Community participation for conservation of threatened orchid … Detailed Final... ·...

Community participation for conservation of threatened orchid Dactylorhiza hatagirea

in Jumla District

Prakash Bhattarai1 and Chandra Mohan Gurumachand

2

1. Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

2. Department of Plant Resources, Jumla District, Nepal.

Summary

Jumla district, rich in various natural resources, is a highly rich district on valuable medicinal

and aromatic plants. Dactylorhiza hatagirea is an inherently slow-growing and poorly

regenerating species, having high medicinal properties and subjected to illegal trade . The

study aims to answer the following questions: i) Is the district consist enough Dactylorhiza

hatagirea to harvest? ii) Do the sustainable harvesting and cultivation of the species is

possible in Jumla district? iii) How much the community people aware about the target

species and its habitat conservation? We sample in three Village Development Committe in

the district. Total 50 plots of size 4 m2 were laid randomly in each VDCs for population

studies. Furthermore, we use semi structured questionnaires for threat assessment, awareness

programme was conducted using posters, videos and lectures in school and community for

providing better knowledge in public. The frequency, density and abundance of Dactylorhiza

hatagirea in Depalgaun VDC, Patamara VDC and Chhumchaur VDC were 34, 0.41, & 2.41;

30, 0.27 & 1.8 and 58, 0.52 & 1.79 respectively we conclude that the density and frequency

of Dactylorhiza hatagirea is very low. People have very little knowledge on the legal basis of

the target species. Grazing and trampling is very high and unsustainable collection and illegal

trade are increased enormously. The study site was subjected to continuous grazing and high

illegal trade, which are the main threat to the species. From the social survey, we found the

species is in peril due to illegal trade and unsustainable harvesting. Capacity strengthens

training and awareness programme were crucial for species conservation.

Introduction

The Himalaya offers a diverse forest types within which one can observe diversity in forest

product such as medicine, vegetables, nuts, wild edible fruits and decorative as non-timber

forest products (NTFPs). The folk medicinal practices are quite common among the ethno-

cultural groups worldwide. Similarly, the ethnic groups of Jumla district have great

knowledge of flora and fauna and their value as NTFP (Paudel 2007).

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are amongst the most valuable resources of Nepalese

livelihood, providing food, health and socioeconomic values (Shrestha et al. 2002). In the

mid hills and the mountains, medicinal plants are considered as easy cash crops for the

socioeconomic development of rural people (Chhetri and Gautam 2015). In some rural hilly

areas, it contributes up to 50 % of total annual family income (Edwards 1996). NTFPs in

Nepal contributes about 5 % of national GDP, where whole forest sector contributes to 15%

(Ghimire et al 2008). Moreover, wild medicinal plants that are harvested from wild crosses

the number of hundreds which are mostly traded in Indian and Chinese international market;

amongst which, 95 % of the NTFPs are collected from the wild and 90 % are exported to

India in raw form (Gurung and Pyakurel 2006).

The importance of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs) has increased enormously over the

last two decades. Herbal remedies are now introduced as mainstream consumer products

manufactured by multinational companies, and sold in supermarket chains and in a variety of

other outlets, globally (Poudel 2007). Medicinal, aromatic and dye plants are finding

increasing use of the day in different products such as food supplements, cosmetics,

fragrances, traditional cuisine, dyeing and coloring agents. As a result, there is growing

demand of Nepalese MAPs and other NTFPs for these purposes.

Jumla district, rich in various natural resources, is a highly rich district on valuable medicinal

and aromatic plants. About 41% of the district area is covered by the forest and rangeland

where most of the valuable non timber forest products are confined (Paudel 2007). People are

using NTFPs especially the medicinal and aromatic Plants (MAP) as an alternative source of

income in the district (Paudel 2007). NTFPs play a crucial role in the livelihood strategy of

these people (Subedi 2010). The major NTFPs traded from the districts are YarchaGumba

(Cordyceps Sinensis), Guchchi Chau (Morchella Conica), Jatamasi (Nardostachys

grandiflora), Sugandhawal (Valeriana wallichii), Atis (Delphinium himalayai), Nirbishi

(Pernacia nubicola) etc. According to the District Forest Office (DFO), in average, 16

hundred thousand rupees of royalty are collected from different NTFPs exported from the

district annually. Apart from this, a very high amount of Dactylorhiza hatagire, a banded

species for collecting, trade and process, is exported through illegal channels in India every

year due to high market demand (Ghimire 2008).

