Forest structure in the Far Western Terai of Nepal: Implications for management

Abstract

Forest inventory was conducted in 2009 in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts of the Far Western Development Region of Nepal. Altogether 282 circular plots were measured in 38 camp units equaling 0.02% sampling intensity. The average stocking (excluding regeneration) was 1201 number of stems per ha. The mean stem volume was 172 m3 h-1 and biomass was 186.6 tons h-1. Among the important tree species, Sal (Shorea robusta ) exhibited the highest biomass of 89.8 t h-1 and constituted 48.12% of the total stand biomass, followed by Asna (Terminalia tomentosa) 41.0 t h-1 or 21.00% of the total biomass. The biomass portions of other major species were Chirpine (Pinus roxburghii) 6.50%; Haldu (Adina cordifolia) 3.23%; and miscellaneous species 11.57%. Total air-dry biomass, including stem, branches and leaves, of the two districts was calculated at 51.88 million tons, with Kailali having 37.26 million tons and Kanchanpur 14.68 million tons. The total carbon, after conversion, in forest trees of these two districts was 35.02 million tons. Change in mean stem volume, stocking and composition from earlier assessments underscores the need for appropriate silvicultural intervention. Key words: Volume; biomass; carbon; Far Western Nepal; forest inventory DOI: 10.3126/banko.v20i2.4798 Banko Janakari Vol.20(2) 2010 pp.21-25