Role of Homestead Forests in Adaptation to Climate Change: A Study on Households' Perceptions and Relevant Factors in Bandarban Hill District, Bangladesh.

Homestead forests play an important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study investigated homestead forest owners' perceptions on climate change and associated impacts, as well as the role that homestead forests could play to enhance households' climate adaptation in Bandarban hill district of Bangladesh. Methods involved randomly surveying a total of 176 homestead households at three different hill altitudes: low, medium, and high.

Carbon stocks of homestead forests have a mitigation potential to climate change in Bangladesh.

A total of 176 homestead forests at three altitudes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh were randomly surveyed to estimate carbon (C) stocks and how stand structure affects the biomass C. All woody vegetations were measured, and litter and soil (0-30 cm depth) were sampled. The tree biomass C stock in the top two altitude forests was up to 37-48% higher than in low altitude, owing to significantly higher tree density and species diversity.

Effects of tree species diversity and stand structure on carbon stocks of homestead forests in Maheshkhali Island, Southern Bangladesh.

Background: The homestead forests of Bangladesh occupy 0.27 million hectares (10% of the total forested area) and have potential to store carbon (C) and conserve biodiversity. Small scale forestry practices, however, are lacking reliable estimation of C stocks and tree species diversity.