Impact of grazing restrictions on livestock composition and husbandry practices in Madi Valley, Chitwan National Park, Nepal

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
BHIM GURUNG ◽  
KRISTEN C. NELSON ◽  
JAMES L.D. SMITH

SUMMARYLivestock grazing restrictions are a common practice in the protected areas of developing countries. Understanding the influence of these restrictions on livestock husbandry is critical because local people's livelihoods often depend on access to grazing lands and biodiversity conservation may be affected by grazing activities. Household surveys and government records were used to examine impacts of grazing restrictions on livestock composition and use of available forage resources in the Madi Valley of Chitwan National Park (Nepal) during early (1997) and late (2006) restriction policy periods. Households responded to grazing restrictions by reducing numbers of less productive cattle and high maintenance buffalo to offset forage demands, but there was no decrease in the number of goats. In 2006, average household fodder biomass (3.4 t yr−1) available from agricultural land was adequate for the average household livestock units (3.3 t yr−1) requirement. Although most households ‘stall fed’ livestock as an adjustment to the new policy, about 30% still depended on community forests and parklands for livestock rearing. Higher ‘stall feeding’ reduced grazing pressure and increased forest cover but demanded more fodder cutting, which has the potential to increase human/wildlife interactions, particularly with tigers in the buffer zone community forests.

2016 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1292-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared R. Stapp ◽  
Robert J. Lilieholm ◽  
Jessica Leahy ◽  
Suraj Upadhaya

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleš Ruda ◽  
Jaromír Kolejka ◽  
Thakur Silwal

Population growth forces the human community to expand into the natural habitats of wild animals. Their efforts to use natural sources often collide with wildlife attacks. These animals do not only protect their natural environment, but in the face of losing the potential food sources, they also penetrate in human settlements. The research was situated in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Nepal, and the aim of this study was to investigate possible geospatial connections between attacks of all kinds of animals on humans in the CNP and its surroundings between 2003 and 2013. The patterns of attacks were significantly uneven across the months, and 89% of attacks occurred outside the park. In total, 74% attacks occurred in the buffer zone forests and croplands within 1 km from the park. There was a strong positive correlation among the number of victims for all attacking animals with a maximum of one victim per 4 km2, except elephant and wild boar. The density of bear victims was higher where the tiger and rhino victims were lower, e.g., in the Madi valley. The data collected during this period did not show any signs of spatial autocorrelation. The calculated magnitude per unit area using the kernel density, together with purpose-defined land use groups, were used to determine five risk zones of wildlife attacks. In conclusion, it was found that the riskiest areas were locations near the forest that were covered by agricultural land and inhabited by humans. Our research results can support any local spatial decision-making processes for improving the co-existence of natural protection in the park and the safety of human communities living in its vicinity.


1970 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. Baidya ◽  
D. R. Bhuju ◽  
P. Kandel

Land use dynamics in the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park was assessed by integrated use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System covering 1978, 1992 and 1999. Among all land-use type, forest was the most dominating land-use in 1978 covering 45.33% of total study area. However, the agricultural land became the most dominating land-use since 1992. The study found that since 1978 to 1999 there was increase in agricultural land by 67.28 km2, built-up area by 0.81 km2 and shrub-land by 7.68 km2. Whereas, the forest decreased by 62.23 km2, grassland by 11.38 km2 and water bodies by 2.16 km2. Vegetation density analysis using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) revealed that the densely vegetated area decreased by 5.03 km2 in a time-span of less than 10 years. Despite the successful community forest management in the BZ of CNP, this study showed a decline in densely forested area. Key words: GIS, Land use types, management, Remote sensing, Vegetation. DOI: 10.3126/eco.v16i0.3478ECOPRINT 16: 79-86, 2009


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 12451-12458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rama Mishra ◽  
Khadga Basnet ◽  
Rajan Amin ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane

