Report on Biodiversity Assessment

Of community forest of Ghandruk, Kaski

In partial fulfillment of the requirement of Environmental Science in Bachelor’s
Degree of Science (B.sc), 2073

Submitted By
Name Exam roll no Roll no
Shusila Kandel
Sadikshya Wosti
Sunita Paudyal
Sapana Rai
Bandana Gautam
Dikshya kharel
Pramila Lohar

Submitted To
Department of environmental science
Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Ghantaghar
 Certificate of Approval

This is to certify that the report submitted by Shusila Kandel, Sadikshya Wosti, Sunita paudyal ,
Sapana Rai, Bandana Gautam, Dikshya Kharel and Pramila Lohar on Report on" Biodiversity
Assessment on community forest of Ghandruk, Kaski" has been accepted as a partial fulfillment
of requirement of Environmental Science of third year bachelor’s degree in science.

External Teacher MR. Deepak Cherty Geeta Bhusal

Head of department [supervisor]

 TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
TRI-CHANDRA MULTIPLE CAMPUS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
GHANTAGHAR, KATHMANDU

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
TO WHOM IT MY CONCERN
This is certify that the field survey entitled "A Report On Biodiversity Assessment of
Community Forest of Ghandruk, Kaski" was prepared by this group under my supervision for
the partial fulfillment of completion of Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental science.
In this case study, primary as well as secondary data have been used along with field visit and
the result of the study have been presented which is recommended for the final evaluation to
the examination committee.

Geeta Bhusal
Supervisor
Date………………………………..
 Abstract:

Ghandruk is one of the famous tourism VDC of Annapurna Conservation areas (ACA). Trend
analysis and propose of use of plants and animal species of Ghandruk Village Development
Committee of Kaski district, western part of Nepal was carried out. A total of 54 plant species
and 18 animal species with high local economic value were documented from structured
questionnaire, interviews, key informants interviews, and focused group discussion with the
representatives and ACAP staffs. Trend analysis shows that most of the species increased within
the past 20 years.
All species are equally important for their purposes of uses. Michelia champacca, Schima
wallichii, Castanopsis indica are very important trees for timber production. Quercus lamelossa,
Quercus semicarpifolia and Ficus roxburghii are very good foder species. Alnus
nepalensis colonizes landslides and degraded sites very successfully. Leaf extract of Aegeratum
conyzoides and fur of Lepus nigricollis is used to control bleeding from cuts and wounds.
Medicinal plants, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Acorus calamus and Curcuma
langa are used to control cough and bronchitis. The litter of plants is used to make compost
fertilizer. Some animals were also found to be of important medicinal purposes, some other
used to control mouse populations. Some animals like Canis aureus andMartes
flavigula, however, were found to be pests for domestic animals.
Key words: Medicine, timber, fodder,resource, sustainable, Ghandruk, Nepal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all we would like to express our special thanks and gratitude to our respected teacher
Mrs. Geeta Bhusal for supervising the report on “Biodiversity Assessment of Community Forest
of Ghandruk". It would really impossible without her support and guidance completes this
report. We also want to thank our respected teacher Mr. Deepak Cheetry (HOD) of
environmental science for providing the field visit and we are also thankful to Mr. Prakash
Timilsina who has supervised us and guide us a lot during our field survey.
Additionally I would like to express my sincere thanks to staffs of department and Himalayan
Recreation Travels and Tour agency for helping us during our field study.
I would also like to express my thankfulness to the institute who provide us the chance to
prepare the report about it.
Lastly I would like to express my thankfulness to the local people of the field and my entire
group member for a coordinating and hardworking. And all who helped us directly and
indirectly.
 Table of contents

S.No Title Page Number

1.
List of figures
Figure 1- sunrise in Ghandruk.
Figure 2- Old Ghandruk village.
Figure 3- Scenery asset of Ghandruk.
Figure 4- Old Gurung museum in Ghandruk.
Figure 5- study area around Bhimsen Barahi Mandir.
Figure 6- Student doing practical.
List of Tables
Table 1- Result obtain from survey in east direction from Bhimsen Barahi Mandir.
Table 2- Result obtain from survey in west direction from Bhimsen Barahi Mandir.
Table 3- Result obtain from survey in north direction from Bhimsen Barahi Mandir.
 List of Abbreviations

ACA = Annapurna Conservation Area

ACAP =Annapurna Conservation Area Project
VDC =Village Development Committee
DBH =Diameter at Breast Height
Sps. =Species
WWF = World Wildlife Fund
UNCED = The Nation Conference on Environment and Development
Chapter-1
Introduction

1.1 Background

Ghandruk is one of the village development committee in Kaski district in the Gandaki
zone of northern central Nepal. It is on the route to Annapurna Base Camp with 30,000
trekker visit annually (BCDP, 1994). It is situated at an elevation of 1,975 m as on the
west slopes of Modi watershed. Ghandruk is the village with social harmonies, cultural
sharing and community work participating. There is an outstanding indigenous
knowledge of plant and animal species with high economic values. Ghandruk is a village
in the Annapurna region of Nepal and is one of the country main trekking routes.
Mountain views of Machhapuchre and Annapurna can be clearly seen from this village.

