MEASUREMENT OF BIODIVERSITY AND CARBON STOCK IN NORTH WESTERN CHAR ISLAND HOMEGARDENS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was conducted in Ulipur and Chilmari upazillas of Kurigram district. Four villages were selected randomly from the selected upazilas, namely Dagarkuti, Kotakata, Borovita and Charuapara. A total of 64 homegardens were selected randomly from these villages as sample of the study and data were collected on the basis of tree diversity, carbon stock and farmer’s livelihood. A total of 821 trees were sampled and 18 different tree species under 14 families were identified and recorded. The Shannon Wiener index was used to evaluate the tree diversity per homegarden and it ranged from 0 to 1.84 with a mean value of 1.05. Allometric equations were used for carbon estimation where C stock was assumed as 50% of the tree biomass carbon. Among 64 homegardens average tree carbon stock was calculated 18.00 Mg ha ii

-1 and average SOC was found 24.56 Mg ha -1 . Among the homegardens large homegardens contain the highest amount of carbon (tree C + soil C stock) (46.43 Mg ha -1 ) compared to medium (40.75 Mg ha ) and small (37.99 Mg ha -1 ) homegardens. Among the char island farmers of Kurigram district 98.83% of large farmer had 31.8% income from their homegarden where medium (82.35%) and small (54.16%) farmers had 17.56 % and 15.26% income, respectively. The study provide a strong statement that homegarden has a potential role in carbon storage, conservation of species diversity and improving livelihood of farmers. However specific homegarden management plan and motivation activities should be increased to develop homegardens.