Plant Biodiversity Inventory, Identification of Hotspots, and Conservation Strategies for Threatened Species and Habitats in Kanchenjunga-Singalila Ridge, Eastern Nepal

(Project Coordinator – Dr. Krishna Kumar Shrestha; Field coordinator – Mr. Ripu M. Kunwar )
The Eastern Himalaya has been included among Earth’s biodiversity hotspots and it includes several centers for plant diversity. Kanchenjunga-Singalila Complex, one of the five prioritized landscapes of the Eastern Himalayas, possesses globally significant populations of landscape species. It is designed as one of the WWF 'Global 2000' eco-regions and is declared as a 'Gift to the Earth'. The complex stretches from Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in Nepal, which is contiguous with Khanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim, India, to the forest patches in south and southwest of KCA in Ilam, Panchthar and Jhapa districts. KCA along with its lowlands Panchthar, Ilam and Jhapa districts is floristically rich with over 2000 species of flowering plants of which, several are found to be endemic to the Himalayas. KCA, Upper Mai Valley Forest and Lower Mai Valley Forests are noteworthy for their species and diverse habitats. The lush biodiversity in combination with the indigenous knowledge and traditional practices of the areas provide a great scope of research and development at the site. However the biodiversity and knowledge have been put into extensive pressure beyond their resilience limits. In this regard, present project was attained to compile a comprehensive list of detail flowering plants and habitats, their conservation status and develop conservation strategy through participatory and scientific approaches of lower Kanchenjungha Singalila Ridge. The project was feasible with due support from CEPF for inventorying the plant biodiversity, identifying the conservation status of the species and habitats and developing the participatory-scientific conservation strategies to manage the prioritized species and habitats. The objectives of the project were to inventorying and documentation of plant biodiversity and their associated habitats, identify and assess the rare, threatened, endemic and archaic plant species and key habitats, and develop conservation strategies of the species and habitats through participatory and scientific approaches.

Study area: Falaincha, Chyangthapu, Memeng, Prangbung and Sidin VDCs of Panchthar district and Maimajhuwa, Mabu, Jogmai and Jamuna VDCs of Ilam district.

Project duration: 1st April, 2007 – 31st March, 2008

Methods: Literature/specimen review, two pre and post monsoon plant collection expeditions, species identification and herbarium management, etc were means for inventorying. Community consultations, rapid field appraisals, and ecological quadrat samplings were used for diversity and species richness study. Capacity building trainings, conservation strategy workshops and expert consultation meetings were taken as tools for strategy development. Participatory biodiversity monitoring mechanism was designed for identifying the direct and underlying threats of the biodiversity.

Findings: Inception workshops and participatory resource mapping were done in April 2007. Two local community based organizations: Shree High Altitude Herb Growers Group, Ilam and Deep Jyoti Youth Club, Panchthar were selected and one social mobilizer from each organization was recruited for field level work during inception. Two pre and post monsoon expeditions (pre four weeks long and post seven weeks long) were carried out respectively in June and August-September. On average, about 1430 plant specimens of flowering plants were collected and managed. Since the field spot identification, identification in ESON office and identification in National Herbarium (KATH), Godawari and Tribhuvan University herbarium (TUCH), 786 specimens were identified. Further taxonomic identification process is going on in Royal Botanical garden Edinburgh, UK. To date, ten species of Rubus, six species of Berberis, six species of Begonia and five species of Michelia and Magnolia were identified. Endemic species Ericaulon trisectiodes, Heracleum lallii, Tripterospermum nigrobaccatum, ………..; threatened species: Paris polyphylla, ………………………., etc were also identified during identification. Of total specimens collected, 560 specimens were submitted to KATH, Godawari, Nepal, 439 specimens were submitted to RBGE, UK and 431 specimens were submitted to TUCH, Tribhuvan University.

Species richness and diversity of the plants and habitats and soil of associated habitats were analysed. Rapid appraisal and quadrat method (transect method) was adopted along the trail for assessment. A total of 122 primary/macro quadrat (plots) (50 in Ilam and 72 in Panchthar district), 244 secondary/meso plots and 366 tertiary/micro plots were laid within elevation 1900-4327m in all nine VDCs representing different resource management systems. Two permanent plots in each VDC were set for participatory biodiversity monitoring. The monitoring was monthly scheduled and operated by social mobilizers. Week long training was made for mobilizers in Kathmandu to train them about taxonomy and harbarium. Two M Sc students were trained for taxonomic and inventorying study. Plant biodiversity management trainings and community level plant biodiversity conservation strategy workshops were organized in 7-8 August, 2007 in Hangetham, Ilam and 3- 4 September, 2007 in Prangbung, Panchthar. A total of 90 participants were participated in the events. Each workshop incepted the 10 most important plant species and sites, threats for plat biodiversity and strategies. One school level essay competition was organized in Memeng lower secondary school, Memeng on 1st Sept, 2007 with highlighting the importance of endemic and threatened species. Based on the community level conservation strategy, threats, conservation priority of different organizations, and field observations, key 20 plant species were identified. Two community forest user groups (Mahadev Kange CFUG, Jogmai -7, Ilam and Kanya Devi CFUG, Sidin-1, Panchthar) were selected for improvement of their operational plans. Articles of the project were published in CEPF Eastern Himalayas bulletin Dec 10, 2007 www.cepf.net, in Nepali Times News Jan 05, 2008. www.nepalitimes.com and an article of the flora Kanchanjungha Singalila Ridge is pipeline to publish in Nepal Journal of Plant Science Volume 2.

Conservation priority plant species of KSR, E Nepal

Challenges ad lessons learned

Poaching, trapping, hunting and irrational exploitation were accounts due to free access, low level of community conservation awareness and absence of government inferences in the site. The traditional forest and land use system viz. KIPAT is a great challenge for conservation initiatives. Trans-boundary conflict has also impeded the initiatives. Decade long conflict over the resource utilization aggravated the resource management capacity of indigenous community and institutions. The area is a repository of biological resources specifically plant biodiversity along with diversity with respect to culture and indigenous knowledge. Some places viz. Timbu Pokhari, Chhintapu, Hangetham areas are exceptionally rich in rare, endangered, endemic and archaic floral species. Sassurea species, Rheum nobile, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Rhododendron anthopogon, etc are flourishing around. These species and verdant areas are placed under added stress by anthropogenic activities importantly intense grazing by large herds of domestic livestock. Rampant collection and unsustainable harvesting of forest products including timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are the chronic threats that contribute to the degradation of these sensitive ecosystems. The area is heavily doused and strong wind is common at the site. On the flip side, civil societies particularly the community forest user groups and some community based organizations have convincingly rich knowledge on biodiversity, conservation and hotspots (important plant areas) and they have successfully managed some sites enriched with medicinal and archaic plant species.

The needs of the locals must be addressed thereby respecting traditional rights over resources and resource use system. To guarantee their success, long term impact-oriented inclusive programs should be lunched in comprehensive and coordinated fashion.