Patan Pragya (Volume: 6, Number: 1 2020)

Received Date: Jan. 2020 Revised: April 2020 Accepted: June 2020

Review on Plant diversity Status and Conservation

Practices in Nepal
Joshi (Shrestha) Sudha

Abstract
Plant diversity plays the crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem and sustaining the life in the
globe. Nepal lying in central Himalaya and at the crossroad of two phytogeographicregionsis
bestowed with rich biodiversity. Though the country occupies about 0.1% of global land area but
comprises 3.2% of world’s known flora. Biodiversity is eroding because of many factors such as
habitat loss, deforestation, infrastructure development, over exploitation for human use, invasion by
alien species, global climate change and natural calamities, thus threatening the existence in
globe.Nepal has adopted both in-situ and ex-situ conservation practices to conserve the biodiversity
and maintain the ecosystem in nature. A network of 20 protected areas is established and national
forests under different categories are under protectionto conserve the biodiversity in their natural
habitats.Scientific forest management was initiated to enhance the forest productivity and conserve
biodiversity. Botanical gardens in different localities are established for the conservation of rare,
endangered, threatened and endemic plant species. Moreover, Government of Nepal has enlisted
some plant species in Government protection list and CITES appendices to prevent them from
degradation. Thirty three plant species with medicinal values are prioritized for research and
economic development of the nation.Nepal’s approach in conservation of plant diversity is
commendable and is at the forefront in in-situ conservation practice. However, a considerable
number of plants speciesthat are rare, threatened, endemic are also found outside the protected
areasand need to be conserved.
Key words: Plant diversity, Ex-situ; In-situ, Protected areas, Nepal.
1. Itroduction
Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the range of variations or differences among the
living organisms of the world, and thus includes all the life forms from unicellular
microscopic organisms to multicellular plants and animal with complex bodies. The term
“Biological diversity” was first coined by Dasman in 1968, who also advocated the urgent
need for conservation of biodiversity. The Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD,
1992),in its article 2 has defined the biological diversity “as the variability among living
organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity
within species, between species and of ecosystems"(CBD 1992).

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Biodiversity plays the crucial role in supporting the life in earth and maintaining the global
ecosystem. It is important in a number of ways: 1. Species are used as food, fodder, fuel,
medicines etc. 2. Products from species are sold in national and international markets. 3.
Biodiversity balances the ecosystem that provides a number of ecological services including
the nutrient cycling and plant pollination. Species have social and cultural value, educational
value, aesthetic value and economic value. The natural resources are the primary source of
useful commodities and the biodiversity resources especially the forest resource is the main
source of basic needs such as food, fodder, fiber, medicine etc. of human beings. The rural
people still depend upon the forest products for their livelihood and primary health care.
About 60% of population of the world and 80% of population of Nepal rely on traditional
medicinal herbs present around them to cure different ailments (Shrestha and Dillion,
2003).Nepal is bestowed with rich biodiversity both in flora and fauna. The
elevationgradients in Nepal range from 60 m above sea level in the Tarai to 8848 m of
Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world (MoFSC, 2002). Different bioclimatic zones,
rich edaphic factors combined with varied topographic conditions have created the area as
the huge repository of both flora and fauna. Moreover, Nepal’s position in the central region
of Himalayan range and being at the crossroads of the Indo-Malayan and Palearctic
phytogeographic regionsmade the country a mixing place of species originating in both the
regions.It is reported that the most diverse elevation zone in Himalayan range in terms of
species richness probably lies between 1,500 and 2,500 m (Barthlott et al., 2005). The
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) was adopted by CBD in 2002 for raising the
awareness of the threats faced by plants worldwide and providing policy and action needed
to halt the loss of plant diversity. The GSPC: 2011 -2010 has visioned the plant diversity as
“Without plants, there is no life. The functioning of the planet and our survival depends on
plants. “The strategy seeks to halt the continuing loss of plant diversity.”
(http://www.cbd.int/gspc/). However, because of many challenging factors such as habitat
loss, deforestation, overexploitation, forest fire, pollution, climate change etc., many plant
species are and threatened and in danger of extinction. Forest is the one of the most
important natural resourcesof Nepal and habitat of plant diversity. In contest to Nepal, forest
coverage and biodiversity did not decline for centuries as the people apply their wisdom to
save or promote natural resourcesfor their own survival (Basnet, 1992).However, currently
the deforestation and biodiversity loss is the issue in every corner of the global and
biodiversity in globe is eroding in alarming rate. In developing countries, basically
deforestation is due to population growth and agricultural expansion, aggravated over the
longterm by wood harvesting for fuel and export (Allens and Barnes, 1985). However, in
Nepal besides the population pressure, subsistence agriculture expansion encroaching
forestlands, illegal timber harvesting and forest fire, livestock grazing, daily fuelwood

