledgements XVIII Chapter 1: Introduction Page No 1.1 Introduction 1.2 World Forest Resources 3 1.2.1 Forests in South and South East Asia 8 1.3 Justifications of the Work 10 1.3.1 Remote Sensing Application 10 1.3.2 Application of Political Ecology 11 1.4 Aims and Objectives 13 1.5 Research Questions 14 1.6 Organization of the Thesis 15 1.7 Conclusions 17 Chapter 2: Literature Review: Remote Sensing 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Spectral Reflectance Curve 19 2.3 Application of Remote Sensing in Forestry Research 21 2.4 Remote Sensing Application in Tropical Forest Inventory / Research 23 2.5 Some Definitions Associated with this Study 24 2.5.1 Definitions in Practice by Bangladesh Forest Department 25 2.6 Conclusions 27 III Chapter 3: Literature Review: Political Ecology of Human-Nature Research 3.1 Introduction 28 3.2 Defining Political Ecology 29 3.3 Considerations of Political Ecology 33 3.4 Other Relevant Scholarship in Human-Environment Interface 35 3.5 Facing the Facts: Interdisciplinary Research from the South 37 3.6 Politics, Exclusions and Grassroots Movement in the South 3.7 Political Ecology in Forestry Research 43 3.8 Conclusions 48 Chapter 4: The Study Area 4.1 In troducti on 51 4.1.2 Forests of Bangladesh 51 4.2 The Moist Deciduous Sal Forests 55 4.3 Madhupur Forests: Its Location and Physiography 56 4.4 The Soil Properties 58 4.5 The Climate 58 4.6 The Land use 59 4.7 Forest Management Approaches in Deciduous Sal Forests in Madhupur 59 4.7.1 Past Forest Management 59 4.7.2 Present Forest Management 60 4.8 The People 64 4.9 Conclusions 64 Chapter 5: Data and Methods 5.1 Introduction 66 5.2 Sources of Data 67 5.2.1 Remote Sensing Data 67 5.2.1.1 Corona Satellite Data (1962) 67 5.2.1.2 Landsat Images 71 5.2.1.3 ASTER Satellite Data 2002 73 5.2.1.4 Quickbird Satellite Image 2003 74 5.2.1.5 IRS-USS III 2005 76 IV 5.2.2 Vector Data Base 76 5.2.3 Field Data 77 5.2.3.1 Forest Biophysical Variables 77 5.2.3.2 GPS Data 77 5.3 Remote Sensing Methods 77 5.3.1 Pre-fieldwork Phase 78 5.3.1.1 Review of Pel1aining Literature 78 5.3.1.2 Image Acquisition and Sub-setting of Image 78 5.3.1.3 Image Geometric Correction 79 5.3.2 Class Legends for Classification Schemes 80 5.4 Determination of Variables to be Measured 84 5.5 Delineation of Plot Boundaries 85 5.6 Sampling Design, Ground Survey and Validation 85 5.7 Observation of Sample Plots 87 5.8 Extracting Reflectance Data from Survey Plots 89 5.9 Calculations of Variables 91 5.9.1 Calculating Volume Table 92 5.10 Basal Area Calculations 93 5.11 Data Collection 94 5.12 Spatial Units for Land Cover Comparison 94 5.13 Collecting Social Variables 96 5.14 Methods for Remote Sensing Applications 97 5.14.1 Image Classification and Land Cover assessment Methods 98 5.14.2 Maximum Likelihood Classifier 100 5.14.3 Accuracy Assessment of Remote Sensing results 101 5.14.4 Methods Involved in Accuracy assessment 102 5.15 Methods for Analysing Social Variables 103 5.16 Blending Physical and Human Geography: An Integrated approach to Assess Deforestation in Bangladesh 104 5.17 Conclusions 109 Chapter 6: Remote Sensing results 6.1 Introduction 110 6.2 Description of Work Flow III v 6.3 Inspection of Spectral Signatures 112 6.4 Classi fication Results: Land Cover Change in Madhupur Tract from 1962 to 2003 118 6.5 Comparison of Land Cover Classes in Madhupur Thana Map 122 6.6 Forest Cover Change in the Upper Part of Madhupur tract 123 6.7 Forest Structure data Analysis 127 6.7.1 DBH Frequency Analysis 134 6.7.2 Stand Height Frequency 134 6.7.3 Frequency Analysis for Basal Area 134 6.7.4 Volume Distribution 136 6.7.5 Tree Height Distribution 136 6.7.6 Tree Age Distribution 137 6.8 Relationships of Forest VaJiables in Respect to Image Spectral Response Pattern 137 6.9 1mpacts of Spatial Window on Modelling Results 139 6.10 Forest Variables Versus Satellite Spectral 1nformation 141 6.11 Forest Mapping Aided with Model Predictors 142 6.12 Assessing the Results of Shorea robusta Tree Height and DBH Predictions 145 6.13 Accurac y Assessment Resul ts 148 6.14 Discussion 152 6.15 Conclusions 164 Chapter 7: Local Dynamics and Fate of Forests in Madhupur: Political Ecological Explanation 7.1 Introduction 167 7.2 Demography and Population Flux in the Madhupur Sal Forest 169 7.2.1 Demographic Characteristics 169 7.2.2 Immigration and Emigration in Madhupur Forest Area 172 7.3 Socio-Economic Status of Forest Dwellers 174 7.3.1 Employment Status 174 7.3.2 Education 177 7.3.3 . Land Occupancy of Forest Dwellers 178 7.3.4 Earnings 181 VI 7.4 Forest Resources and Communal Dependence 182 7.5 Evaluating People's Pmticipation in Forestry Programmes 190 7.6 Political Ecology of Deforestation in Madhupur Sal Forest 196 7.6.1 Actors and Actions in the Woods 196 7.6.2 Policies, Politics and Power in Deforestation and Forest Construction 198 7.6.3 Land Tenancy Disputes and Deforestation 200 7.6.4 Role of NGOs and Media on Deforestation Reporting 206 7.7 Evaluation of Political Ecological Thesis 207 7.7.1 Degradation and Marginalization 207 7.7.2 Environmental Conflict 208 7.7.3 Environmental Conservation and Control 210 7.7.4 Environmental Identity and Social Movement 213 7.8 Conclusions 216 Chapter 8: Integrating Science and Social Science for Appropriate Forest Management in Madhupur Sal Forest 8.1 Introduction 219 8.2 A Recapitulation of the Problem 220 8.3 Link between Pattern and Process 222 8.3.1 Addressing the Information Gap 224 8.3.2 Reviewing the Causes of forest Change 231 8.3.3 Factors Influencing the Pattem/Nature or Change 236 8.4 Integrating Science and Social Science into the Decision-Making Process 238 8.5 Scale,