Browsing by Subject "Natural resources"
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Item Arsenic Contamination of Soils and Agricultural Plants through Irrigation Water in Nepal(Faculty of Botany, 2008) Dahal, Binod ManiThis study was conducted in the irrigation area of Nawalparasi district which is known as highly contaminated by arsenic among the Terai districts of Nepal. The purpose of this study was to analyse the arsenic of agricultural plants due to irrigation with arsenic contaminated water and the role of phosphorus fertilization. It is hoped that the result of this study will help to develop guidelines to protect the food chain by arsenic contamination in Nepal which is an important issue of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) regarding the food security. 65 % of all 52 wells showed an arsenic concentration higher than 0.05 mg L-1, which is the Nepal interim standard for drinking water. Overall, 36 % of the irrigation wells exceeded the FAO guideline value (0.1 mg L-1) for arsenic in irrigation water. A wide range of arsenic concentrations was observed in the irrigation water, ranging between < 0.05 and 1.014 mg L1 . The As(III) dominates in the water with a mean percentage of about 76%. The arsenic concentrations in the irrigated soils ranged from 6.1-16.7 mg kg-1. The arsenic content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the soils of the vegetable fields than in the soils of the rice fields. The arsenic content in different parts of plants decreased in the order of roots > shoots > leaves > edible parts. The mean arsenic content of edible parts (dry weight) decreased in the order of onion leaves (0.55 mg kg-1) > onion bulb (0.45 mg kg-1) > cauliflower (0.33 mg kg-1) > rice (0.18 mg kg-1) > brinjal (0.09 mg kg-1) > potato (< 0.01 mg kg1 ). The arsenic contents of different soil aggregate fractions and its correlation with Fe, Mn, Al and Ca were studied in a rice and a vegetable field. The investigated aggregate size fraction was 1 – 2 mm. Arsenic content was highest in the smallest aggregates. Under rice no distinct correlation of arsenic with Fe, Mn, Al and Ca was found. Under vegetables As showed a good correlation with Fe, Mn and Ca in the smaller aggregate fractions (≤ 0.63 mm). The laboratory experiment showed that the arsenic solubility was highly influenced by changes in the soil redox potential. The As solubility was increased about 5 fold after the addition of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer under redox potential conditions (aerobic to anaerobic) while solubility of Fe and Ca was not affected. This indicates that Pfertilizer can solublize As through ion exchange processes.Item Change on Livelihood of Chepang (A Study of Ghairang Village in Dhading District, Nepal)(Department of Sociology, 2010) Gaudel, ParbatiNot AvailableItem Changing Adaptive System of Limbu Community (An Ecological –Anthropological Study of Tiringe VDC of Taplejung District)(Department of Anthropology, 2010) Paudel, Dal BahadurNot AvailableItem Changing Occupational Pattern among the Bishwokarma A Case Study of Hemja VDC, Kaski(Faculy of Anthropology, 2008) Chetry, Deb BahadurNot AvailableItem Conflict Resolution in Natural Resource Management: A Case Study of Forest of Panchkhal VDC in Kavre District(Department of Rural Development, 2008) Acharya, Kumar PrasadNepal is rich in bio diversity including flora and fauna. Natural resources (NR) are the major component for the visualisation of its beauty even by the developed countries. Nepal's position on biodiversity is 25th and 11th among countries in the world and Asian continent, respectively. In such a condition, NRs are the major assets and ornaments of the country. Therefore, its management process should be strong. Among the NRs, forest resources are special. The majority of the Nepalese people are surviving with the help of forest resources. Forest is an important renewable NRs, which contributes is highly to the economic development of the country by providing a variety of goods and services. People use forests for many purposes such as fuel wood, fodder, timber, green grass, litter and minor forest products such as fruits, nuts, medicine, and others. The forest resources have undoubtedly been utilized to satisfy the subsistence need of local people for a along time. Sustainable utilization of NR will be an effective way to reduce poverty. Although different schemes were adopted in the country for the sustainable forest management (FM) they could not achieve fruitful outcome and thus the people are facing various conflicts in NR used. Conflict over NR is developed not by one single factor but rather it caused by many others. Conflict usually brings positive results if it is properly handled .In Nepal forest management (FM) system is facing an increasing number of disputes and conflicts infected by the use of forest products, their distribution and management process. This research tries to analyse the causes of conflict, ways to conflicts, resolve and the sound management strategy for NRs around Panchkhal in Kavre district. The aim of this research is to give a short description of sustainable forest management (SFM) scheme. For this purpose Panchkhal of Kavre district was selected purposively. Descriptive and