IUCN Management Category V (Protected Landscape)

Biogeographical Province 4.03.01 (Bengalian Rainforest)

Geographical Location Situated in the Madhupur tract (Mymensingh Forest Division), some 160km north of the capital city of Dhaka and 32km south-west of Mymensingh Town. The park is bounded by the Mymensingh-Tangail road to the south-east, forest to the north-west and by agricultural land and settlements on other sides. It is easily accessible throughout the year and is bisected by an 8km-long semi-metalled road from Rasulphur to Dokhola. 24°45'N, 90°05'E

Date and History of Establishment First established as a national park in 1962 but not officially declared as such until 1982, under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974. Received special protection as a vested forest in 1959 under the provisions of the East Pakistan Private Forest Ordinance, 1959.

Area 8,436ha

Land Tenure State

Altitude Rises up to 15m above sea level.

Physical Features The local topography is characterised by flat topped ridges, known locally as 'chalas', intersected by numerous depressions or 'baids'. Two small rivers, Banar and Bangshi, flow through the eastern and western portions of the park, respectively. Soils are mostly pale brown to yellow-red (acidic) clay-loams to clays on chalas and grey, silty clay-loams to clays in valleys.

Climate Conditions are moderate, with April the hottest month (maximum of 37°C) and January the coldest (minimum of 10°C). The cold season lasts from November to February. Mean annual rainfall is 2500mm, most of which falls between June and September.

Vegetation Some 40% of the forest cover comprises sal Shorea robusta in association with Dillenia pentagyna, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Adina cardifolia, Miliusa velutina, Lannea grandis, Albizia spp., Bauhinia variegata, Spondias mangifera, Butea frondosa and Barringtonia acutangula. Species commonly occurring in the undergrowth include Eupatorium odoratum, Pennisetum setosum, Asparagus racemosus and Rauwolfia serpentina (Sarker and Fazlul Huq, 1985). Some areas are planted with Tectona grandis, Cassia siamea, Morus spp., Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini and Lagerstroemia speciosa. A total of 149 tree species have been recorded (Akonda et al., 1989).

Fauna The area used to be rich in wildlife, but Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis (E) disappeared in the last century and, more recently, tiger Panthera tigris (E), leopard Panthera pardus (T), elephant Elephas maximus (E), all species of deer native to Bangladesh, wild buffalo Bubalus bubalis (E), and peafowl Pavo sp. have become locally extirpated (Reza Khan, 1985). Characteristic mammal species still remaining include rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, capped langur Presbytis pileatus (V) (formerly one of the densest populations surviving in Bangladesh), jackal Canis aureus, fox Vulpes bengalensis, small Indian civet Viverricula indica, wild boar Sus scrofa, Irrawaddy squirrel Callosciurus pygerythrus, porcupine Hystrix indica and black-naped hare Lepus nigricollis (Sarker and Fazlul Huq, 1985; Khan, 1985). The capped langur population is thought to have declined in recent years - 548 individuals were counted in 1986 (Akonda et al., 1989). Species inventories of 21 mammals and 29 reptiles have been compiled by Akonda et al. (1989). Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (V) and Indian python Python molurus (V) may also be present (S.M. Saheed, pers. comm., 1989).

Some 140 species of birds were recorded in 1974-1975 by Hossain and Hoque (cited in Akonda et al., 1989), of which 116 are residents and 24 migrants. According to Khan (1985), about 200 species are present.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population Some 4,500 Garos (tribals) were allowed to settle inside the park (Mountfort and Poore, 1968) but about 850 families have been resettled (Womersely, 1979). In 1989 there were some 14,000 Garos within the park, plus additional numbers of Bengalis. Rice is grown in low-lying areas, and pineapples and cassava on higher ground for commercial consumption. The surrounding area is densely populated (Green, 1989).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities There are three rest houses and a youth hostel providing overnight accommodation. Seven picnic spots have been provided by the Forest Directorate. The zoo is in a poor state. Visitor use is high, with many bus loads of holiday makers appearing on public holidays (Olivier, 1979; Womersley, 1979; Green, 1989).