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consumption, development activities and conflicting policies are the main causes of
deforestation (Chaudhary et al., 2015). Because of those different driving forces, the forest
coverage and the biodiversity in the country had decreased drastically few decades ago.
Hence to mitigate the forest coverage decline and conserve the biodiversity, Nepal has
formulated a number of policies and legislatives and to ensure the basic needs of local
communities and sustainable forest management. Nepal also signed in United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in 1992 and working with the spirit of the
convention. A number of institutions have been engaged to conserve, manage and use the
biological diversity in sustainable way. Ministry of Forests and Environment and its
divisions and departments are fully engaged in biodiversity conservation. Department of
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation are engaged in protected areas (PAs) management
and biodiversity conservation. Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed
Management look after the soil and water related issues which are the basis for biodiversity
existence. Agrobiodiversity related issues are looked from Ministry of Land Reforms,
Agriculture and Cooperative.
Establishment and management of Protected Areas is the best way to conserve and
safeguard the biodiversity. However a number of taxonomically important, rare, endangered
biodiversity also lie outside the PAs. Out of the total area of forest of Nepal, 82.68% lies
outside the PAs and 17.32% inside the PAs (DFRS 2015). Thus a considerable number of
biodiversity which are rare, threatened, endemic and vulnerable also exist outside the PAs.
Human pressure on the resource utilization outside PAs creates the loss of such biodiversity.
Biodiversity specially the forest diversity outside the PAs are threatened mainly by
deforestation and forest degradation caused by various factors such as through land use
conversion for agriculture, illegal settlements, infrastructures (including roads and electric
transmission lines) and actions relating to the use of resources including overgrazing,
unsustainable exploitation of forest products, habitat fragmentation and uncontrolled forest
fires (MoFSC, 2014a).
In order to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues, UN has proclaimed
22 May as “The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)”. CBD decides a theme
for the day every year and different institutions in Nepal are also celebrating the day to
generate the awareness on the needs of conservation of biodiversity.
In this paper, a review was done in the plant diversity status and conservation practices in
Nepal to disseminate the latest data so far possible.
2. Data Source
This review paper was based on the information and data compiled from the published
literatures and grey literatures.

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3. Status of Plant Diversity In Nepal