exploratory methods of data analysis are used in this research. Mainly primarily and secondary data are used focusing on qualitative as well as quantitative aspects. Stratified sampling method was used to determine the sample for the study. For the data analysis simple statistical method like tabulation, percentages diagram, pi-cart were used where necessary. The study area was very heterogeneous in terms of caste/ethnic composition. About 48 percent of the sampled population is economically active. All HHs used fuel wood as the source of energy for cooking. The contribution of forest resources to the local respondents was in the form of firewood, green grass, fodder, timber, litter and row materials for small-scale cottage industries. There may be different causes of conflict in NRs. In the study area the causes of conflict were: lack of basic needs, boundary encroachment, racial discrimination, poor people's participation, poor decision-making process, lack of adoption of the rules and regulation by forest user groups (FUGs) and forest user group committee (FUGC), poverty dominant role of local elites and others. In case of forest resources user group are the main actors arousing the conflict themselves and also are candidates to solve those problems. The effective ways of resolving conflict in NRs are found to be: demarcation of boundary, reasonable use of fund, general policy implications negotiation, mediation, conciliation facilitation, consensus, information, optimum allocation of resources and benefit, poverty reduction and fulfil the basic needs.Item Dalits and Their Traditional Medicinal Practices in Bhanu VDC of Tanahun District, Western Nepal(Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 2013) Mahat, LaxmiDalits, known and considered as the ‘untouchables’ in the country, are about 13 per cent but in the VDC and Tanahun district they are dominant. Dalits groups are frequently oppressed and centrifuged to mainstream and are always considered as secondary interest of research due to deep rooted socio-economic and cultural structure and value. Majority of them use forests and forest products (medicinal plants) by utilizing their traditional knowledge, occupation and skills eking out their living. Forests are considered as free commodity and the forest products particularly medicinal plants are open accessed in Nepal. Due to direct or indirect connection with forests and other natural resources, Dalits may know better than others about natural resources and forests, their uses, importance and management practices. The collection is important for primary health care of Dalits groups because the groups have limited options for modern medication as a consequence of socio-economic conditions. The present study attempts to analyze the dependency of Dalit groups (who are at the bottom in the caste ladder and traditionally ‘untouchables’) on forests for their subsistence and health care. Again there are a very few studies integrating traditional medicinal practices, their resources and conservation initiatives and such studies from Dalits are largely under-studied. Information were collected using field visits, household survey, key informant interview, group discussion and snow-ball sampling between August and September, 2013. Prior informed consent from the informants was granted. Altogether 36 Dalit individuals were consulted in questionnaire survey to generate information about dependency on forests, traditional knowledge on medicinal plants and their use in healing practices. Collected information were triangulated and validated following standard procedures. Secondary (literature review) data/information were extensively reviewed and intensively used while discussing the findings and cross-checking the information. As found elsewhere, health of Dalits of Bhanu VDC was complicated by fever, typhoid, gastric, common cold, pregnancy and delivery and diarrhea ailments. Only 55 percent of Dalits preferred health centers access to other means. Though the access to allopathic medicines has been easier and increasing, Dalits of the study area were still dependant on folklore shamans (Dhami-Jhankri), faith-healers (jharne-phukne) and herbal treatment because Dalits and all local communities in the VDC believe that health is more than wrong with an individual. In shamanism and faith healing, people seek help for physical and emotional healings as well as betterment of their animals and crops from natural calamities. So shamans and faith healers are the first line of help that a Dalit household looks for in many situations. Both shamanism and faith healing commonly use representations of the five gross elements of nature (earth, air, fire, water and aether/aakash) and some medicinal plants but fire and water was more frequent. Medicinal plants were frequently applied in traditional healing next to water and fire. Altogether 65 plants have been used in Bhanu VDC. Among them only Sipligan, Sikari lahara, Nirmasi and Neem have been used for multiple ailments. There are only 6 herbal healers in the VDC and they have been working for healing for centuries. Home herbal healing is arduous work because it needs particular medicinal plants and materials that are difficult to harvest and get in today's situation, resulting in