The Fishing Cat is a highly specialized and threatened felid, and its status is poorly known in the Terai region of Nepal.  Systematic camera-trap surveys, comprising 868 camera-trap days in four survey blocks of 40km2 in Rapti, Reu and Narayani river floodplains of Chitwan National Park, were used to determine the distribution and habitat characteristics of this species.  A total of 19 photographs of five individual cats were recorded at three locations in six independent events.  Eleven camera-trap records obtained during surveys in 2010, 2012 and 2013 were used to map the species distribution inside Chitwan National Park and its buffer zone.  Habitat characteristics were described at six locations where cats were photographed.  The majority of records were obtained in tall grassland surrounding oxbow lakes and riverbanks.  Wetland shrinkage, prey (fish) depletion in natural wetlands and persecution threaten species persistence.  Wetland restoration, reducing human pressure and increasing fish densities in the wetlands, provision of compensation for loss from Fishing Cats and awareness programs should be conducted to ensure their survival.  We also recommend studying genetic diversity of sub-populations, as well as habitat use by radio-tagging. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subash Sapkota ◽  
Sagar Regmi ◽  
Roshan Ghimire ◽  
Ashish Pokhrel ◽  
Amir Sadaula ◽  
...  

Abstract Deer are the hoofed ruminants of the order Artiodactyla and suborder Ruminantia in which infectious disease and parasites are of major concern in their conservation. This specific research helps us to determine the transmission of gastrointestinal parasites between deer and livestock in the buffer zone. The study was conducted in the eastern part of Chitwan National Park from June 2020 to July 2020. Fecal examination for the parasitic load was carried out using Floatation and Sedimentation techniques. 96.49% of the total fecal samples tested for parasitic eggs were found to be positive for the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasite whereas parasitic prevalence in livestock of Buffer Zone i.e. Sauraha and Bachhauli area was calculated to be 87.30% based on the examination conducted within that same period and same area by the veterinary hospital. Pramphistomum was the most prevalent one in both deer (72.72%) and livestock (52.63%). The finding of this research revealed the higher chances of the exchange of parasites between the deer and livestock. A more advanced study must be done in this sector and concerned authorities should develop and implement effective plans to prevent cross-transmission of parasites between deer and livestock and other wildlife.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. V. Ramachandra ◽  
Bharath Setturu

The ecosystem of health and natural resource management is influenced by the social, political, economic system and institutional framework in a region. Rapid economic growth in Bangalore and its environs in recent decades has resulted in environmental changes in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and its buffer (of 5 km). Land use land cover (LULC) change analysis with a modelling technique such as cellular automata (CA)-Markov was used for quantitatively exploring forest cover transitions. The analysis of LULC dynamics has revealed loss of vegetation cover from 85.78 per cent to 66.37 per cent (1973–2015) and severe environmental stress. The region has lost moist deciduous cover, from 26.1 per cent to 13.8 per cent, and witnessed an increase in horticulture, from 8.5 per cent to 11 per cent (1973–2015). The visualization of likely land use in 2027 indicates the loss of forest cover from 41.38 per cent to 35.59 per cent with an increase in urban area from 4.49 per cent to 9.62 per cent (with new residential and commercial layouts in the buffer zone of BNP in violation of the eco-sensitive zone norms as per Section 5(1) of Environment Protection Act 1986). The study provides insights for developing an appropriate planning framework towards conservation and the sustainable management of ecologically sensitive national parks.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 47-53
Author(s):  
Anita Pant ◽  
Shivraj Bhata

The study in Ayodhyapuri Village Development Committee in Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park revealed that the main source of energy is fuel wood, most of which is supplied from Buffer Zone Community Forestry (BZCF) and Chitwan National Park (37.93%) and partially from private land (2.15%). Agriculture was main source of livelihood among the villagers. Fuel wood consumption per household was found to be 3516.11 kg per year in the study area. Landless and low-income households were found using more fuel wood from BZCF and National Park.  The root problems in the study area are the maximum extraction of fuel wood and fodder from the CF and National Park, and the crop depredation by wildlife. The depredation of the crop by wildlife is one of the major barriers influencing the conservation attitude of local people. The CF is rich in biodiversity as revealed by presence of 36 species of trees, 54 species of shrubs and 66 species of herbs. Shorea robusta is the most dominating species in both trees and shrub strata whereas Imperata cylindrica is the most frequent herbaceous species. Scientific World, Vol. 10, No. 10, July 2012 p47-53 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v10i10.6862


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