Nepal ranked in 49th position in world biodiversity (Groombridge and Jenkins, 2000).Nepal
covers about 0.1% of global land area, but harbours 3.2 % and 1.1% of world’s flora and
fauna respectively (Kharal and Dhungana, 2018).However in terms of floral diversity, it
comprises 3.2% of world’s known flora with 2.5% (1001 species) of algae, 5.1% (534
species) of pteridophytes, 5.1% (26 species) of gymnosperms and 3.2%(6973 species) of
angiosperms (MoFSC, 2014b). Altogether 2,467 species of fungi, 792 species of lichens and
1,213species of bryophytes are reportedfrom Nepal (MoFE, 2018), Nepal ranks 10th in terms
of richest flowering plant diversity in Asia and 31st in the world (Shrestha, 2016).The rich
biodiversity plays the crucial role in livelihood of the people and economic development of
nation.
With regard to agriculture biodiversity, 11,389accessions of 52 crops from 62 districts are
deposited in the National Gene Bank and of 790 plant species including 577 cultivated
plants are useful for food (MoFE, 2018).
3.1. Threats to Plant Diversity
Presently, the biodiversity of world is facing the treats from many factors and threats on the
ecosystems and species are no exceptions in Nepal as well. Nepal’s Sixth National Report to
the CBD has identified30 threats prevailed on different ecosystems of the nation in different
provinces (MoFE, 2018).Threat rankings were categorized into four categories viz. low,
moderate, high and very high. Among the different ecosystems, forest ecosystem and
mountain biodiversity were highly threatened.
The main threats posed by the plant diversity in the country are habitat loss, deforestation
and degradation, infrastructure development, over exploitation for human use, invasion by
alien species, global climate change, natural calamities, over exploitation of NTFPs and
MAPs, forest fire etc.However, among those, human intervention in the natural ecosystem is
one of the major threats for biodiversityloss in Nepal especially in the urban areas.
Intervention in the ecosystem by human beings disturbs the biodiversity and becomes
threatened for their existence. Mostly the species with narrow geographical range, with one
or only a few populations, small sized population, with declining population size, and
overexploited species become more vulnerable to extinction by such anthropogenic
activities. It is reported that the current extinction ratesare believed to be 1,000 times higher
than natural background rates of extinction and future rates are likely to be 10,000
timeshigher (De Vos, 2014). If species has lost once, that is forever and irreplaceable.Within
the assessed species, more than 32,000 species which are threatened with extinction
(www.iucnredlist.org). Hence, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is of utmost
need to maintain the life in earth for present and future generation. The threat assessments of
biodiversity in different provinces are given in Table 1.

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Table . 1. Threat assessment of biodiversity in different Provinces

Ecosys Threats Provinces
tems 1 2 3 (Bag.) 4(Gand.) 5 6 (Kar.) 7(Spa.)
Forests Habitat loss
and Moderate High High Moderate Moderate Moderat High
deforestation e
Illegal hunting
and trade Moderate Moderat Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderat Moderat
e e e
Human
wildlife Moderate Moderat Moderat High
conflict e High High High e
Invasion by Moderate Moderat High Moderate Moderate High Moderat
IAPs e e
Forest Fire Moderate High High High High High High
Protect Poaching Moderate Moderat Moderate Moderate Moderate High Moderat
ed e e
Areas Grazing High High Moderate Moderate High Very Very
High High
Illegal Timber
harvesting Low Moderat Moderate Moderate Moderate High Moderat
e e
Uncontrolled
tourism Low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High Low
Rangel Overgrazing
ands Moderate High Moderate Moderate Very High High
High
Invasion by Moderate Moderat High Moderate High High High
IAPs e
Wetlan Human
ds encroachment Moderate High Moderate High Moderate
High High
Over-fishing High High High Moderate Moderate High High
Wide spread
mining of High High High High Moderate High High
gravels
Illegal hunting High
and trapping Moderate Moderat Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderat
of birds & e e
other wild
animals
Invasion by Moderate Moderat High Moderate Moderate Moderat Moderat
IAPs e e e
Agricul Loss of
ture agrobiodiversi High High High High High High High

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ty
Improper use
of pesticides High High Very High High High Moderat
High e
Urbanization High High High High Moderate High High
Lack of
incentives to Moderate High Moderate
conserve local High High High High
landraces
Mount Poaching Moderate High High Moderate Moderate Moderat High
ain e
Overharvestin
g of plant Moderate NA Very Moderat
species High High High High e
Climate High Moderat High High Moderate High High
change e
Unplanned
and Very Very Very Very Very
unregulated High High High High High High High
roads
Species Over
loss exploitation of Moderate High Low
timbers and High High High High
NTFPs
Alien invasive
plant species Moderate Moderate
Moderate Moderat High High High
e
Geneti Loss of local
c land races Moderate Moderat High High Very Moderat High
resourc e High e
es loss Loss of wild
relatives Moderate Moderate Very Moderat High
High High High e
Increased
vulnerability Moderate Moderat
to pest and High High High High High e
diseases
Source: MoFE 2018
Note: IAPs = Invasive alien plants; Bag = Bagmati; Gan = Gandaki; Kar = Karnali; Spa =
Sudurpaschim
4. Conservation Practices in Nepal
As Nepal being a signatory to theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nepal is
continuously working with the spirit of the convention and obliged to fulfill the objectives

