Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived... more Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests. The importance of NTFPs for sustaining rural livelihoods, fostering rural poverty alleviation, enhancing biodiversity conservation, and facilitating rural economic growth is well known in Nepal. In spite of these facts, NTFPs have not received the sustained and systematic support. With the gradual rise in population, unsustainable harvesting and depletion of resources, sustainable management of NTFPs has become a challenge. Similarly, the increasing global demand of NTFPs leads to over-exploitation of these resources that further leads to dwindling and adversely affecting the biodiversity. In this context, this paper intends to explore and analyze the conservation status, prospects and challenges for efficient and sustainable management of NTFPs in the context of Nepal.
Community based forest management in Nepal has been widely acclaimed as the most successful appro... more Community based forest management in Nepal has been widely acclaimed as the most successful approach for participatory forest management and its governance. So far, about 2,831,707 hectares of forests of Nepal have been managed under the regime of community-based forest management. During four decades of its implementation, the program has undergone a considerable shift from state dominated top-down approach to community-based participatory approach to forest management through organizational and policy reform in Nepal. The success of community-based forest management approach is described in terms of improving the supply of forest products, generating green employment, improving rural livelihood, empowering women, poor and disadvantage groups, rehabilitating degraded land and habitat and also increasing biodiversity. Yet, community-based forest management approach continues to face some organizational and policy challenges during its implementation, and this cannot be overlooked. S...
The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is one of the iconic natural heritage of... more The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is one of the iconic natural heritage of Nepal’s rich biological diversity, backed by the commitment of the Government of Nepal to conserve this rare animal for now and future generations. It is not only important for conservationists due to its ecological value, but it also holds a universal appeal for ordinary people. Over the decades, the Government of Nepal, supported by national and international conservation partner organizations and the local communities, has significantly contributed to the conservation of this iconic species. Nepal’s rhino population has increased by 45% between the year 2005 and 2015. There are now 645 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 111 rhinos from the 534 recorded in the last census in 2011. These numbers reflect the success of conservation efforts for this species and are a result of improved rhino protection measures, and management of habitat. Though the population of one-horned rhinos h...
International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is fast becoming a serious threat to the survival of many endangere... more Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is fast becoming a serious threat to the survival of many endangered species in the world. The lack of access to forest resources for the local community residing in the buffer zones of national parks has created conflict between the national parks, the people residing in these areas and wildlife. This study focused on to analyze the situation of human-wildlife interface of people living near the park. Direst field observation, questionnaire survey of households (n=88), on-site focal group discussions, and key informant interviews were used for data collection. The study revealed that Paddy was the primary crop accounting about 34% of the economic value of total production. Peoples in the study area perceived that crop depredation was the major problem caused by the wild animals. Among crops, the damage to Paddy was high. A total average damage of Paddy per year per household (HH) was 115.2 Kg. Economic value of average annual damage per year per HH accounted for NRs, 9211.4. About 70% respondents responded that the poor availability of food in the forest was the main problem. In case of measures to control HWC, most of them have applied different local technologies. Among them participatory method, noise making and scare row construction were the common. Most of the local people believed that, cases of the HWC was increasing and will increase in the future. Hence, promotion of income generating activities, alternative energy, and improved livelihood strategies can reduce the HWC indirectly through decreasing the dependency in forest resources. Conservation awareness program and people participation are other major aspects that should be considered to mitigate the human wildlife conflict.
Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing conc... more Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2. A study was conducted in Chhatiwan VDC of Makawanpur District to compare soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of four main land use types such as forest, degraded forest, Khet and Bari land. Stratified random sampling method was used for collecting soil samples. Organic carbon content was determined by Walkley and Black method. Total SOC stock of different types of land followed the order: as Forest (110.0 t ha-1) > Bari (96.5 t ha-1) > Khet (86.8 t ha-1) > Degraded land (72.0 t ha-1). The SOC% declined with soil depths. The SOC% at 0–20 cm depth was highest (1.26 %) that recorded in the forest soils and lowest (0.37%) at 80- 100cm depth in degraded forest land. Thus, the SOC stock varied with land use systems and soil depths. The study suggests a need for appropriate land use strategy and sustainable soil management practices to improve SOC stock. SAAR...
