IMPACT OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN NEPAL

Abstract

Nepal is one of the richest countries in biodiversity due to its unique ecological position and altitudinal variation. The country is one of the pioneers to implement community forestry program under decentralized forest policy regimes in the world. By 2008, approximately one third (34.6%) of forest areas were handed over to local communities for management of forest resources through their collective efforts in order to reduce poverty and integrate the forest benefits in overall economic development process. The objectives of study were to assess Shannon-Weiver species diversity indices as well as Margalef species richness indices and to explore whether or not the change in ownership among various forest governance systems contribute to increase overall biodiversity in forests. This study was focused to address the impacts of community forests in Lamahi-Mahadevpuri Landscape Complex (LMLC) area based on diversity indices and to examine the local people’s preference among various forest governance systems adopted in changing socio-political context in Tarai region of Nepal. The hypothesis was set as community forests (CFs) encourage higher species diversity and species richness index than national forests (NFs).

Biodiversity of tree species, measured in terms of Shannon diversity index, in CFs, NFs and LMLC area as a whole were found 2.76, 2.58 and 2.78 respectively which are found to be higher than those values in CFs of Mid-hills of Nepal and also to be higher than those in farmlands of similar geographical areas of Nepal. However, these values were found to be lower than Mudamalai Wildlife Sanctuary of India, similar geographical and climatic conditions as of LMLC. The Margalef species richness index in CFs, NFs and LMLC area as a whole were 6.23, 5.63 and 7.28 respectively. The index values are found to be higher in CFs than NFs of LMLC area.

A total of 49 plant species were found in LMLC area while 34 and 38 species were recorded in NFs and CFs respectively. The species diversity and species richness index of different use types of plant species were found to be higher in CFs than those in NFs. The variance of species diversity index in CFs was found significantly different than in NFs. Despite species diversity, there was no significant difference in variance of species richness index between CFs and NFs. Among different forest products, an increase in availability of fodder and fuel-wood were found after handing over the area as CFs. Tree species and wildlife were found effectively increased while NTFPs found moderately increased within the CFs after change in ownership as CF governance system. Shorea robusta was found as widely distributed plant species while Pterocarpus marsupium, Asparagus offcinalis and Panthera tigris were found as the major key/pristine species in the study area. CF was found as the most suitable governance system than others in LMLC area. Furthermore detail study needs to be conducted in different forest management regimes and in national level for comparison as well as for national database.