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of the CBD including the conservation of biological diversity, its sustainable use and fair
and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources. To achieve these
objectives of CBD, the contracting parties are neededto develop national strategies for the
conservation of biodiversity. Both in-situ as well as ex-situ conservation methods are
practiced in Nepal for the conservation and management of biodiversity.
4.1. In-situ Conservation
In-situconservation is the on-site conservation or conservation of biodiversity in their
natural habitat. According to Glowkaet al. (1994), it also includes the conservation of
domesticated or cultivated plant species in the surroundings where they have developed
their distinctiveness. Article 8 of CBD (1992) promoted the contracting parties to establish a
system of protected areasor areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve
biological diversity.
Protected Areas (PAs)
With the goal of conservationof biodiversity and ecosystem, networks of 20 protected areas
(PAs) are established in Nepal. Those PAs include 12 National parks, sixconservation areas,
onewildlife reserve, one hunting reserve and 13 buffer zones(DNPWC, 2075 BS).CBD held
at Nagoya city of Aichi Prefecture in 2010 has envisioned in expanding the protected area
coverage by 17% on the terrestrial environment (Aichi Biodiversity target 11) by 2020
(CBD, 2010). However, Nepal is at the forefront in establishing the PAswith 23.39 % or
34,419.75 sq. km of the land area under protection (DNPWC, 2075 BS). The PAs
established at different geographic regions is the major approach in biodiversity
conservation in Nepal (Table. 2. Fig. 1).
Table 2.Protected areas of Nepal.
SN Name of Protected Estd. (AD) Area Covered Buffer Zone Geographic
Area (Km2) (Km2) region

1. Chitwan NP 1973 952.63 729.37 Tarai

2. Bardia NP 1976 968.00 507.00 Tarai
3. Sagarmatha NP 1976 1,148.00 275.00 Mountain
4. Langtang NP 1976 1710.00 420.00 Mountain
5. Rara NP 1976 106.00 198.00 Mountain
6. SheyPhoksundo NP 1984 3555.00 1349.00 Mountain
7. Khaptad NP 1984 225.00 216.00 Mountain
8. Makalu Barun NP 1991 1500.00 830.00 Mountain
9. ShivapuriNagarjunNP 1989 (2002*) 159.00 118.61 Midhills
10. Banke NP 2010 550.00 343.00 Tarai
11. Sukhlaphanta NP 1976 (2017*) 305.00 243.50 Tarai

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12. Parsa NP 1984 (2017*) 627.39 285.30 Tarai

Wildlife Reserve
13. KoshiTappu WR 1976 175.00 173.00 Tarai
Hunting Reserve
14. Dhorpatan HR 1987 1325.00 - Mountain
Conservation Areas
15. Annapurna CA 1992 7629.00 - Mountain
16. Manaslu CA 1998 1,663.00 - Mountain
17. Kanchanjunga CA 1997 2,035.00 - Mountain
18. Api Nampa CA 2010 1,903.00 - Mountain
19. Gaurishankar CA 2010 2,179.00 - Mountain
20. Krishnashar CA 2009 16.95 - Tarai
Note: NP = National parks; WR = Wildlife reserve; HR = Hunting reserve: CA =
Conservation Area;* Upgraded to National park.

Fig.1. Protected Areas of Nepal (Source: https://www.dnpwc.gov.np)

