Ram Prasad Chaudhary

Forest conservation and environmental management in Nepal: a review

This paper provides information on the status of forests and environmental problems related to forestry in Nepal. It aims to integrate the conservation and sustainable management of forests as a part of environmental planning. A critical review of the main environmental problems with prioritization within the forestry sector; thorough review of all forest related documents, strategies, development plans, programs, institutional arrangements, policies mentioned in the Master Plan for Forestry Sector Nepal of 1988, and other relevant documents; identification of major gaps and constraints of forestry policy and plans and current practices of forest conservation and management have been done. The decline in forestry resources in Nepal took place in the past due to lack of appropriate policy to guide the legal, institutional and operational development for the forestry sector. Forestry policy in Nepal, in the past, was shaped by political and economic motives rather than ecological considerations. Policy formulation mechanisms exist in Nepal; however, there is an excessive delay in translating policies into legislation and then into operational rules and administrative orders. There is a need to implement the international obligations by transforming them into regulations in order to make them legally binding. The data to be generated in the coming years in the areas of forestry at both national and international levels suggest that we should revise the research priorities and strategies. Research to add value to the forest resource products has yet been neglected. More attention is required on regular monitoring and evaluation of the projects. A thorough evaluation of the programs and planning for the forestry sector in Nepal is urgently required to update the progress and revise the programs.

Collection and trade of wild-harvested orchids in Nepal

BackgroundWild orchids are illegally harvested and traded in Nepal for use in local traditional medicine, horticulture, and international trade. This study aims to: 1) identify the diversity of species of wild orchids in trade in Nepal; 2) study the chain of commercialization from collector to client and/or export; 3) map traditional knowledge and medicinal use of orchids; and 4) integrate the collected data to propose a more sustainable approach to orchid conservation in Nepal.MethodsTrade, species diversity, and traditional use of wild-harvested orchids were documented during field surveys of markets and through interviews. Trade volumes and approximate income were estimated based on surveys and current market prices. Orchid material samples were identified to species level using a combination of morphology and DNA barcoding.ResultsOrchid trade is a long tradition, and illegal export to China, India and Hong Kong is rife. Estimates show that 9.4 tons of wild orchids were illegally traded from the study sites during 2008/2009. A total of 60 species of wild orchids were reported to be used in traditional medicinal practices to cure at least 38 different ailments, including energizers, aphrodisiacs and treatments of burnt skin, fractured or dislocated bones, headaches, fever and wounds. DNA barcoding successfully identified orchid material to species level that remained sterile after culturing.ConclusionsCollection of wild orchids was found to be widespread in Nepal, but illegal trade is threatening many species in the wild. Establishment of small-scale sustainable orchid breeding enterprises could be a valuable alternative for the production of medicinal orchids for local communities. Critically endangered species should be placed on CITES Appendix I to provide extra protection to those species. DNA barcoding is an effective method for species identification and monitoring of illegal cross-border trade.

Wild Edible Plants Used by the People of Manang District, Central Nepal

Plant diversity plays an important role in maintaining the worlds foods demands. Even today in Manang, a remote, mountainous district within the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal, local people gather substantial amounts of wild plants to meet their daily nutritional needs, with several species also used for trade. There has been little documented regarding the use of these wild foods, which play a part in both daily nutrition, and survival during times of famine. Moreover, planning for development, land use, economic growth and biodiversity conservation has not taken them into account. Information about edible wild plant use was gathered by interviewing knowledgeable villagers over a period of five years (2002–2006). In total, 41 plant species were used as sources of fruits, juice, vegetables, and achar (local relish or pickle). Several wild food plants that need intensive processing before consumption were documented, including the calcium oxalate containing Arisaema species. The traditional knowledge of use of wild food plants is decreasing in many parts of the world with the introduction of modern packed food items and Manang is not the exception. The results of this research will help to play a catalytic role to encourage dialogue among the people of Manang, and national and international scientific communities regarding long term bioprospecting research, and shape the creation of a rural livelihood strategy. Analysis of the nutritive and health values of some of these edible plant species may encourage the scientific community to build partnerships with local community to work towards long term sustainable utilization and conservation.

