Objective:

The objective of this component is to utilize the science-based technical expertise of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) by fostering the institutional partnership between various Bangladeshi and U.S. universities to contribute to global sustainability and climate-resistant forest management. 

To materialize the objective, Compass is supporting the academic and research institutions to empower practitioners and students through science-based technical cooperation on leading techniques, knowledge, and skills in forest management and monitoring in a changing climate. 

This activity focuses on two major issues:
•    i-Tree: a modeling software that uses tree measurements and other data to estimate ecosystem services,
•    Strengthen academic and research institutions in Bangladesh.

i-Tree Eco: Urban Forestry

i‐Tree is a suite of free software tools for estimating and quantifying the benefits trees provide to communities. These benefits are typically expressed in dollars and amounts of carbon dioxide and air pollution removal (ozone, sulfur dioxide, etc.), as well as stormwater reduction. Compass uses the i-Tree Eco modeling tool to quantify and estimate values of urban trees including carbon in some major cities of Bangladesh. The i-Tree Eco results can support urban forestry decision-makers and managers. The results could help inform the delivery of multiple policy objectives from climate change adaptation to increasing resilience in cities. 

Compass has completed the tree inventory fieldwork of Dhaka City (Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation) and also planning to expand i-Tree Eco to Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC). Compass will also use i-Tree Eco for tree census and carbon inventory of the National Botanical Garden in Bangladesh. Additionally, Compass works in collaboration with Bangladesh Forest Department, civil society organizations, and academic and research institutes to quantify and estimate key urban forest ecosystem services, particularly carbon. 
 

Strengthen academic and research institutions:

Compass collaborates with academic and research institutions to strengthen the technical capacities of students and faculties. Compass is implementing the academic and research activities in partnership with:
•    Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences of Chittagong University (IFESCU)
•    Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science of Chittagong University (IFES-CU)
•    Forestry & Wood Technology Discipline of Khulna University (FWT-KU)
•    Forestry & Environmental Science of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (FES-SUST)
•    Rangamati University of Science and Technology (RMSTU)
•    Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University (SAU)
•    Dhaka University (DU)
•    Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET)
•    Stamford University Bangladesh (SUB)
•    North South University (NSU)
•    Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI)
•    Institution of Foresters Bangladesh (IFB)
•    Academic and research institutions of the USA for technical backstopping support.
 

Key activities

Compass offers joint research and fellowship programs, technical conferences, seminars, and updating academic curricula and coursework to meet the current and future needs of forest management with this component. 

Curricula upgradation: Compass facilitates updating the forestry curricula in Bangladesh in collaboration with US-based academic experts in partnership with the IFESCU, KU, and SUST. 

Training: To strengthen the technical capacity of students, faculties, and early career professionals in Bangladesh, Compass provides training on Google Earth Engine (GEE), advanced data analytics, biostatistics in R, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for watershed analysis, research methodology and research protocol, technical report writing, and Communication, Google Earth Pro, etc. Compass also facilitates learning visits for environmental science and forestry students to significant ecosystems of the country.

Research: Compass strengthens the technical capacity of students and faculties by providing research training, research grants, and exchanging research knowledge with US-based universities. 

Our ongoing research includes the political economy of Dhaka’s urban green space, understanding of people-centric forest landscape restoration, conservation worthiness and people’s perception in the future management of the National Botanical Garden, dust accumulation in urban plant leaves, the role of vegetation in absorbing noise, etc.

Communication and outreach: We raise awareness on forest, biodiversity, and natural resources conservation by celebrating World Environment Day, International Day of Forests, and the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in collaboration with academic and research institutions. This activity also includes scientific workshops, conferences, and research symposiums.