Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2. A study was conducted in Chhatiwan VDC of Makawanpur District to compare soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of four main land use types such as forest, degraded forest, Khet and Bari land. Stratified random sampling method was used for collecting soil samples. Organic carbon content was determined by Walkley and Black method. Total SOC stock of different types of land followed the order: as Forest (110.0 t ha-1) > Bari (96.5 t ha-1) > Khet (86.8 t ha-1) > Degraded land (72.0 t ha-1). The SOC% declined with soil depths. The SOC% at 0–20 cm depth was highest (1.26 %) that recorded in the forest soils and lowest (0.37%) at 80- 100cm depth in degraded forest land. Thus, the SOC stock varied with land use systems and soil depths. The study suggests a need for appropriate land use strategy and sustainable soil management practices to improve SOC stock. SAARC J. Agri., 16(2): 13-23 (2018)
Soil quality is the capacity of soil to sustain biological productivity and environmental quality. Assessment of soil quality in different land use systems is essential as inappropriate land use management can degrade and deteriorate its function and stability. In this regard this study was carried out to evaluate soil quality of different land use types in Chure region of central Nepal. Soil quality index (SQI) was determined on the basis of the soil physiochemical parameters. Soil properties like soil pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorous (AP) were significantly affected by land uses types. Forest soil had the highest soil quality index (0.82) followed by bari (0.66), khet (0.64), and degraded land (0.40). Of the soil properties studied, total nitrogen and soil organic matter had the determining role in making significant impacts in the SQI among the different land uses. Hence, the results of this study can be important tool for planner, policy makers, and scientific community to frame appropriate land use management strategy.
Trees Outside Forest (TOF) are considered important from an environmental, economic and social perspective.Due to its spatial heterogeneity and distribution patterns, the assessment of TOF and its importance is largely absent. The current study was carried out to assess the major TOFs, carbon stocks contained and socio-economic contribution of TOFs in Banepa Municipality. A stratified random sampling method was used for the collection of data (i.e. agriculture land, settlement area and other than agriculture and settlement). Circular plots of 1,000 m 2 having a radius of 17.84 m were laid out randomly in all three strata. A questionnaire survey and field observation was done to explore the socio-economic contribution of TOF. During the study, a total of 28 tree species were recorded. Socio-economic contribution of TOF were converted and presented in terms of monetary value per household per year (NRs/hh/yr), i.e. firewood (960 NRs/hh/yr), fruits (820 NRs/hh/yr), selling whole tree (5500 NRs/hh/yr), timber (25500 NRs/hh/yr) and fodder (4543 NRs/hh/yr). About 23% of the TOF are mostly used for fodder collection and the other 23% of TOF for fruit collection. The total carbon stock was calculated to be 5.76 ton/ha (1.39ton/ha in agriculture land, 2.09ton/ha in the settlement area, and 2.27 ton/ha in other than agriculture or settlement) in the study area and the average carbon stock was calculated to be 1.92 ton/ha. Species-wise carbon stock was calculated where Prunus cerasoides and Alnus nepalensis were found to have a higher contribution in carbon storage. Hence, there is a visible impact of TOF in carbon storage and socio-economic improvement of local people.
This article is based on the study carried out in Rani Community Forest (CF) of Makwanpur district of Nepal to assess the distribution of and key threats to pangolin along with its conservation efforts at the community level. The methodology includes searching the direct and indirect signs of pangolin (burrows, footprints, faecal material). Simple random sampling method was applied for the collection of social information related to pangolin. 130 burrows (44 new and 86 old) were recorded during the survey. Distribution of burrows was clumped type and not uniform throughout all elevations. Most of the burrows were found in the elevation range of 500-600m. Most of the people had awareness about pangolin while only few respondents had seen it directly inside the community forest. It indicates that there was occurrence of pangolin in the community forest. Key threats to Pangolin were construction activities, drying water resource, rapid urbanization, habitat loss, lack of food, overgrazing, mining, deforestation, poaching, predation of associated animal species, and forest fire. Among them the construction activities were considered as biggest threat to pangolin. Various community-based conservation programs were initiated by authorities of Rani Community Forest; however, these programs were still not effective for the conservation of pangolin.
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