Nabin Basnet
Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. is a CITES Appendix II and IUCN vulnerable enlisted tree species that grows in a seasonally dry tropical biome. Its population is in continuous decline due to over-harvesting of its timber, particularly prized for making durable furniture, flooring, carvings, and other different household utility instruments. Further, the species naturally has a poor regeneration rate and habitat destruction and fragmentation, and invasive alien plants have been a major cause of its vulnerability. The study area lies across from one of the last remaining portions of “Charkose Forest,” in between two major developing cities of Nepal: Itahari and Dharan, respectively. This area has witnessed one of the most severe human pressures on the forest in a decade, resulting in severe forest degradation.
Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. in Sunsari district, eastern Nepal. ©Narayan Rai.
A quadrant-based study with the necessary soil parametric test and anthropogenic threat assessment will be done to learn the current ecological dynamics of the tree species. Further, a semi-structured questionnaire survey will be done with the nearby community forest user groups (CFUGs) to know the people's perception towards the species. The information generated through ecological studies and questionnaires will be utilized to develop necessary IEC materials. At the end, grassroots-level community engagement will be done by collaborating with CFUGs and all other concerned stakeholders to conserve and restore the population of this fragile species, across one of the last remnants of Charkose Forest, eastern Nepal.
Overall, the outcomes of this project will provide strong evidence-based data on the impact of human disturbance on the species and help us visualize the existing threats to the species, which can be crucial to developing a long-term monitoring and conservation plan for the species.