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Mapping Endangered Plants in Bangladesh

Mapping

Overview

A spatial inventory of endangered tree species across Bangladesh. The goal is simple: before we can restore anything, we need to know where the remaining individuals are, what condition they are in, and what surrounds them. Without that map, plantation and restoration risk being well-meaning but uninformed.

Study Area: Bangladesh (national) Duration: Ongoing — phased Role: Lead organisation Status: In progress

Why It Matters

Bangladesh's red-listed and threatened tree species are increasingly scattered across small, isolated patches — homestead gardens, sacred groves, remnant forest patches, and a few protected areas. National-scale information on where individual trees of these species survive is sparse and not consolidated.

ANCF's mapping work aims to bring that information into one place so that:

  • Future plantation effort can be targeted rather than opportunistic.
  • Surviving populations can be monitored over time.
  • Restoration partners can see where their work would matter most.

Methods & Tools

Data sources

  • Field observations from ANCF plantation and tree-tagging campaigns
  • Bangladesh Forest Department records (where accessible)
  • Published red-list and species inventories for Bangladesh
  • Community reports of notable old or rare trees

Processing steps

  1. Compile a working list of priority species (endangered native and native fruit species).
  2. Standardise field-collection protocol — GPS, photograph, condition, DBH where possible, surrounding land use.
  3. Build a project database with one record per individual tree.
  4. Produce per-species and per-district maps; publish summaries openly.

Tools used

Tool Purpose
QGIS Mapping, layout, and field-data cleanup
GPS / mobile field apps Geotagged field records
Python (GeoPandas) Data cleaning and analysis
i-Tree Linking individual records to ecosystem-service estimates

Status

Currently building the species list, field protocol, and initial data collection in a small number of pilot districts.

Related story: Mapping Endangered Plants in Bangladesh ANCF project history (PDF)