Aim: Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is the most important food constituent because of its antioxidant and functional activity. The study aims to determine the Vitamin C content in commercially available fruit drinks collected from selected shops in Bangladesh. Study Design: This study is an experimental study.  Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted in the food analysis laboratory of Department Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, from January 2019 to May 2019. In the present study, a total of 22 branded different fruit drinks samples (orange, mango, lichi) were collected from the local market of Noakhali, Bangladesh. Methodology: Vitamin C was analyzed with the titrimetric method and Sugar content, pH was also successfully determined by refractometer, pH meter respectively. Results: The analyzed Vitamin C was found in the range of 2.96 to 70 mg/100 ml. Sugar content, pH was also successfully determined from the samples. The majority of the samples were found less in vitamin C concentration while only two samples (samples 3, 18) were found high the vitamin C concentration. Conclusion: From the above study, titrimetric analysis proves itself as a scientific method in the determination of vitamin C concentration in the samples.

Aims: The study aims at finding out the perceived economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism by residents who live near the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest. Study Design: The study is qualitative and empirical which focuses on the residents’ attitudes towards the economic, environmental and socio-cultural changes due to ecotourism. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the villages near the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest located in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District of Bangladesh. The study period was from November 2014 to February 2015. Methodology: A total of 301 respondents were interviewed from the residents using a formulated questionnaire consisting of nine demographic variables and thirty-five impact items classified into economic, environmental and socio-cultural categories. A five-point rating scale was incorporated into each impact item for both belief and evaluation components. The sampling method was arbitrary (non-probability sampling) but without preconceived bias. Results: The study shows the impact items regarding economic and socio-cultural aspects secured higher ranks by possessing higher mean values. Contrarily, items associated with the environmental aspect possessed lower mean values. These findings denote that residents favored both the economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism as they positively perceived both impacts, whereas the environmental impact was least favored by the residents. Besides, it was also found that resident’s attitudes towards ecotourism vary with the variations in income, occupation, and gender. Conclusion: The study concluded that residents acknowledge economic and socio-cultural benefits conveyed by ecotourism without sacrificing environmental and aesthetic aspects. Further studies are recommended to find out the trends of ecotourism and its impacts on residents and the forest.

The study was carried out to assess the occurrence, invasion and usage of exotic plant species in the natural ecosystem of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh through transect and random sampling and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) during August 2013 to April 2014. A total of 103 exotic plant species (99 species of angiosperms and 4 gymnosperms) belonging to 90 genera and 43 families were recorded through transect method from the study area. Among the exotics, tree species constitute the major category (46 species, 21 families) followed by shrubs (33 species, 18 families), herbs (21 species, 17 families) and climbers (3 species, 3 families). Mimosaceae family was represented by maximum (9) exotic plant species followed by Caesalpiniaceae (8), Myrtaceae (8) and Malvaceae (7). Most of the exotic plants were introduced in the eco-park after its establishment. Exotic tree species are given priority as the dominant plantation species in the eco-park area because of their short rotation, wider adaptability and faster growth. A total of 74 tree species (52 native and 22 exotic) belonging to 33 families were recorded through random sampling method in the eco-park. Number of both exotic and native tree species in hill top, mid hill and hill bottom varied simultaneously. Density of exotic trees were found maximum (366.6/ ha) in the hill bottom. Holarrhena antidysenterica (14.77) and Stereospermum colais (14.53) were the two native tree species that showed maximum Importance Value Index (IVI). Besides, two exotics that showed maximum IVI were Xylia xylocarpa (10.05) and Psidium guajava (9.15). The enumerated exotic plant species were categorized under six different traditional use categories according to their habit form (tree, shrub, herb and climber). The study revealed 39 exotic species used for timber purpose indicates their prominent economic potentiality. Moreover, local communities extracting exotic plants for meeting their needs of fuel, housing implements, livelihoods etc. Control of the exotics in future plantation programs need to be considered and available native plants should give priority to ensure ex-situ conservation of the Botanical Garden and Eco-park.

The only freshwater swamp forest of Bangladesh namely Ratargul Freshwater Swamp Forest (RFWSF) has a great contribution to the livelihoods of the surrounding local communities. Local communities or residents of the area depend heavily on this biodiversity-rich swamp forest for income, employment, fuelwood, and non-wood forest resources. An exploratory study was carried out in the swamp forest to explore the availability and consumption pattern of various forest resources, and dependency levels of residents on the RFWSF. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from 301 respondents (randomly selected from the residents) of the surrounding nine villages. The study revealed that respondents were dependent largely on the RFWSF for fuelwood, bamboo, cane, murta, ornamental resource, and other raw materials for cottage industries. Among the respondents 27% were involved in the harvesting of fish resources, followed by fuelwood (23%), grass (11%), and fodder (6%) collection. Bamboo was the main source of fuel for 41 % of the respondents and 40% depended on twigs and branches of trees. The findings of the study revealed that residents were highly dependent on the non-wood forest resources of the RFWSF for their livelihoods. Besides, a substantial amount of wood resources was consumed by the residents as fuelwood. Excessive unscientific exploitation of the forest resources disturbed the ecological functions and threatened the wildlife habitats of the RFWSF tremendously. The study recommended raising awareness and capacity building among the forest-dependent residents, proper implementations of forest law, and sustainable management could be the effective pathway for the upliftment of the resident’s condition with ecological rehabilitation in the RFWSF.