(2005). an Inventory and Assessment of Invasive Alien Plant Species of Nepal, IUCN - the World Conservation Union, Nepal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL I II AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL AN INVENTINVENTAN ORORORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVINVINVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPALALAL By Sagendra Tiwari Mohan Siwakoti Bhaskar Adhikari Kanchana Subedi IUCN Nepal December 2005 AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL III Copyright: © 2005, IUCN Nepal The role of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in supporting IUCN Nepal is gratefully acknowledged. The material in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit uses, without prior written permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. IUCN Nepal would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication which uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes without prior written permission of IUCN Nepal. Citation: Tiwari, S., Siwakoti, M., Adhikari, B. & Subedi, K. (2005). An Inventory and Assessment of Invasive Alien Plant Species of Nepal, IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Nepal. viii+114 pp. Technical Advice: Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha Layout & Design : Dwarika Aryal Photographs and Handsketch: All Photographs and Handsketch by Bhaskar Adhikari if not mentioned otherwise. ISBN: Available from: IUCN Nepal; P.O. Box 3923; Kathmandu, Nepal IV AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL FFForororeeewwworororddd Biological diversity faces many threats throughout the world. One of the major threats to native biological diversity is caused by Invasive Alien Species (IAS) which can damage or replace native animal and plant populations, as well as the health of our ecosystems. The impacts of IAS are immense, insidious, and usually irreversible. The scope and cost of biological alien invasions is global and enormous in ecological, environmental and economic terms. Almost every country is grappling with the problems caused by IAS and Nepal is no exception to this. Addressing the problem is urgent because the rate of invasion is alarmingly rapid in some cases. A comprehensive study to determine the status of IAS in Nepal is still awaited. IUCN Nepal felt the need to undertake a rapid study to preparing an inventory and to assessing the current status of major IAS. Several rounds of consultation meetings and extensive discussions were organised to develop a participatory framework to be used for impact assessment and monitoring of IAS in Nepal. The book "An Inventory and Assessment of Invasive Alien Plant Species of Nepal" is a culmination of 3 years' work by the Ecosystem and Sustainable Livelihoods Group of IUCN Nepal. It represents a collaboration of a wider spectrum of biodiversity experts, ecologists and natural scientists of Nepal including members of IUCN's Species Survival Commission. This publication reaffirms IUCN Nepal's continuing commitment to assist in the efforts of His Majesty's Government as a State Party to follow a path of conservation as directed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This publication comes at a time when the international community has committed itself through passing a resolution in the IUCN 3rd World Conservation Congress (November 2004) to achieving tangible results in the management of IAS. I am very pleased to make available to the scientific community, researchers and academia, and those actively involved in biodiversity management this document addressing existing legal instruments and identifying selected plant species applicable to IAS in Nepal. It is my hope that this publication will broaden our understanding of the complexity of the issue related to IAS and will also push us towards searching for the remedial measures to be taken. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed, in one way or another, in the preparation and production of this inventory. Since the preparation of an inventory is a dynamic and evolving process, any comments or suggestions in further improving it will be highly appreciated. Sagendra Tiwari Acting Country Representative IUCN Nepal AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL V PrPrPrefefefaceaceace A biological species introduced in an ecosystem The World Conservation Union – IUCN Nepal other than its natural home is called alien or endeavored to make an inventory and assessment exotic or non native. There exists a long list of of the invasive alien plant species through a alien species throughout the world which make prioritization process. The inventory is based on a valuable part of the livelihood and economy of experts’ consultation, literature and field studies the modern world. If