Ghandruk is rich in cultural heritage and biodiversity .Ghandruk in 2008 had a total
population of 6,158 people. About 1446 households exist with an average household
size of 4.25 people (ACAP, 2008). Majority of people of Ghandruk was serving in military
and main occupation was agricultural in past. Now-a-days tourism industry is growing in
Ghandruk and it has been the main source of income. Local peoples are getting
employment as guides and potters. Local economy and life standard of people has
been changed by foreign exchange. All of the houses in Ghandruk are made up of
stones, mud’s and the roof are made up of thin sliced stones. Gurung and Magar are
more dominant along with Bhramin, Chhetry and other occupational caste although in
comparatively low in number.
Photo no.2 –Ghandruk village

ACAP was 1st tested as a pilot program in Ghandruk in 1986.

Then in 1990, extinction of ACAP was done as 1st phase which covers 19 VDCs . For
further extension 2nd phase program was conducted in 1993, which covers 55 VDCs. ACA
is first gazette conservation area with an area of 7629 sq.km and home to over
1,00,000 residents of different cultural and linguistic group. ACA is rich in biodiversity
and is houses for 1226sps of flowering plant (38 sps of orchid and 9 sps of
rhododendron), 102 mammals, 488 birds, 40 reptiles and 23amphibians. World deepest
river gorge (Kali Gandaki gorge) and world largest rhododendron forest also lies in ACA.
The local person resides in 5 districts of 57 VDCs of ACA. In order to manage ACA more
effectively it has been divided into 7 conservation offices-Jomsom, Manang, Lo-
Manthng, Skiles, Ghandruk and Lwang. Effort of local groups, ACAP and other
participants has played a vital role to manage community forest and preserve natural
beauty of the region.
 Photo n0 3- scenery asset of Ghandruk

Photo no 4-Old Gurung museum in Ghandruk

Problems:
- Loss of diversity.
-Haphazard collection of timber wood.
-Unmanaged development plan.

-Over grazing and poaching.

-Unmanaged tourism.

-Population growth etc.

Objectives of ACAP:

-Natural resources management.

-Socio-economic development.
-Management of tourism.

Principles of ACAP:
- Public participation
-catalytic role.
- Sustainability.

Research Questions:
What are the dominant plants species present in the community forest of Ghandruk?
Which plant species play a vital role to enhance local economy?
How many plant species have the timber value?
Objectives of our study:
To study Biodiversity Assessment of community forest of Ghandruk.

Limitations:
-Short time period.
-No detail research.
-Lack of communication with local people many species are not identified.
-Unavailability of sufficient material required.
 Chapter 2
Literature review
During our 9 days total field visit our stay in Ghandruk was immensely wonderful, as it is very
beautiful and scenery assets of the area and country of Nepal. In current years the local village
people are much concern in the conservation and enhancement of the resources in the region.
Different voluntary organizations are working for the reduction of pollution from that area.
Community people are well aware for the wise utilization of natural resources and conservation
of biodiversity through public participation.
Despite the considerable attention accorded to Ghandruk village
of Western Nepal. With its innovative approach and for reaching decentralized management
system, the area has still not been widely studied especially in comparison to the other
equivalent area. The biodiversity of Ghandruk is main point of attraction for the related field of
tourism. The high proficiency of natural beauty of Ghandruk can drive undoubtedly many
national and international tourists. The most expensive research publication on Ghandruk
diversity study have found is Gurung’s(2006) PhD thesis on conservation and livelihood in
Ghandruk region. Several studies of the biodiversity properties in the area were conducted by
WWF Nepal both before and after the establishment of biodiversity conservation in the region;
the organization has also investigated livelihood opportunities of the local population (eg. Aryal
et.al 2010)
The community participation in forest resource management is effectively addressed in
Ghandruk. The management of natural resources in Ghandruk is regulated by participatory
organization that encompasses a flexible and comprehensive approach to meet the needs of
local communities and safeguard the forest of the region. World Bank (1997) stressed that
agenda 21of UNCED 1992 recognizes that in the order to achieve the long-term objectives of
the conservation of biodiversity, scientific results have to be implemented with a wider social,
economic and a political perspectives. Sustainable community based approaches to biodiversity
and environment management could potentially contribute to the overall development of the
area (Earth Summit 1992)
 Chapter 3
Methodology
Ghandruk community forest around Bhimsen Barahi mandir is included in the present study
site during the study period. We use quadrat method mainly during our field survey and other
formal and informal related sources are used to collect data.

3.1: Study area

Community forest around Bhimsen Barahi Mandir Ghandruk, Kaski.

Photo no 5-community forest of Ghandruk

 3.2: Research design
Research design is prepared according to following model;
Research topic
ACA office visit and literature and documentary review
Information collection
Field survey
Plant identification and enumeration within quadrat
Interpretation / conclusion.

