Anup Gurung

Community-based forest management and its role in improving forest conditions in Nepal

The status of forest conditions before and after intervention of the forestry projects in community forest in three districts of Nepal is examined. Benefits are observed from the adoption of adaptive collaborative management and collective learning and action research in three sampled districts. The adoption of regular silvicultural treatments has increased the availability of forest products to local users. Moreover, improved forest condition and smallholder livelihoods have improved, as has environmental sustainability. However, the community forestry program has several limitations and shortcomings. Elite capture, social disparity, inequitable benefit-sharing and exclusion of poor and marginalized groups from the community forestry program are notable challenges to be solved in coming years. Special attention is needed to make community forestry inclusive with equitable benefit-sharing and a pro-poor focus.

Phenolic contents, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition properties of Nepalese strain buckwheat vegetables

3R&D Center, Amore Pacific Corporation, Yongin, 446-729. S. Korea. The sprouts, microgreens and leafy greens of common and tartary buckwheat of Nepalese strain were compared for the phenolic contents and biological activity. The tartary buckwheat samples expressed higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to the common buckwheat. The sprouts had the highest total phenolic contents (9333.48 ± 150.23 and 6976.21 ± 213.65 mgGAE/100g dw in tartary and common buckwheat, respectively) whereas, the highest total flavonoid content was present in the leafy greens (7635.39 ± 141.40 and 4414.61 ± 70.85 mgRE/100g dw in tartary and common buckwheat respectively). The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results revealed that the tartary buckwheat vegetables had higher rutin, (3800.28 ± 434.41 mg/100g in leafy greens), quercetin (159.75 ± 9.04 mg/100g in sprouts) and chlorogenic acid (293.47 ± 65.06 mg/100g in microgreens) contents than those of common buckwheat. However, other phenolics like vitexin, isovitexin, orientin and isoorientin contents were more abundant in common buckwheat. In biochemical assay, all three types of vegetable of common and tartary buckwheat showed higher antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition effect in dose dependent manner. Based on these results, it can be conformed that all the vegetables (microgreens, sprouts and leafy greens) of both varieties of buckwheat of Nepalese strains can be regarded as a potent sour ce of functional food.

Semi-continuous detection of toxic hexavalent chromium using a sulfur-oxidizing bacteria biosensor

Toxicity testing is becoming a useful tool for environmental risk assessment. A biosensor based on the metabolic properties of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) has been applied for the detection of toxic chemicals in water. The methodology exploits the ability of SOB to oxidize elemental sulfur to sulfuric acid under aerobic conditions. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. Five hours after Cr(6+) was added to the SOB biosensor operated in semi-continuous mode (1 min rapid feeding and 29 min batch reaction), a decrease in effluent EC and an increase in pH (from 2-3 to 6) were detected due to Cr(6+) toxicity to SOB. The SOB biosensor is simple; it can detect toxic levels of Cr(6+) on the order of minutes to hours, a useful time scale for early warning detection systems designed to protect the environment from further degradation.

Assessing acute toxicity of effluent from a textile industry and nearby river waters using sulfur‐oxidizing bacteria in continuous mode

Bioassays are becoming an important tool for assessing the toxicity of complex mixtures of substances in aquatic environments in which Daphnia magna is routinely used as a test organism. Bioassays outweigh physicochemical analyses and are valuable in the decision‐making process pertaining to the final discharge of effluents from wastewater treatment plants as they measure the total effect of the discharge which is ecologically relevant. In this study, the aquatic toxicity of a textile plant effluent and river water downstream from the plant were evaluated with sulfur‐oxidizing bacterial biosensors in continuous mode. Collected samples were analysed for different physicochemical parameters and 1,4‐dioxane was detected in the effluent. The effluent contained a relatively high chemical oxygen demand of 60 mg L−1, which exceeded the limit set by the Korean government for industrial effluent discharges. Results showed that both the effluent and river waters were toxic to sulfur‐oxidizing bacteria. These results show the importance of incorporating bioassays to detect toxicity in wastewater effluents for the sustainable management of water resources.

Peoples’ Perception Towards Urban Forestry and Institutional Involvement in Metropolitan Cities: A Survey of Lalitpur City in Nepal

Universally, trees have been recognized as an important component of urban landscapes for millennia because they provide a wide range of benefits to society. Although the planting of trees has been an integral and important part of human settlements in Nepal, the concept of urban forestry is poorly understood and often neglected. This paper investigates urban peoples’ perceptions towards urban forests as well as the perceived benefits related to the use and existence of urban forests in Lalitpur, Nepal. A survey was conducted among residents and visitors to an urban park. Most respondents held positive attitudes towards urban forests and were aware of the benefits provided. Despite involvement of various agents from both government and non-governmental organizations in promoting urban forests, greenery was declining in the city. The loss and degradation of urban forests adversely affected the ecosystems because the city is suffering from water, air and soil pollution. In recent years, the local government has promoted urban greenery; however, there are no accompanying legislation or regulations governing urban forestry. Therefore, concrete scientific and professional knowledge is required in order to manage the forestry in the city.