Scientific Research and Facilities A wildlife survey was carried out by the Forest Directorate in 1981 (Sarker and Fazlul Huq, 1985). The capped langur population has been censused at various times, latterly in 1986 (Akonda et al., 1989), and a preliminary ecological study undertaken (Stanford, 1989).

Conservation Value Madhupur features and best remaining patch of sal forest in Bangladesh (Khan, 1985). It is also important for its capped langur population (Akonda et al., 1989)

Conservation Management The forests of Madhupur were formerly rich in wildlife and were a favourite tiger-hunting area (Olivier, 1979). By 1967, however, the area had lost much of its value for wildlife, owing to considerable disturbance, but its potential for recreation and education was recognised (Mountfort and Poore, 1968). Subsequently, it was recommended that Madhupur be established as a 'Class B' national park to provide "recreational and educational interest for the youth and people of urban areas" (Government of East Pakistan, 1971). In 1974-75 a programme was initiated to preserve the wildlife and to provide recreational and educational facilities for the local people and other visitors. With the establishment of the national park, all flat areas suitable for growing paddy were excised and 850 families of Garos were resettled (Womersley, 1979).

Trees have been planted in disturbed areas and an artificial lake created for migratory waterfowl (Sarker and Fazlul Huq, 1985). Madhupur warrants conservation priority over other areas of sal forest. It needs to be enlarged and brought under an effective wildlife management regime (Khan, 1985).

Management Constraints Management has always been problematic due to the large number of Garos settled in the park. Only about 1,300ha is under effective management, the rest of the park is in the hands of the Garos. The situation may improve with the recent tightening of the forestry legislation, with much heavier penalties for illicit felling. Also, initiatives are underway to enable local people to benefit from the park's resources (Green, 1989).

Staff A total of 60 staff, including two range officers and one deputy ranger, administers the three ranges (Headquarters, Dokhola and Arankhola).

Budget Tk 12 lakh (US$ 40,000) is budgeted for staffing the three ranges (1989).

Local Addresses

Officer-in-Charge, Madhupur National Park Headquarters, P.O. Gobtali, District Mymensingh

References

Akonda, A.W., Rashid, S.M.A. and Stanford, C.B. (1989). Capped langur (Presbytis piteatus) in the Madhupur National Park. In: Karim, G.M.M.E., Akonda, A.W. and Sewitz, P. (Eds), Conservation of wildlife in Bangladesh. German Cultural Institute/Forest Department/Dhaka University/Wildlife Society of Bangladesh/Unesco, Dhaka. Pp. 169-176.

Government of East Pakistan (1971). Report of the Technical Sub-Committee for East Pakistan of the Wildilfe Enquiry Committee. Dacca.

Green, M.J.B. (1989). Bangladesh trip report. World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge. 7 pp.

Khan, M.A.R. (1985). Future conservation priorities for Bangladesh. Paper prepared for the 25th Working Session of IUCN's Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas. Corbett National Park, India. 4-8 February 1985. 15 pp.

Mountfort, G. and Poore, D. (1968). Report on the Second World Wildlife Fund Expedition to Pakistan. Unpublished report. Pp. 23-24.

Olivier, R.C.D. (1979). Wildlife conservation and management in Bangladesh. UNDP/FAO Project BGD/72/005. FAO, Forest Research Institute, Chittagong. 121 pp.

Sarker, N.M. and Fazlul Huq, A.K.M. (1985). Country report on national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves of Bangladesh. Prepared for the 25th Working Session of IUCN's Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas. Corbett National Park, India. 4-8 February 1985. 5 pp.

Stanford, C.B. (1989). The conservation of capped langur (Presbytis pileatus) in Bangladesh. In: Karim, G.M.M.E., Akonda, A.W. and Sewitz, P. (Eds), Conservation of wildlife in Bangladesh. German Cultural Institute/Forest Department/Dhaka University/Wildlife Society of Bangladesh/Unesco, Dhaka. Pp. 90-93.

Womersley, J.S. (1979). Botanic Garden Dacca, commercial horticultural forest botany and national parks. UNDP/FAO Project BGD/72/005. FAO, Forest Research Institute, Chittagong. 71 pp.

Date May 1987, updated August 1990