Site description

Sundarbans

The Sundarbans is the biggest tidal mangrove forest in the world. UNESCO has proclaimed this mangrove forest as a World Heritage Site in 1997, covering parts of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The name Sundarbans is actually derived from the name of the plant, Sundari (Heriteria fomes)-mostly occur in the western part of the Sundarbans. The area of this forest is 10,000 km². Sundarbans is full of flora and fauna. A total 245 genera and 334 plant species were recorded. Most of the mangrove plants are suppose to be the members of Rhizophoraceae, Avicenneaceae or Combretaceae. Heritiera fomes (Locally known as Sundari), Excoecaria agallocha (Gewa),Ceriops decandra(Goran), Sonneratia apetala(keora) , Imperata cylindrical, Phragmites karka (khagra), Axis axis (Spotted deer), Xylocarpus granatum(Passur), Bruguiera gymnorrhiza(kankra), Poresia coaractata, Myriostachya wightiana, Nypa fruticans(Golpata)- are widely distributed in different areas in Sundarbans.

Madhupur Sal forest

Madhupur forest locally known as Madhupur jungle or Sal forest is one of the largest sources of medicinal plants, is located in Madhupur upazila of Tangail district in the north of Dhaka district into the heart of Mymensingh. The average height of Sal forest is about 60 ft above the level of the surrounding country, and it nowhere exceeds 100 ft. It covers an area of 44292.40 acres. The soil of this forest is unique in features, yellowish-red, sandy clay mix with scattered manganiferous iron. This forest is full of medicinal plants. People living besides this forest use these plants for the treatment of various ailments traditionally. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Aqilaria agallocha, Oxalis corniculata L., Phyllanthus embelica, Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum., Syzygium  cumini (L.) Skeels., Cinnamomum  tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & C.H.Eberm., Hyptis  suaveolens (L.) Poit., Centella asiatiea (L.) Urban are widely distributed in this forest. People are traditionally use these plants for various disorders like cold, cough, asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, inflammation, pain, chronic fever, insect bite , cancer, diabetes.