Biogas is an eco-friendly alternative energy source which can greatly contribute to reducing gree... more Biogas is an eco-friendly alternative energy source which can greatly contribute to reducing greenhouse gases as they have the possibility of reducing the need to use fossil fuels. A study was conducted at Kumroj village of Khairhani municipality, of Chitwan district of Nepal to assess the sources of energy, dependency of local people on biogas, amount of fire wood substituted by biogas and people’s perception towards biogas use and forest conservation. Stratified random sampling method was used for sampling design. Direst field observation, households questionnaire survey (n=44), key informant interview, and focus group discussions were used for data collection. This study showed that the main source of energy was firewood for cooking, preparation of animal feed, preparation of alcohol and water heating but now these days the dependency on firewood decreased after use of biogas. About 63.6% of the household were using biogas as an alternative source of energy. The need of biogas wa...
Nepal’s location in the centre of the Himalayan range places the country in the transitional zone... more Nepal’s location in the centre of the Himalayan range places the country in the transitional zone between the eastern and western Himalayas. Nepal’s rich biodiversity is a reflection of this unique geographical position as well as its altitudinal and climatic variations. It is recorded that Nepal has a total of 118 types of ecosystem, 75 vegetation and 35 types of forests. Nepal has put utmost efforts to conserve its rich biodiversity resources. The conservation history began formally after promulgation of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1973. National parks and wildlife reserves were established across the country during the 1970s. However, very soon not only some of the adversities were faced by the local people living around the parks and reserves but also the space constraint was realized for the population distribution and dynamics. By realizing the need of people’s participation in the conservation initiatives, country has tested the concept of different types ...
The present article is based on the study carried out to quantify aspect wise variation in Soil O... more The present article is based on the study carried out to quantify aspect wise variation in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stock of Churia broad leaved forest in Bhedawari Community Forest of Nawalpur district, Nepal. The total amount of SOC stock in upto 30 cm soil depth in Bhedawari Community Forest was found to be 33.91 t/ha. Aspect had made significant difference upon SOC stock with p value of 0.002 (p<0.05). The total SOC was higher in the northern aspect (36.83 ± 1.34 t/ha) than in the southern aspect (30.98 ± 1.22 t/ha). Hence, soil carbon sequestration through community managed forest is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2.
The present article primarily addresses the silvicultural system (i.e., irregular shelter wood sy... more The present article primarily addresses the silvicultural system (i.e., irregular shelter wood system) in Sal forest adopted in both community and collaborative forest in Kapilbastu district of Nepal. Systematic sampling with 0.5 percent sampling intensity along with statistical tools like SPSS and MS-Excel were used for resource inventory and data analysis, respectively. The result of the study shows notable increase in seedling status during the first year (2015/16) in community forest. A decrease in sapling number during the second year (2016/17) was noticed in Tilaurakot collaborative forest at its initial level of implementation. At the same time, community forest has higher yield status with a smaller number of trees felled in Tilaurakot collaborative forest under regeneration felling. The regeneration status of species varied insignificantly (p>0.05) between the community forest and Tilaurakot collaborative forest. A recommendation is made for proper implementation of irre...
Soil quality is the capacity of soil to sustain biological productivity and environmental quality... more Soil quality is the capacity of soil to sustain biological productivity and environmental quality. Assessment of soil quality in different land use systems is essential as inappropriate land use management can degrade and deteriorate its function and stability. In this regard this study was carried out to evaluate soil quality of different land use types in Chure region of central Nepal. Soil quality index (SQI) was determined on the basis of the soil physiochemical parameters. Soil properties like soil pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorous (AP) were significantly affected by land uses types. Forest soil had the highest soil quality index (0.82) followed by bari (0.66), khet (0.64), and degraded land (0.40). Of the soil properties studied, total nitrogen and soil organic matter had the determining role in making significant impacts in the SQI among the different land uses. Hence, the results of this study can be important t...