Forest management

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Besides the PAs, different types of forests such as Government managed forest, Community
forest, Leasehold forest,Collaborative forest, Protection forest, Religious forest and private
forest are also the means of in-situ conservation (MoFE, 2018).
Forest covered 43.5% of areas in Nepal in 1960 but drastically decrease to reach 38.1% in
1978 and 29% in 1994 (DFRS, 2015). However, forest increased and recovered until
reaching 39.1% in 2010 (Uddin et al., 2015), 40.36% in 2015 (DFRS, 2015) and 44.47% in
2018 (MoFE, 2019).Satellite based study has also showed increased forest in Nepal during
last three decades (Baniya et al., 2018).Most of the accessible forests are handed over and
managed under different categories (community forest, collaborative forests, leased forest)
for multiple uses under forest users (Poudel, 2018). Bythe community mobilization in the
forest for over three decades, the forests in middle mountains and high mountains have
increased in terms of area and quality (DFRS, 2015). But within the same periods, the
forests in Churia foot hills, Siwaliks and Tarai continued to degrade due to serious
challenges such as land encroachment, forest fire, over grazing, over exploitation (Poudel,
2018). Many rural communities still depend upon the forest products for their livelihood and
primary health care wholly and partly. Moreover, the selling of different forest products and
services, including timber, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and ecotourism, has become
a significant source of revenue generation for GoN (Subedi et al., 2014). However, lack of
scientific forest management in the past, some forests, mostly in the accessible areas, are
over matured while the others are exploited leading to forest degradation (Poudel,2018).
Though the forestry sector in Nepal has economic, environmental and socio-cultural
potential but conservation centered management has been losing its benefits (Jayasawal and
Bishwokarma, 2016). Realizing the urgent need for sustainable management of Nepal’s
forest and recognizing the huge potentialfor prosperity through forestry, a new vision on
forestry “Forestry for Prosperity” was announced by Government of Nepal (GoN) in 2012
(Poudel, 2018).The vision contained four major pillars of prosperity viz. sustainable and
scientific management, sustainable use of forest products and services, commercialization
and marketing of forest resources and creating enabling environment (Poudel, 2018). The
vision thus laid the foundation for scientific forest management (SciFM) and for sustainable
management in Production forests.Later on, governmentalso developed and enacted the
Scientific Management Guidelines in 2014. The government has defined the SciFM as “an
application of appropriate silviculture system and forest management principles through
design of systematic compartment of fixed rotation age” (Poudyal et al., 2019). The
Sustainable forest management was aimed to maintain and enhance the economic, social
and environmental values of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future
generations (FAO, 2020). The terms “Scientific forest management” and “sustainable forest
management” have been used and understood interchangeably in the global forestry

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scenario in recent decades linking management activities to principles of sustainable

development (Jayasawal and Bishwokarma 2016).The vision encouraged the promotion of
sustainable forest management initiatives especially in the high value timber species and in
2012 and later with support from Multi Stakeholder Forestry Programme (MSFP) in 2013,
the Department of Forests (DoF) repiloted SciFM in the high value Sal (Shorea robusta)
forest in Tilauakot collaborative forest in Kapilvastu, employing advanced silvicultural
systems (Jayasawal and Bishwokarma 2016). Later on SciFM has been also been started in
at least one forest in eight district including Morang, Makawanpur,Chitwan, Nawalparasi,
Kapilbastu,Rupendehi, Palpa and Kailali using intensive silvicultural operations in 26,000
ha of forests (Jayasawal and Bishwokarma 2016). As of March 2018, 81,500 ha of the
production forest are under SciFM programme (MoFE, 2018).
4.2. Ex-situ ConservationThough conserving the biodiversity in natural habitat is the ideal
method, but biodiversity should also be conserved as ex-situ. Conservation of the
components of biodiversity outside their natural habitats is referred as ex-situor off-site
conservation. Habitat loss, extinction of species, human population growth, intervention on
the natural habitat etc. recalls the need for ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.Rare,
endangered, threatened and endemic species are especially needed to be conserved in ex-
situ. Article 9 of CBD promotes each contracting parties to adopt measures for ex-situ
conservation of components of biological diversity, preferably in the country of origin of
such components, for the purpose of complementing in-situ conservation. In 2010, CBD
adopted the updated Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) 2011-2020 with 16
targets for plant conservation to be achieved by 2020
(https://www.cbd.int/gspc/targets.shtml). According to target 8 of GSPC, at least 75% of
threatened plant species in ex-situ, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20%
available for recovery and restoration programs is urgently and effectively conserved
(https://www.cbd.int/gspc/targets.shtml).Ex-situ conservation strategies play the important
role in conservation of plants species vulnerable to the climate change. The different
methods of ex-situ conservation are the botanical gardens, seed gene bank, in vitro storage,
cryopreservation etc.
Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens are the main important ex-situ conservation sites and help in conservation
and management of plant diversity. Botanical gardens play the crucial role in the
conservation of plant diversity especially the rare, endangered, threatened and endemic plant
species. Department of Plant Resources (DPR), Government of Nepal (GoN), has
established 12 Botanical gardens covering an area of 745.92 ha in nine
districts(Lamichhane, 2018) (Table3.).Moreover, GoN has envisioned establishing botanical
garden in each of 7 states of Nepal (MoFE, 2018)

