Pterocarpus marsupium: a protected species triggered biodiversity conservation in community

forestry in Nepal (A study in Kanchanpur District in Nepal)

Pashupati Nath Koirala and Dipesh Pyakurel

What today?

• Why here?

• Why one plant does it mean biodiversity?

• What we achieving?

• Result to conserve biodiversity?

• Still have issues...

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Pterocarpus marsupium

Bijaya Sal

What and where?

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What is Bijaysal ???

Scientific name: Pterocarpus maruspium

Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

English name: Kino tree or Malabar Kino

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Where???Geographical distribution:

• A tropical tree found in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka

National distribution:

• Mostly distributed in the foothills of Chure (Bhawararea)

• Found naturally in well drained soils in flat lands, does not exhibit thick stocking.

• Distributed from Kanchanpur (Brahmadev) to Kapilbastu (Piperia)

• Natural population concentrated in Kanchanpur district.

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Gain in biodiversity value and conservation

Biodiversity Value

Medicinal

Economic

Others (Agricultural utensils, soil conservation

Ecological

Foods / Fodder

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• Diabetes, gastric , stomachic, indigestion, chest pain, burns etc (ICMR 2005, Russel-Smith 2006, Patil et al 2011).

• Locals are using Kino gum for body and joint pain, both internal and external.

Medicinal value

(inherent)

• Leaves are highly palatable for livestock and forest insects (Milking cow is supposed to give high amount of milk if taken).

Nutrition value

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• Food to birds and mammals

• Vulture's vantage point (due to very tall tree)

• Climax partner of Shorearobusta (during climax succession)

Ecological

• Use to make agricultural utensils, such as halo (plough), Yoke

• Helps to conserve soil and water of fragile Churiya/Bhabar

Others

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Economic Value (1) – Wooden materials and Decorative Items.

– Growing popularity amongst the Nepalese and Indian citizens

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Economic Value (2)

• District Forest Products Supply Board Kanchanpur's rate of Bijaysal: Rs 493.16/ cu ft

• CF sell Bijayasal logs to saw mill owners as per their operational plan

• The entrepreneur purchase at Rs 1500-Rs 1900 per cu ft (as per the entrepreneur)

• About 10 cups can be made from a cu. ft timber

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Demerits– Very fragile/ weak tree thus used as fuelwood

– Hard to manufacture the utensils as the timber cracks, needs intensive care in handling

– Very slow growing species (took more than 60 years to mature)

– Very low germination percentage

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• Major faunal species : Sambar deer, Ratuwa, Monkey, Leopard, Jackal, squirrel, Egrets, Luiche, Koile, Tritra, Maina, Dhukur, Frog, Python, Karet, etc.

• Few resident population of Nil Gai is also reported in the foothills of Churia.

• Churia forest also connects larger block of Teriaforests with the SWR, Kailali and Dadeldhura districts, and serves as a wildlife corridor for the movement of many mega- vertebrates especially wild elephants.

Report : DFSP, DFO Kanchanpur, 2008

Biodiversity

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Found in Sal (Shorearobusta) forest.

Major associates are Sal, Karma (Adina cordifolia) and Sindure(Mallotus philippensis)

Major Associates

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Minor Associates

Rajbrikshya (Cassia fistula), Saj (Terminaliaalata), Khayar (Acacia catechu), Sissoo (Dalbergiasissoo), Kusum(Schleicheraoleosa),

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Effects/impacts in biodiversity management

Wetland Conservation /

Forest Regeneration

Forest fire conservation

Wildlife conservation

Biodiversity Research Area Declaration 8/5/2015 19

WWW

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"0"Grazing: Conservation promoted

70 per cent of CF (11,000 ha) out of 16000 ha

Grazing controlled in several CFs eg: Betkot CF (first CF to announce the grazing controlled CF), Baijanath CF

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JHILMILA Lake

Band Lake

Bedkot lake 8/5/2015 23

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Tiger pug mark

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Nepal

Area 147181 SqKm

Kanchanpur District

Fire Occurrences from Feb 1 to

June 30, 2014

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2205.38

3877.99

106.5424

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

April May

Community managed forest and fire damaged area ha in 2014 in Kanchanpur District

CF area ha Damaged area ha

8 % Damaged or burnt

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Conservation initiation.....

Technical Management

• Resource assessment of Bijaysal trees, initiated by District Forest

office (Preliminary information)

– Natural stands

– Maximum number of mature trees reported in Betkot CF and

Sahid Smriti CF, having more than 100 trees

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Conservation initiation.....

Technical management

• Tagging of trees initiated in Sahid SmritiCF, Barakunda, Kanchanpur

• 98 healthy and mature trees are tagged, and GPS locations were recorded

• Support in the management of resource

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• Good regeneration- Baijanath CF, Bhimdutta

Municapility-9

• Nursery promotion of Bijaysal initiated in Sahid

Smriti CFUG, and GwalabariCFUG

• Project are investing to conserve (

GoN/Hariyoban)

• Conservation Area allocated in Janahit Mahakali

CFUG by District Forest Office

Conservation initiation.....

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Conservation initiation...

• Regeneration conservation (Baijnath CF, BhimdattaMunicpaility-9) 12 years

• Artificial regeneration promotion (SayapatriCF, Krishnapur-6, Kanchanpur)

TISC Initiation

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Why possible?

Climax in Plant

Flagship Species

Collaboration for same habitat

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Turning point day for Biodiversity Research Area Declaration 8/5/2015 33

Purposed Community based Biodiversity Research Area

Initiated the provision of delineation of research area under Forest

Regulation, 1995 after 20 years

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Continue Conservation How • Conservation Threat

• Palatable for cattle

• Local medicinal value

• Much palatable for wild animals

• Conservation Gap• Conservation action plan

• Ecological and economic importance

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T......T+ T

Ecosystem

• Collaboration and Coordination among plant and animals

• Future is only saved through water:wetlands...( begin from that point to conserve the biodiversity)

• Ecotourism for sustainable source of income for forest dependent people

• Think broader picture not at corner....

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The path

Thank you for your attention !Contact: koiralapn@gmail.com

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