Dactylorhiza hatagirea is a terrestrial, erect herb, up to 60 cm high, with palmately divided

tuberoids. The Himalayan endemic medicinal orchid which is found in Hindu Kush Himalaya

range at an altitude between 2800-4200 m a.s.l. (IUCN 2004), has been identified as the

endangered species listed by CITES and vulnerable species listed by CAMP. Dactylorhiza

hatagirea is an inherently slow-growing and poorly regenerating species (Sharma et al 2005),

having high medicinal properties (Bhattarai et al. 2014), thus, an important species for

conservation. It is an important medicinal plant species prioritized by the government for

research and management (DPR 2006). According to Forest act 1993 and Forest Regulation

1995, Nepal Government has banned the rhizome of D. hatagirea to collect, trade and

process. Although this is banned species, unwise harvesting, unscientific use and illegal

trading is being practiced in different parts of the country, including Jumla district so this

study aim to answer the following questions: i) Is the district consist enough Dactylorhiza

hatagirea to harvest? ii) Do the sustainable harvesting and cultivation of the species is

possible in Jumla district? iii) How much the community people aware about the target

species and its habitat conservation?

Objectives of the study

The overall objectives of the study are to make aware people about the sustainable harvesting

method and conservation of target species. The specific aims include:

to assess population dynamics of the threatened Dactylorhiza hatagirea in the study

site.

to cultivate species on private land.

to ascertain levels of threat.

to establish institutions for proper management and conservation of the target species.

Materials and Methods

Study Area

Jumla district is located in the north-west of Nepal and is considered as the administrative

and commercial hub of the Karnali Zone. It is located at 290 16' 31"North and 82

0 11' 00"East

and ranges from an altitude of 915 m asl to 4679 m asl. The area of the district is 2,531 km2

and comprises 26 Village Development Committees and 1 municipality. The district

comprises mostly grassland and highland meadow, often used for grazing Himalayan goats,

sheep, and yaks, and abundant in medicinal herbs with great potential for sustainable

economic development. The total cultivated land area consist about 12% of the district’s total land, which is not enough to sustain livelihood of the people. We conduct our study,

particularly in three village development communities (VDCs) i.e Depalgaun, Patamara and

Chhumchaur. The study sites were Hadanne located at 29012.702 N and 082

013.233 E

(Depalgaun VDC), Deutuchuli located at 29021.496 N and 082

012.946' E ( Patamara VDC)

and Halechour located at 29020.729N and 82

0 22.829E (Chhumchaur VDC) (Figure 1.).

Hadanne and Halechour are south facing slope, whereas Deutichuli is north facing slope and

are periodically pastured by cattle during June to August every year.

Figure.1. Map of the study area showing sampling VDCs

Methodology

Sampling methods:

We first selected the sampling site based on the availability of the target species. The field

sampling was conducted in July and August. We sample in three Village Development

Committee in the district. Total 50 plots of size 4 m2 were laid randomly in each VDCs. The

sampling plots were marked with stakes and geographical coordinates for further population

dynamics study in successive years.

Population Studies

In order to ascertain the population of the target species, we calculated density, frequency and

abundance of Dactylorhiza hatagirea. The frequency, density and abundance are calculated

as:

Frequency = total number of quadrate of occurrence x 100 / total no of quadrate of

studied

Relative frequency = frequency of individual species x 100 / total frequency of all

species

Density = total no of individual species in all quadrate / total no of quadrate studied x

area of the quadrat

Relative density = density of individual species x100 / total density of all species

Abundance = total no of individual of species / total no of quadrate in which sp. has

occurred.

Threat Assessment

The semi structured questioners were prepared and asked to the local people of all age groups

as well as focal group interviews and stakeholder meeting were conducted to know the threat

and local peoples' knowledge and perception towards Dactylorhiza hatagirea. Furthermore,

we recorded the trampling, grazing, Insense collection and Dactylorhiza hatagirea collection

mark in the study area to know the threat to the species.

Community level training

Community level trainings were conducted in the district headquarter. Export from

Department of Plant resources as well as project team were the resource person. Total 3

trainings were conducted. Multimedia projector, leaflets and posters were used as a training

material.

Institutional Development

The people from the nearest settlement where we conducted our sampling were choosen for

developing Institute named, Panchaunle Samraksan Samuha. The local people from the

settlement were trained to be a part of species conservation.

Awareness programme

The people awareness programmes were conducted in training in the district headquarter as

well as in community and Secondary Schools. Ratna Chudeshowr Higher Secondary School

and Shree Karnali Secondary School were chosen for the school awareness programme.

Poster, pamphlets, and awareness raising videos were shown. We also conduct debate

competition and essay competition among the students of the secondary schools.