Consequences of Water Induced Disasters to Livelihood Activities in Nepal

BACKGROUND: The changes in the climatic conditions have brought potentially significant new challenges, most critical are likely to be its impact on local livelihoods, agriculture, biodiversity and environments. Water induced disasters such as landslides, floods, erratic rain etc., are very common in developing countries which lead to changes in biological, geophysical and socioeconomic elements. The extent of damages caused by natural disasters is more sever in least developing countries. However, disasters affect women and men differently. In most of the cases women have to carry more burden as compared to their male counterpart during the period of disasters. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study examines the impact of disasters on the local livelihood especially agriculture and income generating activities of women in three districts of Nepal. The study uses the primary data collected following an exploratory approach, based on an intensive field study. The general findings of the study revealed that women had to experience hard time as compared to their male counterpart both during and after the disaster happen. Women are responsible for caring their children, collecting firewood, fetching water, collecting grass for livestock and performing household chores. Whereas, men are mainly involved in out-migration and remained out-side home most of the time. After the disaster occurred, most of the women had to struggle to support their lives as well as had to work longer hours than men during reconstruction period. Nepal follows patriarchal system and men can afford more leisure time as compared to women. During the disaster period, some of the households lost their agricultural lands, livestock and other properties. These losses created some additional workload to women respondent, however at the same time; they learn to build confidence, self-respect, self-esteem, and self-dependency.Although Nepal is predominantly agriculture, majority of the farmers are at subsistence level. In addition, men and women have different roles which differ with the variation in agro-production systems. Moreover women are extensively involved in agricultural activities though their importances were not recognized. Denial of land ownership and denial of access to resources as well as migration of male counterparts are some of the major reasons for affecting the agricultural environments for women in Nepal. CONCLUSION: The shelter reconstruction program has definitely brought positive change in women’s access to decision making. The gradual increase in number of women respondent in access to decision making in different areas is a positive change and this has also provided them with a unique opportunity to change their gendered status in society.Furthermore, the exodus out-flow of male counterparts accelerated the additional burden and workload on women.

Effects of electron donors and acceptors in generating bioelectrical energy using microbial fuel cells

BACKGROUND: In recent years, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for recovering renewable energy from waste biomass, especially wastewater. In this study, the possibility of bioelectricity generation in two chambered mediator-less microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was successfully demonstrated using fermentable and non-fermentable substrates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two different electron acceptors have been tested in the cathode chamber for the effects of reducing agent on the power generation in MFCs. The average voltages of 0.26±0.014 V and 0.36±0.02 V were achieved with acetate using oxygen and potassium ferricyanide as reducing agent, respectively. Similarly, with glucose the average voltages of 0.256±0.05 V and 0.340±0.04 V were obtained using oxygen and ferricyanide, respectively. Using potassium ferricyanide as the reducing agent, the power output increases by 39 and 43% with acetate and glucose, respectively, as compared to the dissolved oxygen. Slightly higher coulombic efficiency (CE%) was obtained in acetate as compared to MFCs operated with glucose. The maximum power densities of 124 mW/m 2 and 204 mW/m 2 were obtained using dissolved oxygen and K3Fe(CN)6, respectively. CONCLUSION(s): This study demonstrates that power generation from the MFCs can be influenced significantly by the different types of catholyte. Relatively higher CE was obtained with K3Fe(CN)6. Thus, application of K3Fe(CN)6 as the catholyte can be vital for scaling uppower generation from the MFCs forreal time applications.

Effect of different air flow rate on operation of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) biosensor

Recently, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) has been used as a bioindicators for detecting heavy metals and other toxic chemicals in water. The methodology exploits the ability of SOB to oxidize elemental sulfur to sulfuric acid under aerobic condition and results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. Thus, the typical monitoring of SOB biosensor is based on the measurement of EC and pH of the medium. In this study, effect of different air flow rate (200, 300, and 400 ml min− 1) on activity of SOB has been evaluated. It was found that 400 ml min− 1 of air flow rate gave the best performance. At this air flow rate, the EC value increased by 9.9% and 2.3% as compared to 200 and 300 ml min− 1, respectively. However, at high flow rate, the EC value could be influenced by evaporation. Ag2+ was used as the reference toxicant in the experiment. The EC50 of Ag2+ for 1 and 2 h was 2.3 ± 1.9 and 3.62 ± 2.4 mg l− 1, respectively.

Municipal Solid Waste Management: Challenges and Opportunities in Nepal

Nepal is one of the least urbanized countries in the world where more than 80% of the total population live in rural areas. In recent years, the rate of urbanization became rampant which ultimately accelerated immense pressure on municipal services, especially on managing the ever increasing amount of wastes. Due to lack of technology, infrastructure and financial capacity management of increasing amount of solid waste has become a major challenge in municipalities of Nepal. The indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes already affected the urban environment by creating a serious occupational health and environmental hazard to the vicinity of the dumping sites. However, there is great possibility of recovering methane from the landfill sites since the typical Nepalese municipal solid waste contains more than 65% of organic wastes. Despite having enormous potential of generating electricity from hydropower, Nepal is facing acute shortage of energy. Therefore, comprehensive scientific research and development is necessary for making solid waste to environmentally friendly by converting waste to the energy.

Recovery of Sustainable Renewable Energy from Marine Biomass

Marine biomass is considered an important substrate for anaerobic digestion to recovery energy i.e. methane. Nevertheless, marine biomass has attracted little attention by researchers compared to terrestrial feedstock for anaerobic digestion. In this study, biochemical methane potential (BMP) test was used to evaluate generation of renewable energy from starfish. A cumulative biogas yield of 748±67 mL g -1 VS -1 was obtained after 60 days of digestion. The cumulative methane yield of 486±28 mL CH4 g -1 VS -1 was obtained after 60 days of digestion. The methane content of the biogas was approximately 70%. The calculated data applying the modified Gompertz equation for the cumulative CH4 production showed good correlation with the experimental result obtained from this batch study. Since the result obtained from this study is comparable to results with other substrates, marine biomass can be co-digested with food waste or swine wastewater to produce CH4 gas that will help to reduce the gap in global energy demand.