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Table 3.Botanical Gardens of Nepal.

SN Botanical Garden Locality/District Area (ha.) Altitude (m) Vegetation
(BG) Zone
1. National BG Godavari, 82 1515 Sub-tropical
Lalitpur
2. Mai Pokhari BG Mai 9 2200 Temperate
pokhari/Ilam
3. Dhanusadham BG Dhanushadham/ 20.27 100 Tropical
Dhanusa
4. Vrindaban BG Padampokhari/ 96 500 Tropical
Makawanpur
5. Mountain BG Daman/Makawa 65 2320 Temperate
npur
6. Tistung BG Tistung/Makawa 45 1700 Sub-tropical
npur
7. World Peace Raniban, 164 775 Sub-tropical
Biodiversity Garden Pokhara/ Kaski
8. Dhakeri BG Banke 5 130 Tropical
9. Mulpani BG Kapurkot/Salyan 5.65 2000 Temperate
10. Dhitachaur BG Dhitachaur/Juml 4.5 250 Temperate
a 0
11. Deoria BG Deoria/Kailali 149.5 170 Tropical
12. Godavari BG Godavari, 100 185 Tropical
Kailali
3.4.3. Protected plant species in Nepal
GoN under the Forest Act 1993 has protected some plant species under different
categoriesto avoid the decline in their population in natural habitats (Table 4.).
Table4. List of plant species legally protected in Nepal.
Scientific Name Common/English Name Local name

A. Plant species banned for collection, use, sale, distribution, transportation and export

Angiosperms

Juglansregia Walnut Okhar

Dactylorhizahatagirea - Panchaunle

Neopycrorhizascrophulariiflora Gentian Kutki

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B. Plant species banned for export except for processed with permission of Department of
Forests
Angiosperms

Cinnamomumglaucescens - Sugandhakokila

Cordycepssinensis - Yarsagumba

Rauvolfia serpentine Sepentine Sarpagandha

Valerianajatamansi Spikenard Jatamansi

Valerianawallichii Valerian Sugandhawal

Gymnosperms

Abiesspectabilis Fir Talispatra

Taxusbaccata Himalayan yew Loth salla

Taxuswallichiana East Himalayan Yew

Taxuscontorta West Himalayan Yew

Lichens

Parmelia spp. Lichen Jhayu

C. Plant species banned for harvest, transportation and export for commercial purposes

Angiosperms

Acacia catechu Cutch Tree Khayar

Bombaxmalabaricum Silk cotton tree Simal

Dalbergialatifolia Rose wood Satisal

Micheliachampaca Magnolia Champ

Pterocarpusmarsupium Indian Kino tree Bijaya Sal

Shorearobusta Common sal Sal

Source: GoN/MoFSC (2014b)

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3.4.4. CITES listed Plant species of Nepal

Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
is a multilateral treaty for the protection of endangered animal and plant species.The
increasing demand of the wild life in the world has created the illegal collection and trade of
the wild lifeleading to the erosion of many species,making them vulnerable to extinction. To
control the threatened wild species, the agreement was made between the governments of
world to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival. CITES was drafted as a result of resolution in1963 at a meeting of
members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). Nepal being a signatory party in
CITES since 1975, has enlisted a number of plant species from Nepal under various CITES
appendices (Table 5.).
Table 5. List of Plant species under CITES appendices.
Appendix Scientific name Family Nepali
name/Local
Name
Paphiopediluminsinge(Wall. ex Orchidaceae
Appendix I Lindl.) Pfitzer
(Restricted for Paphiopedilumvenustum(Wall. ex Orchidaceae
trade worldwide) Sims.) Pifitz.
Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Benth. ex Apocynaceae Sarpangandha/
Kurz chandmaruwa
PodophyllumhexandrumRoyle Berberidaceae Laghupatra/Papr
a/ Ban Bhata
Dalbergiaspp. Leguminosae
DalbergialatifoliaRoxb. Satisal
Appendix II Dalbergiapinnata(Lour.) Prain Daamar
(Regulated trade; DalbergiasericeaG.DonDalbergiasis
export permit sooRoxb. ex DC. Sisau
required) DalbergiastipulaceaRoxb.
DalbergiavolubilisRoxb.
Cyatheaspp. Cyatheaceae Rukhuneu
Cyatheabrunoniana(C.B.Clarke)
C.B. Clarke & Baker
Cyathea gigantean (Wall. ex Hook.)
Holttum
Cyatheakhasyana (Moore ex Kuhn)
Domin
Cyatheaspinulosa Wall. ex Hook..
CycaspectinataBuch.-Ham. Cycadaceae Kalbal/Thakal

Dioscoreadiltoidea Wall. exGriseb. Dioscoreaceae Kukurtarul

Euphorbia spp. Euphorbiaceae

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Euphorbia fusiformisBuch.-Ham. ex
D.Don
Euphorbia prostrata Aiton KanikeGhans

Euphorbia royleanaBoiss Siundee

Orchidaceae spp. Orchids
TaxuswallichianaZucc. Himalayan Lauthsalla,
yew talispatra
Taxuscontorta
NardostachysgrandifloraDC.
Meconopsisregia Himalayan Kyashar
yellow poppy
Appendix III Gnetummontanum Gnetum Bhotelahara
(Regulated trade Podocarpusneriifolius Podocarpus Gunsi
from Nepal) Tetracentronsinensis Tetracentron Jharikot
Source: Joshi et al., 2017
3.4.5. Prioritized plant species in Nepal
Natural resources of Nepal are the prized procession of the country, the proper utilization of
which can enhance the economy of nation. Biodiversity is closely linked to livelihood of
Nepalese people. Being the plant diversity rich country, one of the sectors in which the
country has relative advantage is the medicinal and aromatic plants. Hence the GoN has
prioritized 33 medicinal plants (MPs) for research andeconomic development of nation
(DPR, 2006; 2016) (Table 6.).
Table 5. List of MPs prioritized by GoN.
SN Scientific Name Family Nepali Name
1. Aconitum heterophyllumWall. ex Royle Ranunculaceae Atish
2. Aconitum lethaleGriff. Ranunculaceae Bikha
Synonym: Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf
Aconitum ferox var. spicatumBruhl
3. Acoruscalamus Linn. Acoraceae Bojho
4. Asparagus racemosusWilld. Asparagaceae Satawari
5. AzadirachtaindicaA.Juss. Meliaceae Neem
6. Bergeniaciliata (Haw.) Sternb. Saxifragraceae Pakhanbhet
7. Cinnamomumglaucescens (Nees) Hand.- Lauraceae Sugandhakokil
Mazz. a
8. Cinnamomumtamala (Buch.-Ham.) Lauraceae Tejpat
T.Nees&Eberm
9. CurculigoorchioidesGaertn. Hypoxidaceae KaloMusali
10. Dactylorhizahatagirea(D. Don.) Soo Orchidaceae Panchaaule

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11. Dioscoreadeltoidea Wall. exGriseb. Dioscoreaceae Bhyakur