these organisms became in collaboration with local partners such as high aggressive or spread beyond the manageable schools, community forest users’ group, boundaries and out compete native species in the community based non governmental ecosystem, then these are considered as Invasive organizations, farmers and other stakeholders. Alien Species (IAS). An IAS has the potential to The process was initiated in 2001 by developing substantially alter the structure and function of a background paper and organizing a consultative natural ecosystems and is likely to cause workshop to draw the attention of scientific economic and/or environmental loss and/or harm community and stakeholders of natural resources to human health. IAS can be a plant, an animal, and environment conservation. a pest, a disease or any micro-organism. The The cost of negligence and avoidance to control present inventory encompasses the invasive plant the spread and impact of invasive species grows species only. higher with time and poses serious threat to Nepal’s natural resources have been under biosecurity. We have to be more aware of the excessive pressure due to growing population need to timely respond to the adverse or demand and over exploitation for livelihoods and untoward effects of alien species upon our natural subsistence farming. It is not only agricultural ecosystems. This contribution is intended to crops but also other unwanted pests and weeds attract immediate attention upon some of the that have been introduced affecting agro- alien plant species that pose threats of invasion ecosystems as well as forest, fallow land and to natural ecosystems. It is hoped that it will wetland ecosystems. A number of species is trigger the interest of conservation scientists and known to prey on, outcompete, hybridize and ecosystem managers to keep an eye on species infect native species thereby causing habitat that are often neglected as unwanted weeds and deterioration, ecosystem disturbance and decline wasteland species. of native species. They are considered as second Many individuals and institutions have greatest threat to native species after habitat loss. contributed to undertake this study. We would However, knowledge base on IAS in Nepal is like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. rather meager and limited. There is a great need Mahesh Banskota, former Country of comprehensive study and research work Representative of IUCN Nepal for continued revealing the status and impacts of invasive encouragement. We are deeply indebted to Dr. species of Nepal, on the face of some alarming Tirtha B. Shrestha, Life Member of Royal Nepal impacts of IAS such as Eichhornia crassipes in Academy and Prof. Dr. Ram P. Chaudhary, wetlands of international significance and Member of National Planning Commission for Mikania micrantha in the grasslands of national reviewing the document and providing valuable parks and protected areas. VI AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES OF NEPAL comments and suggestions to improve it. Sincere Gokundeshor S. School (Dhankuta), Department thanks are also due to Dr. Pushpa.R. Shakya, Dr. of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Narendra N. Tiwari, Dr. Purusottam Shrestha, Dr. (DNPWC), Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Royal Keshab Shrestha, Dr. Jagat D. Ranjit, Dr. Dinesh Chitwan National Park, Langtang National Park, R. Bhuju, Dr. Madhusudan P. Upadhaya, Dr. Users’ Group of Ghanteswor and Sina Bhawar Bimal K. Baniya, Dr. Keshab R. Rajbhandari, Dr. Rato Mati Community Forests (Doti), Saraswoti Nirmal Bhattarai, Dr. Samar.B. Malla, Dr. Bigyan Community Forest (Bardia), Kalika Community Acharya, Dr. Deep B. Swar, Dr. Surendra Forest (Dang), Bhutkhola Soli Ghopte Bhandari, Dr. Suresh P. Sharma, Prof. Dr. Krishna Community Forest (Paplpa), Jhauri Community K Shrestha, Prof. Dr. Pramod K. Jha, Prof. Karan Forest (Parbat), Humse Dumse Community B. Shah, Mr. Narayan P. Poudel, Mr. Prabhu Forest (Jhapa), project staffs of Garib Kaa Lagi Budhathoki, Mr. Tulsi B. Prajapati, Mr. Gopal Ban Tatha Batabaran (NGO, Rupendehi), Bhattarai, Mr. Arun Rijal, Ms. Radha Joshi, Mr. students of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Ukesh Bhuju, Mr. Kamal Maden and Mr. Kul P. Sciences (Chitwan). Local farmers and Limbu for their valuable inputs and insights at inhabitants of Sarlahi and Langtang areas of the beginning of the study. We are also thankful Rasuwa District deserve special attention for their to Dr. M.K. Adhikari, National Herbarium and enthusiastic support to collect information in Plant Laboratories, Godawari and all the staff for field. granting permission to study the herbarium Contributions from IUCN Nepal field staff in specimens. We would also like to acknowledge Dharan and Doti as well