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived... more Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) consist of goods of biological origin other than wood, derived from forests, other wooded land and trees outside forests. The importance of NTFPs for sustaining rural livelihoods, fostering rural poverty alleviation, enhancing biodiversity conservation, and facilitating rural economic growth is well known in Nepal. In spite of these facts, NTFPs have not received the sustained and systematic support. With the gradual rise in population, unsustainable harvesting and depletion of resources, sustainable management of NTFPs has become a challenge. Similarly, the increasing global demand of NTFPs leads to over-exploitation of these resources that further leads to dwindling and adversely affecting the biodiversity. In this context, this paper intends to explore and analyze the conservation status, prospects and challenges for efficient and sustainable management of NTFPs in the context of Nepal.
Community based forest management in Nepal has been widely acclaimed as the most successful appro... more Community based forest management in Nepal has been widely acclaimed as the most successful approach for participatory forest management and its governance. So far, about 2,831,707 hectares of forests of Nepal have been managed under the regime of community-based forest management. During four decades of its implementation, the program has undergone a considerable shift from state dominated top-down approach to community-based participatory approach to forest management through organizational and policy reform in Nepal. The success of community-based forest management approach is described in terms of improving the supply of forest products, generating green employment, improving rural livelihood, empowering women, poor and disadvantage groups, rehabilitating degraded land and habitat and also increasing biodiversity. Yet, community-based forest management approach continues to face some organizational and policy challenges during its implementation, and this cannot be overlooked. S...
The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is one of the iconic natural heritage of... more The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is one of the iconic natural heritage of Nepal’s rich biological diversity, backed by the commitment of the Government of Nepal to conserve this rare animal for now and future generations. It is not only important for conservationists due to its ecological value, but it also holds a universal appeal for ordinary people. Over the decades, the Government of Nepal, supported by national and international conservation partner organizations and the local communities, has significantly contributed to the conservation of this iconic species. Nepal’s rhino population has increased by 45% between the year 2005 and 2015. There are now 645 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 111 rhinos from the 534 recorded in the last census in 2011. These numbers reflect the success of conservation efforts for this species and are a result of improved rhino protection measures, and management of habitat. Though the population of one-horned rhinos h...
International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is fast becoming a serious threat to the survival of many endangere... more Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is fast becoming a serious threat to the survival of many endangered species in the world. The lack of access to forest resources for the local community residing in the buffer zones of national parks has created conflict between the national parks, the people residing in these areas and wildlife. This study focused on to analyze the situation of human-wildlife interface of people living near the park. Direst field observation, questionnaire survey of households (n=88), on-site focal group discussions, and key informant interviews were used for data collection. The study revealed that Paddy was the primary crop accounting about 34% of the economic value of total production. Peoples in the study area perceived that crop depredation was the major problem caused by the wild animals. Among crops, the damage to Paddy was high. A total average damage of Paddy per year per household (HH) was 115.2 Kg. Economic value of average annual damage per year per HH accounted for NRs, 9211.4. About 70% respondents responded that the poor availability of food in the forest was the main problem. In case of measures to control HWC, most of them have applied different local technologies. Among them participatory method, noise making and scare row construction were the common. Most of the local people believed that, cases of the HWC was increasing and will increase in the future. Hence, promotion of income generating activities, alternative energy, and improved livelihood strategies can reduce the HWC indirectly through decreasing the dependency in forest resources. Conservation awareness program and people participation are other major aspects that should be considered to mitigate the human wildlife conflict.
Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing conc... more Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2. A study was conducted in Chhatiwan VDC of Makawanpur District to compare soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of four main land use types such as forest, degraded forest, Khet and Bari land. Stratified random sampling method was used for collecting soil samples. Organic carbon content was determined by Walkley and Black method. Total SOC stock of different types of land followed the order: as Forest (110.0 t ha-1) > Bari (96.5 t ha-1) > Khet (86.8 t ha-1) > Degraded land (72.0 t ha-1). The SOC% declined with soil depths. The SOC% at 0–20 cm depth was highest (1.26 %) that recorded in the forest soils and lowest (0.37%) at 80- 100cm depth in degraded forest land. Thus, the SOC stock varied with land use systems and soil depths. The study suggests a need for appropriate land use strategy and sustainable soil management practices to improve SOC stock. SAAR...
