The mitigation of global warming and conservation of biodiversity are two significant environmental challenges today. Estimating and comparing forest carbon stock and plant diversity under different management approaches provide insight into the choice of management approaches for carbon and plant diversity management. We investigated the variation in carbon stock and diversity of plant species in two forest managements under different approaches: the Kakrebihar protection forest (PF) and Sano Surkhet community forest (CF) in Karnali Province, Surkhet, Nepal. In total, 63 sample plots (30 plots in PF and 33 plots in CF) were laid out systematically across the forests. Dendrometric measurements were carried out for trees, poles, and saplings, and representative leaf litter and herb samples were collected. Soil samples were taken at 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm depths using a soil auger. The existing tree volume equations of tree species of interest were used to estimate tree volume, and species-specific wood density and conversion factors were used to obtain total biomass and carbon content. Soil samples were analyzed using the Walkley-Black method to determine soil organic carbon. PF had higher carbon stock, plant species richness, and abundance at the landscape level than CF; however, the scenario differed at the plot level. At the plot level, PF had significantly higher total carbon stock and biomass carbon stock than CF. However, PF and CF were statistically indistinguishable in term of soil carbon stock. At the plot level, PF and CF were statistically indistinguishable regarding richness, Simpson diversity, and Shannon diversity, but PF had significantly higher plant abundance than CF. In conclusion, the value of PF for carbon stock and plant diversity surpassed those of CF. This study suggests that PF might be a better strategy to enhance carbon stock in forests and maintain habitat for various plant species.

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have been grown and used extensively for health care and healing practices since time immemorial in Nepal. They possess cultural, religious and economic values in Nepalese communities. In recent years, the MAPs sector is a growing commercial sector in Nepal that provides livelihood opportunities for low income generating people especially in the Himalayas. In this regard, this study assesses the contribution of MAPs to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Karnali Province of Nepal. A total of 58 species of MAPs were identified in Karnali Province. It was found that various parts of these annuals, biennials and perennial plants have been used as medicines, perfumes and food. MAPs in Karnali Province generated economic output equivalent to NPR 160738 million (USD 1.39 billion) or 1.03% of GDP of Karnali Province and 0.02% of the National GDP in the fiscal year 2019/2020. However, the findings revealed that the current GDP estimate undervalues the contribution of the MAPs sector to the national GDP due to the non-inclusion of ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants. Moreover, if all cash and environmental benefits people derive from this sector could be valued and recorded in the System of National Accounts, the GDP from MAPs would be much higher than the amount estimated in this study. We conclude that MAPs have a reasonable contribution to the GDP of Karnali Province and Nepal.

Banko Janakari, Vol. 23, No. 1, Page 57-60 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/banko.v23i1.9468