12. FritillariacirrhosaD. Don. Liliaceae Kakoli
13. Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. Ericaceae Dhasingare
14. Juglansregia Linn. Juglandaceae Ookhar
15. Lichens spp - Jhyau
16. Morchellaspp. Pezizaceae KhoyaChyau/
GuchchiChyau
17. Nardostachysjatamansi (D.Don.) DC. Caprifoliaceae Jatamansi
Synonym: Nardostachysgrandiflora DC.
18. Neopicrorhizascrophulariiflora (Pennell) Plantaginaceae Kukti
D.Y.Hong
Synonym: Picrorhizascrophulariiflora Pennell
19. Ophiocordycepssinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung Clavicipitaceae Yarsagumba
&J.M.Sung, Hywel-Jones &Spatafora
Synonym:Cordycepssinensis (Berk.) Sacc.,
Fungi,)
20. Paris polyphyllaSm. Melanthiaceae Satuwa
21. Phyllanthusemblica Linn. Phyllanthaceae Amala
22. Piper longum Linn. Piperaceae Pipala
23. Rauvolfiaserpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz Apocynaceae Sarpagandha
24. Rheum australeD.Don. Polygonaceae Padamchal
Synonym: Rheum emodiiWall. exMeisn.
25. RubiamanjithRoxb. ex Fleming Rubiaceae Majitho
26. SapindusmukorossiGaertn. Sapindaceae Riththa
27. Sinopodophyllumhexandrum(Royle) T.S. Berberidaceae Laghupatra
Ying
Synonyms:PodophyllumhexandrumRoyle
Podophyllumemodi Wall. ex Hoof. f. &
Thomos

28. Swertiachirayita (Roxb.ex Fleming) Karsten Gentianaceae Chiraito

Synonym: Swertiachirata(Wall.) C.B.Clarke
GentianachirayitaRoxb. ex Fleming
29. TagetesminutaLinn. Asteraceae JangaliSayapat
ri
30. TaxuswallichianaZucc. Taxaceae LauthaSalla

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Synonym: Taxusbaccatasubsp. wallichiana

(Zucc.) Pilg.
31. Tinosporasinensis (Lour.) Merr. Menispermaceae Gurjo
32. ValerianajatamansiiJones Caprifoliaceae Sugandhawal
33. Zanthoxylumarmatum DC. Rutaceae Timur
Source: DPR 2006, 2016.
Among 33 prioritized MPs, 13 plant species viz. Curculigoorchioide,
Dactylorhizahatagirea, Fritillariacirrhosa, Morchellaspp., Nardostachysjatamansi,
Neopicrorhizascrophulariiflora,Ophiocordycepssinensis, Paris polyphylla, Piper longum,
Rauvolfia serpentine, Swertiachirayita, Taxuswallichiana, Tinosporasinensis, are prioritized
for the agro-technology development (DPR, 2006; 2016).
4. Conclusion
Plant diversity in Nepal is closely linked to livelihood and economic well beings of
Nepalese people. People in rural areas still depend upon the plant diversity around them for
their livelihood. Biodiversity should be conserved and used in a sustainable way to
safeguard the aspirations of present and future generations. Every plant species in the earth
matters whether it is small or large and needs to be protected. In-situ and ex-situ
conservation practices in fact play the major role in conservation of plant diversity and are
practiced in Nepal. The PAs besides conservation of nature and natural resources are also
the attraction spots for the tourists and thus help to enhance the economy of nation. The
habitats with rare, endangered, endemic, taxonomically important and with high number of
species needto be established as PAs. ThePAs must be actively managed and monitored
regularly to prevent the deterioration.The well designed management plan is crucial to
prevent the biodiversity loss inPAs. Though establishing the PAs is essential for biodiversity
conservation but it is short-sighted to depend totally on PAs for biodiversity conservation
and protection of species need be done outside the PAs as well. Forests are the main habitat
where the rich plant diversity is found. The indigenous people use to apply their wisdom and
management practices to save and promote the biodiversity for their survival for the long
time. Hence the local knowledge and practices needs to be considered for the conservation
outside the PAs.Besides the in-situconservation, ex-situ conservation of threatened and
endangered plant species help in recovery, rehabilitation and their introduction in natural
habitat. Ex-situ conservation needs to be carried out in different bioclimatic zones of the
country and botanical gardens needs to establish in each zone.
In-situ and ex-situ conservation practices besides the conservation of biodiversity and
ecosystem, also help in ecotourism development and hence enhance the economy of nation.
Moreover, biodiversity can be well conserved if the people become aware about the

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consequences of the loss of biodiversity which can be achieve by various methods such as
education, communication, outreach programs.
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