Lawachara National Park

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Lawachara(Bengali: লাউয়াছড়া) is one of the major national park/sanctuary/reserve in Bangladesh. In 1997 Bangladesh government declared it a National Park

Physiography

Eight kilometres east from Srimongal town under Kamalganj Upazila of Maulvi Bazar District, the 1,250 hectares national park Lawachara is a beautiful tropical forest. The park is named after a small narrow tributary, named 'Lawachara'. Its previous name was 'West Bhanugan.

Biological Resources

Biological diversity in the Lawachara National Park consists of 460 species, of which 167 species are plants, 4 amphibian species, 6 reptile species, 246 bird species and 20 mammal species

Animals and Insects

Hoolock gibbons (Bunopithecus hoolock) is one seriously endangered higher primate in Bangladesh. A researcher found that only 49 surviving individuals gibbons are alive in Lawachara NP. In Lawachara forest their favourite fruit is, 'Chamkathal' or 'Chapalish' (in Bengali). Hoolock gibbons defend territories with fixed boundaries against neighbouring groups. Territorial disputes occur mainly over occupancy of food sources.

Lawachara is also called a Bird Safari. Birds of different species are found here and anyone can always trek along the adventurous mud stairs, carved into the hills, while listening to the continuous chirping of birds. Large spiders throw open thin, huge web and amazingly stay on it. The web is wide, clear and visible as it is attached to the neighboring trees. It is also known that in the deep, dark places of Lawachara, animals like leopard, wildbore and even King Cobra settle their presence

Trees

Different types of plants make the natural view of 'Lawachara' more thrilling and attractive. Trees like Raktan, Erythrina Indica, Shegun, Orchid, Fishtail Palm, Dhootora, etc. are found in plenty in 'Lawachara'. 'Lawachara' consists of a huge bamboo forest. Among the bamboos, 'Jai Bash' is a bamboo which is very thick and very rare. 'Agor' tree is another excellent legend in 'Lawachara'.

Inhabitant

Indigenous people like Khasia, Monipuri, tripura are the main inhabitants of this forest. These inhabitants obtain their source of income by selling 'Panpata', a kind of leaf mostly eaten in South-East Asia.

Trail

Trails are walkways that could be used by the visitors, nature lovers and others for hiking or outings while they visit a forest or any other landscapes. Trailing is considered as an important tool for nature watch that helps awareness building and other conservation efforts. Three major types of trails were identified in the Lawachar NP.

Short Trail (half an hour walk)
Specific information of the short trail
Location: starting point 24.32799 N and 91.78514m E (from the base of the Chloroform tree (locally called) near to Lawachara Forest Bungalow and ends at the same point after a loop).
Length: about 1 km
Width: 0.5 m to 2 m
Type of path: Brick soling at the beginning for about 50 metre and the rest of the path is kacha.
Type of soil: Sandy to sandy clay
Topography: Almost plain along the trail but there are high elevated land on both side of the trail irregularly. There is a stream (chara) across the trail after 500 m walk but it is a small one and anyone can cross by a moderate jump.
Vegetation: There are dense three storeyed forests on both side of the trail. Although these are plantation area of Lohakat (Xylia dolabriformes), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Kadam (Kadamba chinensis), Jarul (Lagerstroimea speciosa), Teak(Tectona grandis) etc. the forest has got the natural form of its structure. This is because these are very old plantation area beginning from 1925.

Wildlife: When walking along the trail some macaques appeared on the surrounding tree branches of the trail. Birds are frequently observed along the trail with chirping sound all around the trail. Some of 'hoollook. (Gibbon) species may also be observed when walking along the trail.

Medium Trail (one hour walk)
Specific Information of the medium trail
Location: starting point 24.32462 N and 91.78717 E
Lawachara NP and ends at the same point after a loop
Length: about 2 km
Width: 0.5 m to 2 m
Type of path: Entire trail is kacha, sometimes muddy and wet at places
Type of soil: Sandy to sandy clay, sometimes very wet and sticky
Topography: Entire trail is almost plain except the down slopes for streams and one elevated tilla along the trail.
Vegetation: At the beginning of the trail, there are nice roadside plantations of Lohakat(Xylia dolabriformes), Raktan (Lophopetalum fimbriatum), Teak (Tectona grandis) etc. These trees are very tall with unique feature at straight lines along the entrance road of the Lawachara NP. The trails then moves through different plantation areas of Teak, Jarul, Chapalish, Lohakat and others.
Wildlife: Gibbons can also be observed near to this point. Birds are frequently observed along the trail specially in the dense forests and near to the bamboo bushes. Reptiles are seen irregularly along the trail.
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Long Trail(Three hour walk)
Specific Information of the long trail
Location: starting point 24.334667 N and 91.814722 E
Bagmara camp and ends at the Lawachara Forest Bungalow).
Length: about 5.5 km
Width: 1m to 3 m
Type of path: The entire trail is earthy, sometimes muddy and sticky
Type of soil: Sandy to sandy clay
Topography: Most of the portion of the trail is plain but there are several high elevated portion of the trail. The topography of the both sides of this trail is of undulating terrain with vegetation cover.
Vegetation: There is dense multilayer forest on both side of the trail. Except a little patch of natural vegetation of about 200 acre area, the entire forest area is covered with plantations of Teak, Jarul, Gamari, Chapalish, Kadam and many exotics such as Eucalyptus, Acacia and Malacana. However, most of the plantation areas have developed natural form of forest structure.
Wildlife: Macaques are commonly seen while walking along the forest trail. Birds such as Dove (Ghughu) and Myna are frequently observed along the trail. Sometimes another endangered bird named Dhanesh may also be observed along this trail. There is some specific portion of this trail where hoolook (gibbon) are usually observed while walking along the trail.[1

Environmentalist Critic

In 2008 Bangladesh government has permitted US Company Chevron to conduct a 3D seismic exploration in the Lawachara National Park. Environmentalist argued that the survey of Chevron involves such kinds of experiments which will have long term adverse effects on the sensitive forest. The explosions, conducted in Lawachara as a part of Chevron's survey, leave the wildlife there in a perilous position. Being frightened by the shakes generated by the explosions, wild animals are leaving the forest at an alarming rate. In such an incident a Primate Gibbon, in an attempt to flee, jumped onto the electric cable and surrendered to death on 7 May, 2008. Cracks appear in the walls of many houses in the area, that too due to explosions during seismic survey. In 1997, 14 June, various parts of the forest were destroyed by the explosion of Magurchara gas-field as a result of the slipshod activities conducted by the US Company Occidental.