Biogas is an eco-friendly alternative energy source which can greatly contribute to reducing gree... more Biogas is an eco-friendly alternative energy source which can greatly contribute to reducing greenhouse gases as they have the possibility of reducing the need to use fossil fuels. A study was conducted at Kumroj village of Khairhani municipality, of Chitwan district of Nepal to assess the sources of energy, dependency of local people on biogas, amount of fire wood substituted by biogas and people’s perception towards biogas use and forest conservation. Stratified random sampling method was used for sampling design. Direst field observation, households questionnaire survey (n=44), key informant interview, and focus group discussions were used for data collection. This study showed that the main source of energy was firewood for cooking, preparation of animal feed, preparation of alcohol and water heating but now these days the dependency on firewood decreased after use of biogas. About 63.6% of the household were using biogas as an alternative source of energy. The need of biogas wa...
Nepal’s location in the centre of the Himalayan range places the country in the transitional zone... more Nepal’s location in the centre of the Himalayan range places the country in the transitional zone between the eastern and western Himalayas. Nepal’s rich biodiversity is a reflection of this unique geographical position as well as its altitudinal and climatic variations. It is recorded that Nepal has a total of 118 types of ecosystem, 75 vegetation and 35 types of forests. Nepal has put utmost efforts to conserve its rich biodiversity resources. The conservation history began formally after promulgation of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1973. National parks and wildlife reserves were established across the country during the 1970s. However, very soon not only some of the adversities were faced by the local people living around the parks and reserves but also the space constraint was realized for the population distribution and dynamics. By realizing the need of people’s participation in the conservation initiatives, country has tested the concept of different types ...
The present article is based on the study carried out to quantify aspect wise variation in Soil O... more The present article is based on the study carried out to quantify aspect wise variation in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stock of Churia broad leaved forest in Bhedawari Community Forest of Nawalpur district, Nepal. The total amount of SOC stock in upto 30 cm soil depth in Bhedawari Community Forest was found to be 33.91 t/ha. Aspect had made significant difference upon SOC stock with p value of 0.002 (p<0.05). The total SOC was higher in the northern aspect (36.83 ± 1.34 t/ha) than in the southern aspect (30.98 ± 1.22 t/ha). Hence, soil carbon sequestration through community managed forest is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2.
The present article primarily addresses the silvicultural system (i.e., irregular shelter wood sy... more The present article primarily addresses the silvicultural system (i.e., irregular shelter wood system) in Sal forest adopted in both community and collaborative forest in Kapilbastu district of Nepal. Systematic sampling with 0.5 percent sampling intensity along with statistical tools like SPSS and MS-Excel were used for resource inventory and data analysis, respectively. The result of the study shows notable increase in seedling status during the first year (2015/16) in community forest. A decrease in sapling number during the second year (2016/17) was noticed in Tilaurakot collaborative forest at its initial level of implementation. At the same time, community forest has higher yield status with a smaller number of trees felled in Tilaurakot collaborative forest under regeneration felling. The regeneration status of species varied insignificantly (p>0.05) between the community forest and Tilaurakot collaborative forest. A recommendation is made for proper implementation of irre...
Soil quality is the capacity of soil to sustain biological productivity and environmental quality... more Soil quality is the capacity of soil to sustain biological productivity and environmental quality. Assessment of soil quality in different land use systems is essential as inappropriate land use management can degrade and deteriorate its function and stability. In this regard this study was carried out to evaluate soil quality of different land use types in Chure region of central Nepal. Soil quality index (SQI) was determined on the basis of the soil physiochemical parameters. Soil properties like soil pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorous (AP) were significantly affected by land uses types. Forest soil had the highest soil quality index (0.82) followed by bari (0.66), khet (0.64), and degraded land (0.40). Of the soil properties studied, total nitrogen and soil organic matter had the determining role in making significant impacts in the SQI among the different land uses. Hence, the results of this study can be important t...
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