Tropentag, October 6-8, 2009, Hamburg
“Biophysical and Socio-economic Frame Conditions for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources” Inventorying Diversity, Use and Conservation Status of Indigenous Fruit and Nut Species of Nepal for Developing ‘Conservation through Use’ Strategies Nirmala Joshi1 , Brigitte L. Maass2 , Katja Kehlenbeck3 1
Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Department of Plant Resources, Nepal International Center for Tropical Agriculture, CIAT at ICRAF, Kenya 3 World Agroforesty Centre, ICRAF, Tree Genetic Resources and Domestication, Kenya 2
Abstract Nepal is considered one of the richest biodiversity hotspots, including numerous fruit and nut species. These plants play a significant role, especially for the well-being of rural people through providing nutrition, household income and employment. However, many of these species are said to be threatened and disappearing. This paper aims to determine the diversity, utilisation and conservation status of Nepal’s indigenous fruit and nut species. In different climatic zones of Central and Eastern Nepal, covering elevations from 200 to 4200 m asl., indigenous fruit and nut species were surveyed in forests, homegardens, along roadsides, and in markets. Information about the species’ local names, life form, conservation status, and seasonal market availability was gathered by interviewing villagers and fruit traders, together with personal observations and reviewing literature. In total, 124 indigenous fruit and nut species were recorded, of which 66 were trees, 34 shrubs, 11 climbers and 13 herbs. In homegardens alone, 39 indigenous fruit and nut species were grown. Most of these species are not domesticated, and they were found to be threatened by genetic erosion. Main reasons for this appear to be urbanisation, agricultural expansion and deforestation, but also few new plantings due to lack of knowledge and planting materials. Finally, particularly young people change their eating habits, which results in high demands for exotic instead for indigenous fruits and nuts. There are obvious needs in Nepal for documenting the diversity and potentials of these species. This will serve to improve their propagation and production and to conserve their genetic resources. Currently, these species are being neglected by research and development programs in Nepal. The surveyed homegardens were found to be sites of a large variety of indigenous fruit and nut species because the diversity of products was highly valued by the managing households. Thus, we suggest homegardens as a very suitable agroforestry system for the conservation of fruit and nut genetic resources through use. This should be encouraged by initiatives, which promote proper management techniques and develop marketing strategies for indigenous fruit and nut products, but also make available improved planting material.
Keywords: Agroforestry, biodiversity, homegardens, rural livelihood, tree domestication Contact Address: Katja Kehlenbeck, World Agroforesty Centre, ICRAF, Tree Genetic Resources and Domestication, United Nations Avenue, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya, e-mail:
[email protected]
