Dr Lutfor Rahman

Project Title:
Potential of restored landfill sites for biodiversity conservation in UK and its context to landscape
(SITA Environmental Trust Funded)

email:lutfor.rahman2@northampton.ac.uk

Introduction

Measuring biodiversity is fundamental to an understanding of the ecology of an area and for developing rational management strategies aiming at conservation and restoration of biodiversity of that area. Landfill restoration increases opportunity for biodiversity conservation in UK as there are 2198 landfill sites covering about 28000 ha in England and Wales. Restoration of landfill sites to an acceptable after-use is a fundamental aspect of their post-closure management at present. There have been several studies done relating to growth performance of species on capped landfill sites and technical aspect of establishment of species on landfill sites. However, data regarding the biodiversity in landfill sites in UK is still elusive and information available is often based on guess works only.

Aims of Project

1. Determine the species richness and evenness in each restored landfill sites and to make comparisons among the landfill sites and with control sties in terms of species composition, species richness and other allied factors.
2. Cross-taxon congruence in biodiversity (?-diversity and ?-diversity) across different taxonomic groups will be investigated.
3. Study species-area and species-individual relationships for landfill sites. How the shape and size of landfill sites affect the number of species found within area?
4. Study the mechanism by means of which landfill sites interconnect otherwise isolated natural areas since composition of species of a particular site depends not only on patch characteristics but more importantly on its context in the land mosaic.

Published Research Works

Rahman, Md L., Tarrant, S., McCollin, D. and Ollerton, J. (2011) The conservation value of restored landfill sites in the East Midlands, UK for supporting bird communities. Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 1879-1893

Rahman, M.L. 2007. Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: New challenge for scientists and policy makers. Bangladesh Daily Star (Friday, 30th November)

Hossain, M.K., Rahman, M.L., Hoque, A.T.M.R. and Alam, M.K. 2004. Comparative regeneration status in a natural forest and enrichment plantations of Chittagong (South) forest Division, Bangladesh . Journal of Forest Research , China , 15: 255-260

Rahman, M.L.,Hossain, M.K., Hoque, A.T.M.R. and Alam, M.K. 2004. Habit form distribution of plant species in Boroitoli forest-A Tropical Rain Forest of Chittagong (South) Forest Division, Bangladesh . Journal of Forestry and Environment, Bangladesh , 2: 55-66

Ahmaed, G.U., Kabir, M.A., Hossain, M.K., Hosssain, M.M. and Rahman, M.L. 2004. Taper function for Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh and Acacia auriculiformis Benth growing in the Chittagong University Campus, Bangladesh, Journal of Forestry and Environment, Bangladesh, 2: 71-77

Rahman, M.L and Hossain, M.K. 2003. Status of fodder and non-fodder tree species on Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary of Chittagong Forest Division, Bangladesh . International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management. India , 4: 9-14

Rahman, M.L. and Hossain, M.K. 2002. Distribution Pattern of Medicinal Tree Species In Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary of Chittagong . Tropical Journal of Medicinal Plants. Malaysia . 3: 65-72

Miah, M.D and Rahman, M.L. 2002. Status of Rattan Based small-scale cottage industries in urban and semi-urban area of Chittagong , Bangladesh . Journal of Bamboo and Rattan , Netherlands . 1: 251-261

 Miah, M.D and Rahman, M.L. 2001. Bamboo based small-scale cottage industries in Urban and Rural areas of Bangladesh . International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, India . 2: 108-112

Miah, M.D., Rahman, M.L. and Ashan, M.F. 2001. Assessment of crop damage by wildlife in Chunati wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh.Tiger Paper, Thiland. Vol. 28: 22-28

Rahman, M.L., Hossain, M.K and Karim, Q.M.N. 2000. Diversity and Composition of tree species in Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary of Chittagong Forest Division, Bangladesh . The Chittagong University Journal of Science , Bangladesh 24: 89-97