Understanding Anthropogenic and environmental drivers of tree species diversity for improved biodiversity outcomes in Nepal’s community forests

Abstract ID: 3.13279 | Accepted as Talk | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Lila Nath Sharma (1)
Rahul, Karki (1)

(1) ForestAct, ForestAction Nepal, Bagdol Lalitpur, 977 Lalitpur, NP

Categories: Biodiversity
Keywords: micro topography, Biodiversity conservation, Disturbance, Ecosystem services

Categories: Biodiversity
Keywords: micro topography, Biodiversity conservation, Disturbance, Ecosystem services

Abstract

Spatial variability in topography and anthropogenic disturbances influences the fine scale patterns of tree diversity in forests. The impact of human disturbances is even more pronounced in forests with high dependency of local people on the forest resources. Understanding how these environmental and anthropogenic drivers interact and influence tree richness and diversity is crucial to manage forest for both conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services to the local communities. Taking case of 6100 block of biodiversity rich community forest in Eastern Nepal, we evaluate spatial pattern of tree diversity in relation to human disturbance and local environmental covariates. We sampled a total of to 228 plots of 314 m2 each and measured tree species, invasive species cover, forest protection status, elevation, slope and human disturbances. We used a boosted regression tree (BRT) analysis to assess which predictor(s) drives the tree richness – calculated as number of tree species per plot – and ranked them based on their relative influence. A total of 116 tree species, possibly the highest record in a single forest in Nepal, were recorded in this study with an average tree richness of 4.21±0.22. Our best BRT model revealed that distance to boundary (51%), slope (21%) and elevation (18%) are most important predictors explaining altogether >90% of the variation in the tree richness. Tree diversity increased while moving from forest periphery to the center (core) of the forest. Spatial pattern of tree diversity in relation to environment and human disturbances clearly indicate that variable management strategy needs to be adopted to manage various parts of the forest to ensure biodiversity conservation and provision of ecosystem services in community forests.

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