Biodiversity Resource Inventory Ecosystem Assessment of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC, Kaski An Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystem in Nepal INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE Nepal Country Office Kupondole, Lalitpur P.O.Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 5528781 Fax: +977 1 5536786 supported by: Email: [email protected] www.iucn.org/nepal Biodiversity Resource Inventory Ecosystem Assessment of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC, Kaski Research Team: Bhuvan Keshar Sharma (Team leader/Ecosystem and Biodiversity) Kiran Timalsina (Natural Resources Management) Roshani Rai & Surya Kumar Maharjan (Forestry) Anish Joshi & Biplob Rakhal (GIS /Database) Technical Advisor Team of IUCN Nepal: Anu Adhikari Rajendra Khanal Racchya Shah Sony Baral Dr. Yam Malla The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN Nepal, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal Edited by: Amit Poudyal & Anu Adhikari, IUCN Nepal Designed by: Naresh Subba (Limbu) & Amit Poudyal, IUCN Nepal Language editing: Dr. Bishnu Hari Baral Copyright: © July, 2013 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Available from: IUCN Nepal Kupondole, Lalitpur P.O. Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (977-1) 5528781 Fax: (977-1) 5536786 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.iucn.org/nepal This Report has been published under ‘Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosyestem’ Project, jointly implemented by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with financial support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). supported by: Biodiversity Resource Inventory Ecosystem Assessment of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC, Kaski An Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystem in Nepal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report provides the findings of biodiversity resource inventory of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC of Kaski district of Western Nepal. IUCN Nepal is grateful to Green Governance Nepal (GGN) for conducting the study and support to prepare the report in this form. Bhuvan Keshar Sharma, ecosystem and biodiversity specialist and also a Team Leader for this study deserves special appreciation. We would also like to appreciate the contribution of other team members. Kiran Timalsina (Natural Resources Management), Roshani Rai and Surya Kumar Maharjan (Forestry), Anish Joshi and Biplob Rakhal (GIS and Database) are also sincerely acknowledged. Special thanks goes to field enumerators, local resource persons and the technical experts: Asha Paudel, Pratima Bhandari, Anita Dandakhiya, Shiva Acchami, Him Lal Subedi and Kim Raj Paudel, without them this endeavour would not have been successful. The residents of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC, Kaski are highly appreciated for their supports to carry out the field study. We are also indebted to those government and non-government organizations and individuals, who spent their precious time during consultations, discussions, meetings and field observations. Last but not least we would like to express our gratitude to all individuals who helped us in one way or another. July, 2013 I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project is being piloted in Nepal, Peru and Uganda with funding from German Government, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through its International Climate Initiative and is jointly implemented by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) is the implementing agency at the national level in partnership with UNDP, IUCN and UNEP while the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE) plays an overall coordinating role. The pilot site for this project is the Panchase area, belonging to Kaski, Parbat and Syangja districts. The area is rich in biodiversity and is a paradise for orchids. In current decades, the area, not different from other parts of the country, is being affected by climate change. It is prerequisite to know the status for implementation of EbA activities and to assess the impacts of climate change on biodiversity of the area. Hence, this study is conducted to know the baseline of biodiversity in different ecosystems, particularly forest, agriculture land and wetland in Bhadaure Tamagi VDC of Kaski district. Inventory guidelines developed by MoFSC and participatory NTFP inventory guidelines developed by ANSAB were extensively followed in this study. Counting and measuring of flora and fauna in the VDC was done by laying composite plots on the ground. In addition, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII), household surveys, and transect walks were also done to collect the required data. The study found that the area is dominated by broad-leaved species with rich epiphytes, ferns and mosses. Among broad-leaved species, chilaune (Schima wallichii), katus (Castanopsis indica) and rakchan (Daphniphyllum himalense) are the most dominant species. Among different forest types, chilaune-katus forest supports high biodiversity and utis (Alnus nepalensis) forest supports low diversity. However, the regeneration status is opposite to biodiversity in such types of forests. The VDC consist of 263 floral species and 32 faunal species. Among ecosystem types, forest hosts highest floral and faunal biodiversity. In addition, forest consists of five endemic, two protected and one invasive species. The study has also found the existence of one of CITES Appendix II species, Cyathea spinulosa Wall. ex Hook. in the VDC. Likewise, diversity of areal species is high in the forest and vice versa in agriculture. The study also confirmed the existence of big mammals, such as brown bear, leopard and deer on the basis of their dropping scattered throughout the VDC. Despite of being rich in biodiversity the VDC also has several management issues in conserving it. Open grazing, ongoing road construction, forest fire, poaching, and illegal logging are some of the issues that are seriously threatening the biodiversity of the area. Some cases of human- wildlife conflict such as crop raiding by monkeys and wild hares were also found during the study. Similarly, some cases of leopard attack were also recorded. The study concludes that the change in social dimension mainly out-migration has positive impacts on biodiversity. This study has recommended for involvement of local communities in biodiversity conservation through, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, promotion of forest-based enterprises and promotion of organic agriculture. III ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS ANSAB Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources BA Basal Area BMU Ministry for the Environment, Nature conservation and Nuclear Safety CB Community Based CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBNRM Community Based Natural Resource Management CBO Community Based Organization CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CC Climate Change CF Community Forest CFUG Community Forest Users' Group CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DACAW Decentralized Action for Children and Women DBH Diameter at Breast Height DDC District Development Committee DEM Digital Elevation Model DHM Department of Hydrology and Metereology D-tape Diameter tape EbA Ecosystem based Adaptation ES Ecosystem Services FGD Focus Group Discussion FUG Forest Users' Group GGN Green Governance Nepal GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning System I/NGOs International/Non-Governemental Organizations IAS Invasive Alien Species IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IVI Importance Value Index KII Key Informant Interview LPG Liquid Petrolium Gas LRMP Land Resource Mapping Project MAPs Medicinal and Aromatic Plants MDO Machhapuchhre Development Organisation MEA Millennium Ecosystem Assessment MoFSC Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation MoSTE Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment NTFPs Non Timber Forest Products NWP National Wetland Policy PA Protected Area PCBUS Panchase Chhetra Bikash Upabhokta Samiti PDDP Participatory District Development Programme PES Payment for Ecosystem Services RC Relative Coverage V RD Relative Density Rdo Relative Dominance RF Rakchan Frequency RP Resource Person RS Remote Sensing RUPP Rural Urban Partnership Program SNPP Shree Nepal Panchadham Panchase UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme VDC Village Development Committee WL Wildlife VI TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................