Diversity and Population Structure of Tree Species in a Protected Area on the  Southeastern Coast of Bangladesh

Inani National Park (INP) is a protected area and hosts a variety of threatened and endangered species. A wide array of anthropogenic issues, including the influx of Rohingya refugees into the Cox’s Bazar region, has placed enormous pressure on the forests of INP. This study aimed to assess the composition, structure and diversity of the forest to provide a scientific basis for conservation and sustainable forest management, adopting stratified random sampling where four distinct strata were defined as- Shrub with Scattered trees, Hill Forest, Forest Plantation, and ‘Others’ category. Results of the study show that INP hosts a diverse tree community, comprising 455 individual trees from 66 species and 33 families, documented across 131 sampling plots (each 1,134.57 m²). The overall tree density was 160.813 trees per hectare. Areca catechu emerged as the most dominant species, with a relative density of 28.35%. Diversity indices revealed a moderately diverse ecosystem with varying species distribution. The Shannon Diversity Index (H) was 3.137, with the ‘Shrub with Scattered trees’ stratum exhibiting the highest diversity (H = 3.572). Simpson’s Diversity Index (D = 0.108) indicated high species diversity, while canopy cover varied significantly across sites, averaging 45.19%. Despite its ecological significance, INP faces increasing threats from large-scale disturbances that have resulted in the loss of approximately 6,000 acres of forest. The presence of invasive species, particularly Acacia auriculiformis, suggests ongoing ecological imbalance and the need for active restoration efforts. These findings provide critical insights for biodiversity conservation and long-term ecosystem resilience in INP.