declining in practice. Both the knowledge and resources therefore are necessary to manage for their sustainability for wellbeing of Dalits and entire community.Item Floristic diversity and altitudinal variation of tree species in lower Kanchenjungha Singhalila Ridge, Eastern Nepal(Department of Botany, 2009) Khatri Chhetri, Nar BahadurThe present paper is based on the findings of floristic diversity inventory research work conducted in Lower Kanchenjungha Singhalila Ridge, in Nepal sides of Eastern Himalaya. Knowledge on floristic diversity of particular area can reflect the total resources, their use and conservation status which is very helpful for making necessary conservation strategies and policies. Eastern Himalaya is one of the globally important sites representing the important biodiversity hotspots of the South Asia. Analysis of vegetation helps to develop detailed picture of plant communities of particular geographical location. Plants specimens were collected by two field visits viz. pre-monsoon and post-monsoon during the period of June-October, 2007. Total 50 square quadrats of 10mx10m sized were laid down following stratified-random sampling method for sampling trees. In each 10m×10m quadrats, the number of individual trees was counted and dbh [diameter at breast height-1.37m, dbh ≥ 10 cm] of each tree was measured. After preservation, identification and management of collected plants, herbarium specimens were prepared and deposited in National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories, Godavari, Lalitpur (KATH) and Tribhuvan University Central Herbarium, Kirtipur (TUCH). Present study recorded 299 species among them seven species were identified only family level, 22 species only generic level rest of them to species level falling under 184 genera and 86 families. Dicots belong to 69 families, 150 genera and 229 species whereas Monocots include 15 families 32 genera and 39 species. Similarly, Gymnosperms represented two families, two genera and two species. Floristic analysis showed that Rosaceae was the largest family with 23 species followed by Ericaceae 17, and Lauraceae 9 species. The study furnished three new addition to the flora of Nepal viz. Begonia flaviflora H. Hara (Begoniaceae), Carex cruciata Wahlenberg var. argocarpa C. B. Clarke (Cyperaceae), and Strobilanthes helicta Anderson (Acanthaceae). This study also mentioned 11 threatened species of different categories and one endemic species Heracleum lallii (Umbelliferae). 30 tree species were recorded from the altitudinal range of 2100-3000m. Eurya acuminata and Symplocos species were dominant in lower elevation whereas Lithocarpus pachyphylla and Rhododendron species were dominant in upper elevation range. The diversity of tree species showed hump shape relation with elevation gradient.Item A Gender Perspective Analysis of Participation in Community Forestry (A Case Study of Gadawa VDC of Dang District)(Department of Rural Development, 2010) Pokhrel, Sharad KumarThe study is done in the issue of Community Forestry, Which is people oriented forest program in Nepal. The Community Forestry Program is handled through local organizations known as Forest User Group. The effectiveness of Community Forest in relation to people’s participation is thus very crucial. The study focuses in the participation in decision making, in implementation and benefit sharing, effecting factors relation to people’s participation and changed skill and knowledge of Forest User Group of Matpur Nasahawa Community Forest of Gadawa VDC of Dang District. To meet the objective of study, primary and secondary data were collected from the field visit. These data were analyzed descriptively and analytically. In this community forest, Tharu caste is a higher Forest User Group whereas other caste. Participation of Brahaman/Chhetri community is high in comparison to other community. Tharu community is second position. Women participation was satisfactory but less than male. The Users are satisfied with the work carried out by Forest User Committee and Community Forest Program. The educational level was found influential factor in active participation. The different Community Forest related training, which were already held, have benefited the users. The users have managed to gain some knowledge about Community Forest from their Community Forest Program. The users who less participate and less active are found less aware and less motivated. Therefore, more training should be conducted to make active to all users for higher participation. In overall, this community forestry was found a model forest with respect to technical aspects whereas; some major changes in social aspect should be made to improve all level participation in community forestry.Item Impact of ecological sanitation toilets on sustainable development: A case study of Siddhipur village development committee of Lalitpur District, Nepal(Department of Rural Development, 2006) Shrestha, SamitaThe ecological sanitation, which is economically feasible, environmentally sustainable and based on a loop approach, is being promoted in different parts of agro based settlements. The double-vault urine diverting toilet, one of the options of ecological toilets, had constructed different peripheral communities of