Results

Population Studies

The frequency, density and abundance of all the species in three different village

development committee were calculated separately (Table 1 to Table 3). The frequency,

density and abundance of Dactylorhiza hatagirea in Depalgaun VDC, Patamara VDC and

Chhumchaur VDC were 34, 0.41, & 2.41; 30, 0.27 & 1.8 and 58, 0.52 & 1.79 respectively

(figure.2).

Figure 2. Frequency, Density and Abundance of Dactylorhiza in three different VDCs.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Frequency Density Abundance

Depalgaun VDC

Patamara VDC

Chhumchaur VDC

Table 1. Frequency, Density and Abundance of all the vascular plant species in Depalgaun

VDC.

S.N. Name of the Species Frequency Density Abundance

1 Acanthocalyx nepalensis 76 2.98 7.84

2 Anaphalis sp 60 2.39 7.97

3 Anemone rivularis 66 2.87 8.70

4 Aconogonum molle 64 2.64 8.25

5 Cremanthodium arnicoides 78 4.48 11.49

6 Dactylorhiza hatagirea 34 0.41 2.41

7 Delphinium himalayai 10 0.19 3.80

8 Epilobium wallichianum 58 2.01 6.93

9 Geranium wallichianum 98 4.78 9.76

10 Geum elatum 72 3.31 9.19

11 Impatiens stenantha 22 0.68 6.18

12 Iris decora 56 2.42 8.64

13 Leontopodium jacotianum 26 1.49 11.46

14 Morina longifolia 54 2.26 8.37

15 Nardostachys grandiflora 26 0.62 4.77

16 Parnassia nubicola 56 2.75 9.82

17 Pedicularis pectinata 74 1.08 2.92

18 Polygonatum cirrhifolium 30 0.56 3.73

19 Polystichum prescottianum ? 46 1.62 7.04

20 Potentilla argyrophylla 94 3.97 8.45

21 Primula sp. 68 1.19 3.50

22 Rhododendron setosum 10 0.24 4.80

23 Rosa sp. 26 0.28 2.15

24 Saussurea auriculata 8 0.12 3.00

25 Saussurea polystichoides 52 3.38 13.00

26 Selinum wallichianum 76 1.61 4.24

27 Senecio graciliflorus 16 0.4 5.0

28 Tanacetum dolichophyllum 44 1.07 4.86

29 Trigonotis rotundifolia 10 0.07 1.40

30 Valeriana hardwickii 88 3.25 7.39

31 Veronica himalensis 52 1.38 5.31

Table 2. Frequency, Density and Abundance of all the vascular plant species in Patmara

VDC.


1 Arenaria debilis 66 0.66 5.94

2 Anaphalis margaritacea 18 0.18 42.00

3 Anaphalis sp. 40 0.4 12.85


http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=242300778




5 Arenaria debilis 4 0.04 1.00

6 Bistorta amplexicaulis 26 0.26 10.92

7 Bistorta macrophylla 100 1 12.00

8 Codonopsis viridis 12 0.12 1.00



11 Geranium wallichianum 100 1 15.86

12 Geum elatum 78 0.78 14.64

13 Impatiens stenantha 24 0.24 9.42

14 Iris decora 14 0.14 2.29

15 Juniperus recurva 8 0.08 1.00

16 Jurinea dolomiaea 26 0.26 2.92

17 Leontopodium jacotianum 35 0.35 18.53


19 Pedicularis hoffmeisteri 6 0.06 1.00

20 Pedicularis pectinata 18 0.18 5.00

21 Phlomis bracteosa 14 0.14 7.57




25 Primula sp. 98 0.98 7.83

26 Rhododendron setosum 4 0.04 10.00

27 Salvia hians 74 0.74 5.95


29 Swertia ciliata 40 0.4 2.90



Table 3. Frequency, Density and Abundance of all the vascular plant species in Chhumchaur

VDC.