3.3: Methods of data collection

We use two different ways of data collection;

Primary data collection

All students were divided into 3 groups as per our practical groups. A
quadrat of 10m×10m was made by rope and plants within the quadrat were identified and
enumerate and also calculate the DBH of pole plants. The same process was repeated for three
times and noted the plants present in each quadrates.
 .
Photo no 6-students doing practical

Secondary data collection

Secondary data was obtained from ACAP office of Ghandruk, Kaski as
well as from reports, books, journals, literature and documentary related to the biodiversity of
Ghandruk.
 Chapter 4
Results
Observation table

Table 1

SN Name of plant species No. of quadrat studied Average DBH

Q1 Q2 Q3

1. Berberis aristata 8 5 - -

2. Brassiopsis polycantha 1 3 1 10cm

3. Michelia champaca 2 - 3 62cm

4. Melia azedarach - 1 - 3cm

5. 1 - 5m
Lyonia avalifolia 2
6. 1 65cm
Toona ciliata -

Table 2

SN Name of plant species No. of quadrat studied Average DBH

Q1 Q2 Q3

1. Berberis aristata 5 - 3 -
2. Lyonia avalifolia 2 - - -
3. Prunus cerasoides 2 1 - 15cm
4. Arundinaria racemosus - 8 7 27cm
5. Malva neglecta 3 1 1 30cm
6. Quercus samicarpifolia - 6 3 -
7. Ageratum conyzoides - 5 2 -
Table 3

SN Name of plant species No. of quadrat studied Average DBH

Q1 Q2 Q3

1. Alnus nepalensis 4 - 5 70cm

2. Quercus lamelossa 2 1 - 30cm
3. Schima wallichi 1 3 - 25cm
4. Ageratum conyzoides - 10 17 -
5. Michelia chamaca - 2 - 45cm
6. Berberis aristata 2 4 7 -
7. Rhododendron arboretum - 3 2 40cm
8. Lyonia avalifolia - - 2 -
9. Prunus cerasoides 1 - - 30cm
 Chapter 5
Discussion:

Above observation shows that large no of pole trees are present at Ghandruk community forest
along with large no of seedling and sapling. Diameter at breast height of pole trees was also
calculated. The analysis shows that community forest is diverse in nature. Plant species at
height less than 10cm are fall under sapling, and the species at height less than 1.3 cm are fall
under seedling. Plant species at height 10-29.9cm are fall under pole trees. Different types of
lichen like foliage, crustose, fructose are present in large number in forest which indicates the
air pollution free environment in Ghandruk.
All the plant species are equally important for different
purposes. Tree species like Michelia Champa, Alnus Nepalensis, Castanopsis indica, Schima
wallichii, toona ciliate are highly preferred as timber. Their timber is of high value, and braches
are used as fuel wood and also leaves are used as fodder. Alnus nepalensis, a native species,
colonizes landslides and degraded sites very successfully (Jackson,1994).
Quercus lamelossa is used as fodder species. It has profuse regeneration in the area. Quercus
semicarpifolia (kharsu) is also regarded as an important fodder resources in Ghandruk.
Primarily, the species are ranked on the basis of multiplicity of its utilization. Generally the
species which grow faster and favour the climate of area are deemed significantly
(Adhikari,2008). Also another species Ficus roxburghii has become popular as fodder species in
Ghandruk.
Large no of medicinal plant are also observed in community forest of
Ghandruk. Some of them like Acorus calamus are also cultivated by local people. These plants
are used as medicine either as a whole or some part of them eg. Leaves extract of Ageratum
conyzoides is used to control bleeding from cut and wounds.
From the study we can conclude that all the plant species are equally important to maintain
biodiversity around that area which attracts large no of national and international tourists.
Plant and animal are important for people and people are conscious to use them so their status
in Ghandruk village is significant, because people have indigenous and traditional knowledge in
the utilization of natural resources for various purpose.
 Chapter 6
Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion:
Hence the biodiversity of community forest of Ghandruk which is the part of tourism was
studied through primary and secondary data. And conclude that the community forest of
Ghandruk is highly diverse in nature with sapling seedling and pole trees.

Recommendation:
Following recommendation are suggested for biodiversity conservation and utilization of forest
product;
-strict rules and regulation should be implement to banned illegal tread.
-Natural resources should be equally accessible for all people in society.
-All people of Ghandruk should be aware of resources of Ghandruk.
-Direction of routes to different tourism area should be provide in certain direction/on each
junction.
-Cultural program should be conduct frequently.
-Development activities should be implement in order to avoid adverse impact in natural
resources.
 References:
ACAP 2008, progress report of Annapurna conservation Area Project 2007-2008 Pokhara
Nepal, ACAP.
Y.P. Adhikari and A. Fischer. Our nature 2010, trend analysis and purpose of use of some
important plant and animal species of Ghandruk VDC, Nepal.
Adhakari, Y.P. 2008. Sustainable tourism.
Jackson, J.K 1994. Manual of afforestation in Nepal.
Aryal et.al 2010.
Earth summit 1992.
www.en.wikipedia.org