capital city. The beauty of ECOSAN toilet is assessed in terms of sustainable development in this study. Nepal is a poor and agricultural dominant country. Being a poor country, we have to import chemical fertilizers and pesticides from other countries. Use of this fertilizers and pesticides leads to soil degradation which in turn leads to low production and two steps backward to poverty. Besides, except core areas of metropolitan and sub metropolitan cities, there are no sewerage systems. So, the main problem is how to use human waste properly. The general objective of the study is to find out how ECOSAN toilet helps in the process of sustainable development. The specific objectives are functions of toilet, advantage over traditional sanitation system, impact of ECOSAN and social acceptance over the settlement of Siddhipur. Siddhipur is traditional farmers’ village located around 10 km southeast of Kathmandu in Lalitpur district. People are farming as an occupation, low rate of literacy, low level of income, poor sanitary condition, lack of sanitary facilities and lack of drinking facilities. Some of the sanitary practices are: nauga, sag and khikhamoga. Fifty-nine ECOSAN toilets and same number. of households are in control area are taken for the study. The households in the control area were respondents in the study area. Observation, household survey and questionnaire were main sources of primary information. Various theses, ECOSAN journals and websites, paper of workshops and seminars are main sources of secondary data. The ecological sanitation toilet can be promoted as a sustainable alternative. It is not only beneficial from the point of view of the excreta management and sanitation, but also from the point of view of nutrient recycling which is being lost as waste. ECOSAN toilet pan consists of a slab built over two vaults. The slab has a hole over each vault for the faeces to drop in and a funnel like device to collect the urine. It takes an average household six months to fill one of the vaults. Then second vault is used. The vault is emptied following an additional six months of sanitization and the material is taken to soil compost. Urine is never mixed in this system which is collected separately and can be applied as a fertilizer by diluting with water as necessary. It is found accepted as improved approach over traditional unhygienic practice of open defecation. ECOSAN is self modification in design and construction incorporating nauga and saga with ECOSAN. Its replacement in some cases and use of the unit constructing inside the dwelling with satisfaction can be taken as an evidence of cultural acceptance. The settlements of Siddhipur community feel comfortable to use the toilet. Besides, there is improvement in sanitation status. Moreover, acceptability is found higher in agro-based settlement due to its manure value and also suitable in low land settlements because of its water tightness or collection tank and constructed above the ground. ECOSAN toilet is found superior to conventional options of sanitation in terms of cost, social and technical acceptance and environment benefit. Urine separation or non-mixing system toilets are found accepted by the communities because of their manure value, improvement of traditional method, economic benefit, environmental benefit as well as social benefit. Yet, the people feel difficulty to use this type of toilet due to lack of public awareness. We need to make additional efforts for massive replication of the system, addressing the reservation, correcting defects and exploring benefits.Item Maghi Festival of Tharus :A Study of Hekuli VDC in Dang District(Central Department of Sociology/ Anthropology Tribhuvan University Kritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2009) KC, Rajannot availableItem Nature, Culture and the Adaptation of the Yakkhas An Ecological-Anthropological Case Study(Department of Anthropology, 2011) Rai, ArjunNot AvailableItem Perception of local people towards the conservation of Fewa Lake(Department of Sociology, 2009) Pahari, DeependraNot availableItem Socio – Economic Status of the Sarki Community (A Case Study in Hemja VDC of Kaski District)(Faculty of Sociology, 2010) Thapa, TirthaThe aim of this study is to give a short description of the Sarki community, a socially excluded caste group of Nepal, regarding their socio-economic status. For this purpose, Hemja VDC of Kaski District was selected purposively. There are total 38 households of the Sarki Community and the total population of them is 368. Descriptive and analytic methods are used in this study. Mainly primary data are used focusing on qualitive in nature. The Sarki are traditionally occupational caste. Their main occupation was making Shoes and Plougher others field in past, but the young generation leaving their traditional profession for better economic and social status. Most of the people works daily wages about skilled labour( i.e carpentry, mason) and few of the younger people are went foreign country. They are Sudra and known as Achhut (Untouchable).The Sarki are religiously Hindu. They follow Hindu religion and worship Hindu God and Goddess. The festivals of the Sarki are similar with other Hindu castes. They mainly celebrate Dashain, Tihar, Maghe