Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol. I. Bangladesh Profile/Zia
Uddin Ahmed. Dhaka, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2008, xii, 230 p., 133
colourful plates, 19 maps, 10 figs., ISBN 984-300-000286-0.
Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol. I. Bangladesh Profile/Zia
Uddin Ahmed. Dhaka, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2008, xii, 230 p., 133
colourful plates, 19 maps, 10 figs., ISBN 984-300-000286-0.
From the Introduction: "This volume of the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh contains a series of articles contributed by leading scholars on different aspects of the country. These articles describe the land, and the nature and environment of the landmass that harbor the rich body of flora and fauna included in this Encyclopedia. The articles cover a range of subjects that have significant bearing on the biodiversity of the country. The special attributes of the country with potential impact on the diverse flora and fauna of the country are suggested in some articles. The unique socio-biological characteristics of the country, of the nature of threats to biodiversity due to human interference are highlighted. While reading some of these articles one might have the feeling that Bangladesh offers an interesting platform for both experimental and observational studies on an important interaction--interaction between extremely high human population density and the severe resource constraints on the one hand, and the biotic and abiotic components of nature on the other. The components of this interaction are in perpetual battle to develop or destroy.
The articles give a picture of the landmass, which constitutes the second largest delta in the world next to Brazil's Amazon Basin. The physical and geographical attributes of the country are described together with the climate, and the rapid pace of industrialization and urbanization. These factors would have significant effect on biodiversity. High-level environmental pollution, which like our population density, would aggravate much faster than we perhaps think at this time would likely to cause adverse consequences on biodiversity. At this time we are witnessing with some measure of helplessness the decline in inland fisheries due to loss of aquatic habitat, and rapid loss of agricultural land and forests to an unavoidable human activity in our circumstances--that is intensive agriculture. Articles on marine resources of the world's Largest Bay, the Bay of Bengal, and on the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, have been included to highlight our special resources. But a tone of despair on the rapid decline of these resources would not escape notice of the reader."
Contents: Introduction. 1. Bangladesh--Land of unique socio-biological profile/Zia Uddin Ahmed. 2. Biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh/S.M. Munjurul Hannan Khan, Ainun Nishat and Rakibul Haque. 3. Urbanization in Bangladesh/Nazrul Islam. 4. The Sundarbans: World's largest mangrove forest/Z.N. Tahmida Begum. 5. Agro-climatic zones and soils of Bangladesh/Hugh Brammer. 6. River bank erosion and biodiversity/K. Maudood Elahi. 7. Bangladesh and international conventions and treaties on biodiversity and environment/Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury. 8. Forests and forestry in Bangladesh/M. Khairul Alam. 9. Climate of Bangladesh/A.M. Choudhury. 10. Open water capture fishery/A.K. Ataur Rahman. 11. Air pollution in Bangladesh/A.M. Shafiqul Alam. 12. Arsenic-related soil and water problems/S.M. Imamul Huq. 13. Biophysical profile of Bangladesh/Haroun Er. Rashid. 14. Hydrological features of Bangladesh/Haroun Er. Rashid. 15. Persistent organic pollutants in environment/Hirendra Kumar Das. 16. Water resource management/K.B. Sajjadur Rasheed. 17. Marine resources of Bangladesh/Abu Tweb Abu Ahmed. 18. Mineral resources of Bangladesh/Sifatul Quader Chowdhury. 19. Wildlife conservation/M. Abdul Mutaleb and Haradhan Banik. 20. Threat and extinction: decline and demise of species from Bangladesh/M.A. Hassan and Abu Tweb Abu Ahmed. References. Index.
"The Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh is the first illustrated compendium of all the life forms so far identified in Bangladesh. In 28 volumes it makes an exhaustive inventory of the whole range of plant and animal species in the country. While focusing mainly on the description, habits and habitats of the various species, comments are also made on their economic and ecological significance. Published both in Bangla and English the encyclopedia should be useful to those working for biodiversity conservation, teachers and students of the natural sciences, as well as general readers.
The encyclopedia is compiled and edited by a team of experts, with contributions from the leading scientists and researchers of the country, making it an authoritative reference work. It is another pioneering publication of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, following the BANGLAPEDIA - the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh." (jacket)