Information about the factors associated with conservation participation by local communities is important to garner support and involvement within a natural protected area. This research examined how residents’ natural resource dependency and other social, economic, and access-related variables predict conservation participation. Data were collected based on a stratified random sampling of households from Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP)—a newly designated mountainous protected area in Nepal. Analysis was conducted via an ordered logistic regression model. Higher levels of participation were observed among households that comprised of a larger family size, belonged to a higher caste/ethnicity, resided in higher elevations, and noted frequent visits and interactions with park management staff. However, natural resources dependency (i.e., income and fuelwood fodder) lacked a statistically significant relationship with conservation participation. Similarly, the economic dimension (i.e., land holdings and total livestock unit) was not a significant predictor of participation. Overall, key findings suggest that conservation participation at GCAP needs to be improved with multiple outreach activities, especially to resource-dependent households. More specifically, it is important to ensure equitable access so that locals can participate in programs that provide alternative resource use options, skills development, and trainings for income generation activities.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

To evaluate most economical and efficient weed management practices in dry direct seeded rice, a field experiment was conducted at research block of AFU Rampur, Chitwan during the Kharif 2016 season. The treatments consisted of two establishment practices viz., zero till and conventional tillage and eight weed management practices such as weedy check, weed free, Pendimethalin followed by hand weeding at 20 DAS 1 kg a.i ha-1 , Pendimethalin followed by 2, 4-D ethyl ester at 25 DAS 1 kg a.i ha-1 , pendimethalin followed by bispyribac-Na at 25 DAS at 25 g a.i ha-1 , pendimethalin followed by ethoxysulfuron at 25 DAS 25 g a.i ha-1 , pendimethalin followed by penoxsulam at 25 DAS 25 g a.i ha-1 , pendimethalin followed by (ethoxysulfuron + bispyribac-Na. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. The result of experiment showed that non-significant difference was notice among the establishment method. However, significant difference was observed in weed management practices in all the traits expect number of weeds m-2 , number of weed species m-2 , and dry weight of broad leaf, narrow leaf and sedges weeds. The higher number of weeds m-2 was found in weedy check plot which resulted in higher weed infestation at all the stages as compared to other weed management practices. Application of pendimethalin followed by hand weeding at 20 DAS recorded higher weed control efficiency which reflected in higher yield of 4202 kg ha-1 was recorded under this treatment as compared to weedy check plot (1292.13 kg ha-1) but rest of the treatments are statistically at par with other weed management practices.