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Biodiversity Conservation in Endangered Forests
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Project Overview |
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1．Parbat District, Daulaghiri Zone in Midwest Development Region is located 274 km west of Kathmandu. It takes about 10 hours to get to Kusma, the district capital, by bus via a winding road between deep valleys and steep hills. From Kusma, we have to walk to the project site along the Kaligandaki river. | |
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2．Khanigaon and Mudikuwa village appears after passing tea shops and small markets and crossing over three passes. The project area is locally called, Phalebasﾓ. It takes about three hours from Kusuma to the project sites. After Khanigaon, there are three more villages reaching up to 3000 meters altitude. | |
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3．Khanigaun, in which ICA-Nepal Phalebas office is located, lies at an altitude of 945 m and receives 2369mm annual rainfall. It belongs to the tropical humid climate zone. Villagers constructed narrow terraces up to the top of the mountain. In the front of the photo, we can see mixed cropping of finger millet, corn and beans. They also cultivate rice, barley, wheat, buckwheat and potato. For small-scale farmers, rice is a luxurious food, because it requires good quality fields which are only available to high caste farmers. | |
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4．Vegetation research in the national forest in Khanigaun. It lies at 1140 m altitude and the forest varies from sal in the lower parts to chir pine in the higher parts. 7 research plots of 25 x 25 m on different heights were made, and research on vegetation species, height, size of trunk and number of trees were conducted. The results will be shown to the villagers in the eco-museum, and will be utilized for the future biodiversity conservation plan. Sabita Paudyal, Project Co-ordinator of Biodiversity Conservation Project, is recording the data. | |
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5．Social research was conducted to understand how local people used forest resources and their awareness towards biodiversity. Research on the status of locally available plant and animal species was done through interviews and workshops with villagers. | |
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6．On the ground of Shree Bhawani Vidhyapith High School, signs on 23 multi-purpose trees, such as Persin Lilak, Silk cotton tree and Emblica Myrobalan, were prepared to encourage students to be more interested in nature. Nepali, English, botanical and family names were written on the sign boards. | |
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7．Soil from vegetation research plot 1 & 2 and two tree plantation areas in Khaniaun and Mudikuwa was collected, and soil tests were done. The tests show that pH ranges from 6.0 to 6.3. Nitrogen and potassium contents are low whereas phosphorus content is slightly higher in the plantation areas. Therefore mature compost needs to be applied in the plantation areas.Right side: Durga Raj Adhikari (Project Co-ordinator). | |
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8．Specimens of medicinal plants in Parbat. 25 species were collected and were divided into trees, shrubs and herbs. Each species was labeled in English and Nepali which shows the collection site, English, Nepali, botanical and family names, its medicinal and other uses depending on the parts of the plant. These are exhibited in the eco-museum to encourage villagers to use locally available medicinal plants. | |
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9．Forest users groups were formed in September in Khanigaun, and in November in Mudikuwa. Villagers held the first meeting for group formation, at the end of rice harvest season. Committiee members were elected and rules were made by the group members. | |
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10．Biodiversity conservation strategic planning with local people were conducted in order to encourage them to play activie role in the activities. The photo shows a workshop in Mudikuwa, where 23 villagers actively participated. A forest calander was created first, and then workshops on vision, contradiction, and strategic action was conducted. The action plan included training on medicinal plants, community work and transfering traditional culture and indigenous knowledge to young generation. | |
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11．Tree planting sites were selected through discussion with vilagers. Two hectares of government land near Gahate valley was selected in Khanigaun. Villagers got excited, since they tried to plant trees there before and gave up because of their financial situation. | |
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12．Villagers chose the species of trees to be planted, and seedlings were purchased in the neighboring community. Villagers participated in the planting activities, and 3615 plants of more than 6 varieties (such as Sissoo, Spondias Axillaris, Monkey Jack, Alder, Nepal Cherry and Needle Wood) were planted in a total area of 4 hectares in Khanigaun. | |
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13．Villagers were concerned about wild animals and cattles eating the seedlings, and they fenced the plantation area with bamboo and bush around the plantation area. | |
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14．Villagers decided to protect the each plant with bamboo, since some animals neglected the fence, and damaged the seedlings. Caretakers water the seedlings in early morning a few times a week, going back and forth between planting sites and the water source. | |
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15．Dalelo planting site in Mudikuwa. Villagers decided to plant the trees in a steep area, after having hot discussion in Mudikuwa. 2025 trees such as Spondias Axillaris, Nepal Cherry and Bamboo were planted in two hectares. | |
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16．A village woman and Chandra Bahadur Nepali, a field coodinator, are applying compost manure to the tree seedlings, since the soil is poor in nutrients. | |
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17．All the seedlings were purchased in the neighboring village this year, since we could not find a proper site for the nursery construction. However, we suggested to build a nursery for the next planting season, and forest users group decided to construct a small nursery. Group members are discussing about construction at Jhaklak in Khanigaun, the proposed area. | |
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18．The construction site was used for rain water catchment, and it has size of 5 x 9m. Weeds were removed first, land was prepared, and then nursery was constructed. It was divided into 10 plots of 130 x 180 cm. 500 plants can be grown at each plot, so 5000 plants can be prepared in total. | |
