PLANT DIVERSITY AND REGENERATION OF TWO COMMUNITY FORESTS IN BUFFER ZONE OF BANKE NATIONAL PARK, WESTERN NEPAL
Date
2024-01-28
Authors
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Publisher
Amrit Campus
Abstract
Community structure and regeneration are the most important factor for the sustainable
management of a forest. The study was focused on the plant species diversity,
regeneration and dependency of people on the forest resources for their livelihood in
the buffer zone of Banke National Park (BaNP). The study was conducted at two sites
Taradevi and Jaljala Community forests. Random stratified rectangular quadrat method
was applied for vegetation analysis. Altogether 60 quadrats were laid on both
community forests with 15 quadrats at each residential and natural area of two
community forests. Settlement sampling on the buffer-zone was considered about 200
m far from the settlement areas, and the distance between the two quadrats was about
100m far. Similarly, sampling at natural area was also laid about 100m apart from each
quadrate. To estimate regeneration of trees 60 quadrats of 20 ×20 m2 was considered,
and 3 sub-plots for shrubs 5×5m2 with the 20×20 m2 and for herbs 3 sub-quadrats
2×2m2 with in each plots of shrubs were laid. Based on high IVI value in Taradevi
community forest, at natural area Shorea robusta is mostly dominant tree species
whereas shrubs like Clerodendrum viscosum, Murraya koenigii, and herbs like
Imperata Eragrostis sp is dominant species. But at settlement area Shorea robusta and
Mallotus phillippensis are dominant tree species whereas shrubs like Urena lobata,
Murraya koenigii, and herbs like Imperata cylindrical is dominant species. Similarly,
at Jaljala community forest, at natural area Shorea robusta, Mallotus phillippensis are
mostly dominant tree species whereas shrubs like Desmodium sp., Murraya koenigii,
and herbs like Imperata cylindrica is dominant species. But at settlement area Shorea
robusta, Mallotus phillippensis is dominant tree species whereas shrubs like
Clerodendrum viscosum, Urena lobata, and herbs like Eragrostis cynosuroides,
Achyranthus aspera are dominant species. It was found that in both community forests
the most dominant species is Shorea robusta. Jaljala community forest is found to be
more diversified than Taradevi community forest. Both community forests show the
good regeneration status of the community forests in the buffer zone, the potential for
forest regeneration is in the proper sequence. The seedling, sapling and tree density and
density diameter curve showed reversed J-shape curve indicating the the satisfactory
regeneration status of both community forest.
Description
Keywords
Importance value index, DBH class, diversity indices, settlement, Shannon-Weiner