How do soil properties affect alpine treelines? General principles in a global perspective and novel findings from Rolwaling Himal, Nepal

Little is known about how soil properties control tree growth at its upper limit. This paper reviews the state of knowledge and discusses the results specifically related to ecozones, to the scale-dependent importance of single factors, and to new findings from a near-natural treeline ecotone in Rolwaling Himal, Nepal. This paper identifies gaps in literature and shows where new research is needed, both conceptual and geographical. The review shows that at a global scale and throughout diverse ecozones, growing season soil temperature is considered a key factor for tree growth. Soil temperatures differ greatly at a local scale, and are mainly determined by local climatic, edaphic, and topographic conditions. Our result of 7.6 ± 0.6°C for growing season mean soil temperature at treeline in Rolwaling is 1.2 K higher compared to the postulated 6.4 ± 0.7°C for alpine treelines. We suggest a broadening of the ±0.7°C error term to cover the wide range at a local scale. The role of major soil nutrients and soil moisture for treeline shift has been underestimated by far. In Rolwaling, significantly decreasing nutrient availability (N, K, Mg) in soils and foliage with elevation might explain why treeline shift and global warming are decoupled. Further, soil moisture deficits early in the year impede seedling and sapling establishment, which could be an important mechanism that controls treeline position. These findings question previous results which argue that alpine treelines are unaffected by soil nutrient availability and soil moisture. We assume that specific combinations of soil properties as well as single soil properties limit tree growth even below climatic treelines.

Forest ecosystem services and biodiversity in contrasting Himalayan forest management systems

In developing countries, the landscape surrounding agricultural land is important for maintaining biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. Forests provide a full suite of goods and services to subsistence farmers in the Himalayan agro-ecological system. The effects of biomass outtake on woody species richness and composition were analysed in forests under communal and government management. Interviews on forest use and perception of forest condition and ecosystem service delivery were conducted in farmer households bordering the forests. Significantly more woody species were found in the community managed forests. Species richness was negatively correlated with walking distance from the nearest village and increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Community forests were generally less degraded than government managed forests, giving support to common pool resource management. Woody vegetation represented a crucial source of fuelwood, timber, fodder, and edible, aromatic and medicinal plants. Using a multidisciplinary framework to analyse ecosystem integrity and ecosystem service delivery enabled a finer understanding of these complex agro-ecological systems, giving support to evidence-based management and conservation planning for the future.

How Representative is the Protected Areas System of Nepal? A Gap Analysis Based on Geophysical and Biological Features

Abstract A protected areas system (PAS) is effective only when it adequately includes a representative sample of important geophysical and biological features, including critically endangered biota of a region. However, protected areas in Nepal, as in many parts of the world, have been established on an ad hoc basis, and thus one or more important features have been overlooked. We conducted a gap analysis and developed a comparison index to assess the representativeness of geophysical features (physiography, altitude, and ecoregions), species diversity, and endangered species listed in International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) framework. The analysis indicated that more than two thirds (67.84%) of the total area of protected areas (PAs) is in high mountains, although this region accounts for only 23.92% of the countrys total area. The hills comprise the highest proportion (29.17%) of the countrys area but currently have the smallest proportion (1.33%) of PAs. The altitudinal zones between 200–400 m are well represented with PAs; however, the region between 400–2700 m is poorly represented, and representation by PAs is comparatively higher in the area above 2800 m. The ecoregions that have high conservation priority at global scale are poorly represented in protected areas of Nepal. Existing PAs include 39.62% of flowering plants, 84.53% of mammals, 95.73% of birds, and 70.59% of herpetofauna of the country. Threatened animal species are well protected, whereas a large number of threatened plant species are not represented by the current PA system.