1 Acanthocalyx nepalensis 18 0.82 9.11

2 Anaphalis contorta 8 0.19 4.75


4 Bistorta amplexicaulis 34 2.32 13.65

5 Bistorta milletioides 32 1.41 8.81

6 Cremanthodium arnicoides 42 1.76 8.38



9 Epilobium wallichianum 32 0.64 4.00

10 Geranium wallichianum 100 5.22 10.44

11 Iris decora 74 6.23 16.84



13 Nepeta laevigata 96 4.12 8.58

14 orchid sp. 54 2.88 10.67

15 Parnassia chinensis 2 0.05 5.00

16 Phlomis bracteosa 92 3.06 6.65




20 Primula sp. 24 0.61 5.08

21 Rumex nepalensis 82 2.22 5.41

22 Saussurea auriculata 62 1.34 4.32


24 Senecio graciliflorus 92 3.36 7.30

25 Stellaria sp 30 0.36 2.40

26 Swertia ciliata 62 1.79 5.77


28 Thermopsis lanceolata 18 0.28 3.11


30 Veronica himalensis 26 0.37 2.85

Threat Assessment

While conducting the semistructured questioners to the stakeholder meeting, interview with

local people and our direct observation in the study site, we found the illegal trade as the most

common threat to the species because of its high market demand. Most of the people were

involved in its collection, including school students. Recently, two people were arrested from

the nearby India broader, possession of about 40 kg of dried Dactylorhiza tubers who were

involved in Dactylorhiza hatagire smuggling from long time. The unsustainable harvesting is

common practice in the study since they were not aware of the poor regeneration ratio of the

species, but they realized that the population of the species are declining in recent years. Next

to the illegal trade, grazing pressure in the study is the next threat, however, the facilitation

role of other thorny species protect it from grazing. The species uprooted were common in

the study site, indicating unsustainable harvesting in the study area. The trampling is also

common in the study site. People use the target species for their daily uses for different

diseases, so daily household use is the next threat to the species.

Community level training

All together 3 trainings of 3 days each were conducted in the district headquarter. 10 people

from each community were involved in the training programme. They were taught about the

importance of the species, its market value, legislation adopted by the government and

sustainable harvesting method. Six hours training was conducted on each day, 3 hours before

lunch and 3 hours after launch. We divide 2 groups in each training and gave them their task

throughout the training and the winner team got prize at the end of training. People’s evaluation at the end of the training were satisfactory, but they request for follow up training

for further skill development.



Institutional Development

We form three institutes for conservation of Dactylorhiza hatagirea, namely Panchaule

Samrakshan Samuha (Dactylorhiza Conservation Group) in three different villages. The fund

of 20,000 NPR was funded for each conservation group to cover initial running costs of the

organization. They finally have a plan to register the group under Nepal government by

broadening the area of the group and changed the name to the Biodiversity Conservation

Group. This group is responsible to conserve the local biodiversity of the area. They are now

convinced for policy advocacy to legalize the sustainable trade of target species for livelihood

improvement. This institute is also responsible for commercial farming of the target species.

The experimental plot for commercial farming of target species is successful now the tubers

are sent for testing chemical constitution with the help of local traders.

Awareness Programme

Awareness programme is conducted in the training, community and two schools. Thirty

people were trained highly and trained as social mobilizers for raising awareness. They work

voluntarily in a weakened to conserve species. Door to door counseling was made in all

houses in each VDCs. Two group meetings were conducted to further strengthen their

knowledge. Thirty peoples were present in the first group meeting whereas thirty six people

were present in the second group meeting. We also conducted school awareness programme.

We took a whole day for the students of class 9 and 10. One hundred sixty eight students in

Ratna Chudeshowr Higher Secondary School and One hundred ninety five students in Shree

Karnali Secondary School were participated in school awareness programme. We found that

the students were more aware about the species and already have very good knowledge in its

legal basic comparing with community people. Debate and essay competition compelled

them to know more about the target species. They used internet source and our lecture for

strengthening their knowledge.

Conclusions

From the field study and sampling we conclude that the density and frequency of

Dactylorhiza hatagirea are very low. The study site was subjected to continuous grazing

which is the main threat to the species. From the social survey, we found the species is in

peril due to illegal trade and unsustainable harvesting. Capacity strengthens training and

awareness programme were crucial for species conservation.

Recommendations

Pressure on target species is due to illiteracy and poverty of the study site so the livelihood

activity by sustainable use of resources should have to launch immediately to support the

livelihood of the local people. The sustainable harvesting of target species along with other

high economic plant species should be launched. The illegal trade of the target species should

be discouraged and the legal basis should be adopted to cultivate and trade the target species.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the Department of Plant Resources, Jumla district for their

continuous help and encourage. We would like to thank all the community people who were

directly involved in this project. We would like to thank Mrs. Rita Chhetri for species

identification and Mr. Arjun Thapa for preparing GIS map. Last but not least, we would like

to thank Rufford Small Grant for Nature Conservation for financial support to conduct this

study.

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Photographs

Grazing on the study site Sampling Plots

Sheep grazing in the study area Herbarium preparation in Study Area

People participating in training programme People in group awareness programme

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