PLANT BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF HAJEE MOHAMMAD DANESH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Abstract

Plant biodiversity assessment survey work was done during January to May 2017 at the Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur. A sample of eight blocks was selected from HSTU campus considering the tree planting area of the campus for survey work. The related information viz. local name, scientific name, family and major uses (bases of groupings) of each species were taken into account. Species were initially divided into two broad categories, e.g. gymnosperm and angiosperm. Those were again grouped into six types according to their major utilities: fruit species, ornamental species, spices and aromatic species, plantation species, medicinal species and timber species. The result revealed that there were in total 5430 plant samples representing 382 species from 270 genera and 84 families in HSTU campus. A sum of 285 species of 200 genera from 66 families was noted under dicots but only 84 species, 64 genera and 14 families from monocots. Again the Campus hosted 215 species of ornamental, 76 species of fruit, 32 species of timber and forest plantation, 18 species of medicinal and 10 species of spice, respectively. The maximum number of individuals among the plants was: Magogany (509), followed by Mango (415), Jackfruit (408), Thuja (314), Weeping fir (300), Betel nut (283), Coconut (270), Neem (251), Raj koroi (216), Ghora neem (188), Litchi (167) and Guava (159). The HSTU campus also hosts of some rare species e.g. Agar, Allspice, Anjan, African tulip, Baobab, Brownie, Canon ball tree, Camphor, Kapok, Ritha, Shatkorra, Sour sop etc. The present study also revealed that the HSTU Campus is full of fruit trees, ornamental as well as timber tree species in the balance ratio that brings the beauty of nature and also makes the environment eco-friendly to all the teachers, students and staffs. Finally, it may be concluded that the present asset of natural garden focuses the biodiversity of HSTU campus sound, positive and beneficial to the comunities. But proper management is needed to get full benefit from these plant resources.