Pollen morphology of some species of the genus Euphorbia L.

Abstract The pollen morphology of sixty species of the genus Euphorbia has been examined with LM and SEM. The genus has been found to be remarkably eurypalynous. Seven pollen types have been distinguished. A detailed diagnosis of each pollen type is given. The geographical distribution of the pollen types is presented, and a putative evolutionary relationship between pollen types is suggested.

Traditional use and management of NTFPs in Kangchenjunga Landscape: implications for conservation and livelihoods.

Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs), an important provisioning ecosystem services, are recognized for their contribution in rural livelihoods and forest conservation. Effective management through sustainable harvesting and market driven commercialization are two contrasting aspects that are bringing challenges in development of NTFPs sector. Identifying potential species having market value, conducting value chain analyses, and sustainable management of NTFPs need analysis of their use patterns by communities and trends at a regional scale. We analyzed use patterns, trends, and challenges in traditional use and management of NTFPs in the southern slope of Kangchenjunga Landscape, Eastern Himalaya and discussed potential implications for conservation and livelihoods. A total of 739 species of NTFPs used by the local people of Kangchenjunga Landscape were reported in the reviewed literature. Of these, the highest number of NTFPs was documented from India (377 species), followed by Nepal (363) and Bhutan (245). Though the reported species were used for 24 different purposes, medicinal and edible plants were the most frequently used NTFP categories in the landscape. Medicinal plants were used in 27 major ailment categories, with the highest number of species being used for gastro-intestinal disorders. Though the Kangchenjunga Landscape harbors many potential NTFPs, trade of NTFPs was found to be nominal indicating lack of commercialization due to limited market information. We found that the unsustainable harvesting and lack of marketing were the major constraints for sustainable management of NTFPs sector in the landscape despite of promising policy provisions. We suggest sustainable harvesting practices, value addition at local level, and marketing for promotion of NTFPs in the Kangchenjunga Landscape for income generation and livelihood improvement that subsequently contributes to conservation.

Morphology and Taxonomic Application of Orbicules (Ubisch Bodies) in the Genus Euphorbia

Abstract El-Ghazaly, G. & Chaudhary, R. 1993. Morphology and taxonomic application of orbicules (Ubisch bodies) in the genus Euphorbia. – Grana Suppl. 2: 26–32. The orbicule morphology of some species of the genus Euphorbia has been examined with the SEM. Three different orbicular forms have been distinguished. A detailed description of each orbicule form is given. The taxonomic significance of orbicule morphology is illustrated and used to substantiate or reject the taxonomic conclusions reached palynologically by El-Ghazaly and Chaudhary (1993).

SCALE AND SPECIES-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN A CENTRAL HIMALAYAN OAK FOREST, NEPAL

A quantitative gradient study in a central Himalayan mixed Quercus forest (Q. semecarpifolia and Q. lamellosa) was made to evaluate the relationships between environmental variables and species composition at different scales.The data (91 taxa × 120 sub-plots) were sampled at three sites, where groups of four sub-plots (2.5 m × 2.5 m) were sampled within 10 m × 10 m. The species data were analysed together with the environmental data (elevation, relative radiation (RI) and soil variables) using Correspondence Analysis (CA) and its constrained version (CCA). The environmental variables used in CCA were chosen by forward selection.Elevation was the over-riding complex gradient (2000–3000 m a.s.l.), with loss-on-ignition, total nitrogen, and RI covarying. The most important factors independent of elevation were available phosphorus and tree canopy cover, whereas pH and nitrogen had minor independent influences.The overall species environment correlation was highest for the largest plot size. The species environment correlation increased with spatial extent for the largest plot size. The field-layer and shrub-tree strata did not consistently differ in their concordance between species and environment. The field-layer species had a stronger relationships with the soil variables, which may relate to rapid changes over a short spatial extent both for the field-layer species and for the soil variables.