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19．Soil potting and sowing was done in February. Seeds of ten species of trees such as Spodias Axillaris and Nepal Cherry were sown. | |
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20．"Save the environment!", a street drama produced by the field staff was performed in Khanigaun, Mudikuwa, and Devisthan village. The drama with dance and song is about environmental and social issues in a mountain community. 200 - 600 spectators gathered to watch the performance. We explained about biodiversity conservation project and distributed resource materials such as pamphlets after the show. | |
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21．We decided to open an eco-museum in cooperation with villagers and eco-club members. A small building of Shree Bhawani Vidyapith High School was chosen as a museum room. The ceiling, wall and floor were repaired, racks with specimens of plants and animals were fixed, and environment awareness posters were placed on the walls. Inauguration of the museum was done during a community environment celebration. | |
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22．"Environment and Future, an environmental awareness raising event, was carried out at Shree Bhawani Vidyapith High School. About 500 villagers of all ages gathered. There were various progrmas such as dance and song performance, painting and quiz contest for the eco-clubs, and an environmental video show which everyone really enjoyed. | |
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23．The drawings painted by eco-clubs. The theme is Our vision of sound environment. | |
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24．Two eco-clubs in Khanigaun and one in Mudikuwa were formed. The photo shows the eco-club formation meeting at Matedewal Janasahayogi High School in Mudikuwa. 50 students participated in it. Various topics were covered such as environmental issues, their causes and our roles to improve the situation. Each eco-club consists of about 15 student committee members, and advisory comittee formed by environment and science teachers. Environmental pamphlets and posters were distributed to all the eco-clubs.Right side: Ruri Kitadai (Japanese Expert) | |
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25、We held a workshop for eco-club committee members in Shree Bhawani
Vidhyapith High School. 35 participants joined and we used Participatory
Rural Appraisal tools and games. In the end, an action plan to clean the
village and plant trees was made. This game called "Food web" shows us how we are interdependent on each other and how, if we loose balance, the web will become very weak. |
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27．Traditional caste system remains in rual areas in Nepal, and lower caste women are extremely surpressed both socially and economically. Income generation program through ginger farming started in order to raize the status of rural women. Poverty is one of the causes of forest destruction, and income generation targeting those who are suffering from poverty is useful for forest conservation also. Maki Hasegawa, a Japanese coordinater is discussing about the program with the villagers. | |
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28．The original plan was to plant ginger between the trees in a plantation area. However, the plan has been changed since the area is rocky and steep. A meeting with villagers was held, and they decided to form a ginger users group. Ginger seedlings were distributed to the group, and each beneficiary will return a portion of her harvest to the group, so that new members can benefit next year. | |
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29．Villagers use a lot of wood as fuel. Many mountains has been already denuded in Khanigaun, and 40% of the villagers relys on the forest in Limithana, the next village. Therefore, the forest in Limithana is getting also denuded. These girls came back from Limithana after collecting firewood. | |
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30．Villagers requested improved cook stoves, because of less use of firewood and health advantages (less smoke). We decided to construct 100 cook stoves in Khanigaun. First, clay and water are mixed well. With a mould, bricks are made and dried in the sun for several days. The standard size of a cook stove is 85 long x 50 wide x 20 cm high, and the chimney is 100 cm high. For 1 cook stove, we need 20 bricks for the main part and 20 bricks with a hole for the chimney. | |
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31．Bricks are piled up first and covered with a mix of red soil, water and cow dung. It takes about two hours to construct one cook stove. There are two holes to put cooking pots on. Field staff visited houses in Khanigaun and selected ones to construct stoves. Orientation and training programs were also held during the construction period. | |
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32．Traditional cook stove. It consumes a lot of firewood, and also causes health problem because of the smoke. | |
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33．An improved cook stove. Users are happy with the improved cook stove, because the amount of firewood and cooking time are reduced, there is no smoke in the kitchen and the kitchen and cooking pots become less dirty. After starting using it, regular maintenance such as putting red clay on the cracks on the stove is required. | |
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34．~Micro credit and saving~ The woman used micro credit to purchase a sewing machine (7500 Yen) and started tailoring. Now she earns more than 7000 Yen every month. It is a very important income source for her and 6 daughters. Her husband is out of Nepal, working in the Middle East for long time. Other villagers use micro credit for raising poultry, goat, pig, carpentry, etc. Group members contribute 75 Yen for group saving every month. |
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35．Sustainable agriculture training. In 1998, we held sustainable agriculture training for low caste women in Parbat. Training in other villages has started this year. and the programme included "leadership training", "soil management", "compost", "natural pest management" and "seed management". The trainer is explaining about mulching with rice straw to avoid dryness, weeds and to keep the plants warm. |
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36．Making model toilet Literacy classes are conducted for adult women in neighbouring villages. Model toilet project was also introduced to each literacy class. Behind the toilet, we can see the still open pit. Many villagers made toilets by themselves, made of bamboo, grass and mud, after they saw the model toilet |
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