Sakranti, etc. The Sarki are poor and exploited by higher castes. Most of them are few land owner and uneducated. Therefore, they are backward in every field. Caste based discrimination is not so rigid as it was in the past, but some discriminations can be seen clearly. The Sarki are not allowed to enter into the home of upper castes. The Sarki have not actively participation in political affairs. Most of them are only voters. They have few accesses in local resources management. There were different types of NGOs/INGOs which were working to improve and enhance the life style of Dalits, but there is not seen any positive sign in the improvement of the Sarki life style. Gradually, social awareness is improving and enhancing among the Sarki of the study area due to the effect of modernization.Item Socio-Cultural Study of Kamdung Bantawa Rai Community (A Case Study of Dewantar VDC, Bhojpur District, Nepal)(Department of Rural Development, 2007) Rai, PradeepNepal is a land of multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-castes or ethnic groups. Unity in diversities' is the main feature of Nepalese people. Among the various castes or ethnic groups, all Kirat Rais have been broadly subsumed together with several other Tibeto-Burman groups of eastern Nepal. The Kirat Rais are an ancient ethnic indigenous people of Nepal, who have their own unique socio-cultural norms and values. The socio-cultural patterns as well as languages are different with each other among all Rai clans and sub-clans communities. The Bantawa Rai is a famous clan of Kirat Rai. There is also much difference in socio-cultural patterns among every sub-clan of the Bantawa Rai. The Kamdung Bantawa Rai is a sub-clan of the Bantawa Rai. This study has been focused on the ethnographic and socio-cultural status of the Kamdung Bantawa Rai community. This study area of Dewantar VDC, Bhojpur district is the main settlement place of this Rai community. Agriculture is the main source for their livelihood. Education status is very low in this Rai community. They have their own socio-cultural norms and values and indigenous knowledges, which are different to other Bantawa Rais. The religion of this Rai community is 'Kirat Mundhum' and its main feature is to love to the natural resources and remember to own ancestors. They worship and protect the natural resources. But due to lack of infrastructure facilities and lack of awareness, they are facing various socio-cultural problems. So such type of problems should be solved properly and only then the door of socio-cultural prospects also would be open for development in this Rai community. Their unique cultures are most important for the ethnographical study and ethnic cultural tourism. The government of Nepal should make policy and strategy about it. It will provide a quality of life not only to the Kamdung Bantawa Rai community, but also to the entire communities of this area. Thus, it plays a vital role in sustainable rural development of this remote study area.Item Socio-Economic Status of Chepang A Case Study of Shaktikhor VDC, Chitwan(Faculty of Population Studies, 2010) Silwal, ApsaraNot AvailableItem Trends of Timber Marketing in Community Forests A Case Study of CFUGS in Kaski District(Birendranagar Multiple Campus, 2008-09) Yadav, Yogendra PrasadNepal is surrounded by China and India. West,East,South sides is surrounded by India and North side is China. It is a mountainous country where most of the people are under the poverty line. 80% of the total land has bee covered by hill and mountain. This district is one of the hilly districts and centrally located in western development region. It is situated between 8349' East to 8417' East longitude and 285'North to 2835' North latitude and is approximately rectangle in shape. It shares border with Shyangja in the South, Lamjung and Tanahun in the East, Manang and Mustang in the North and Parbat in the West. The district is divided in 4 constituency and 13 region. There are two municipalities and 43 village development committees in the district. The total households in the district is 67,970 and the total population of the district is 3,66,669 .. The literacy rate of the district is 57%. The total area of Kaski district is 2,01,700 ha of which total forest area is 89,943 ha. There are 8 CFUGs, in average, involved in timber marketing in this district in the five year. The timber trade in highest quantity outside CFUG is done in 063/64 FY year. Similarly, least timber supply outside CFUG is in FY 060/61 (only 55 cft). The analysis shows that Takanja CFUG has sold 11,726 cft of timber alltogether in five year which is 35%. Least is by Satidevi CFUG 1265 cft in five studied fiscal year which comprise only 4%. The demand and supply situation of timber is compatible with the no of hhs. As there increase in hhs no, increase in the demand of timber by CFUGs except CFUGs in Takanja. The share of timber marketing by studied CFUGs is 36% in five year period. The total percentage of timber extraction from the CFs is only 39% than the their stock. This shows that still there is the over stocking of the timber in the studied CFUGs. But it is believed that there is no such stocking as the data presented here; there must be more timber extracted due to the margin in measurement.