Obtaining ecological balance : contemporary local resource management practices in the Annapurna mid-hill zone | |
| Author | Bajracharya, Siddhartha B. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. NR-93-20 |
| Subject(s) | Natural resources--Management Ecology--Nepal--Annapurna |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources & Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The local people practice conservation, harvesting resources with the least disturbance of the natural ecosystem, based on their indigenous knowledge. To this condition has been added various degrees of intervention by modern resource management science. This study explores such a local sustainable resource management system being practiced within the ACAP region, Nepal. The forest resources of the study area have high species diversity in composition, condition and use, according to topography, climate and human settlement patterns. Much forest variation is related to altitude and aspects. Rhododendron arboreum, R. barbatum, Prunus napalensis, Euria acuminata, Symplocus ramosissima and Daphniphyllum himalayansis are the major dominant species of the area. There is a significant under representation of overstorey tree species in the regeneration and sapling classes in the east slope than in the west. Different varieties of nigalo bamboos, including Malinge nigalo Arudinaria malinge are wide spread in various altitudinal belts. The forest resources are extensively used for different purposes. Major use is for fuel wood, fodder, timber and other household purposes. Species preference for the fuel wood purpose differed in study villages. However, for the timber and fodder, species preference is alike. Non-timber forest products are not much harvested, except nigalo bamboo. Sustainable harvesting of these products are recommended. A local resource management system exists in the area. It is the product of an indigenous system marginally modified by the ACAP. The ACAP inspired management practice most notable is a local resource use committee. Management decisions are made by a local Committee based on the environmental ethics, societal norms and local needs. The resources are clearly designated for each isolated village community. A major conclusion of the study is that the key problem in the study area is not preservation of a particular set of species now threatened by extinction, but conservation of the ecological resilience of those ecosystems on which villagers activity depend, and the ability of these systems to continue to provide valued ecological services. A conceptual framework for a more systematic resource management has been developed which focuses on management plan formulation. This recommendation would entail a minor shift in the existing system. |
| Year | 1993 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Moss, Laurence A. G. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Hussain, Md. Zakir ;Suselo, Tri Binarko |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Austria Government |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993 |