Ambika Gautam - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ambika Gautam

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, Apr 3, 2023

Diversity of species plays an important role in ecosystem functions and services. Nepal possesses... more Diversity of species plays an important role in ecosystem functions and services. Nepal possesses a disproportionately high diversity of flora and fauna at genetic, species and ecosystem levels due to it's unique geographic position and altitudinal variations. Loss and degradation of biodiversity is continuing despite the past conservation efforts in Nepal. Out of many potential causes, this study strives to investigate the effects of a road project on biodiversity in the Middle Hills of Nepal. Information about floristic composition was collected from the adjoining community forests using group of 30 circular sample plots, each located at 50m and 20m far from the edge of the road. Results provide evidence that rural road projects are contributing to reduction of biodiversity which may be due to the removal of low-yielding timber species near the road-edge. The study also suggests that proximity to road-edge reduces under-storey vegetation which will lead less capable forest to sustain it's original biodiversity. However, silvicultural operations have potential to minimize the indirect loss of biodiversity caused by road projects.

Asia-Pacific journal of rural development, Dec 1, 2002

This research investigated local participants' evaluation of a governmentsponsored community fore... more This research investigated local participants' evaluation of a governmentsponsored community forestry programme in one watershed of the Middle Hills of Nepal, with particular reference to the availability of essential forest products and Local environmental condition. Data were collected through household surveys and key informant interviews. Respondents cited a general improvement of forest condition after the implementation of community forestry in 1978, concurrent with a decrease in collection distance and improvements in environmental condition. Shorter collection distance was most likely the result of a smaller constellation of accessible forests, due to community forest protection by other user groups. Community forests are the main source of fuelwood for approx. half the respondents but private forests/land are the main source of fodder for more than fifty percent of the respondents. The community forestry programme in Nepal was envisioned to increase the availability of subsistence forest products (fuelwood, fodder, timber) in collectively managed forests, yet evidence from this research indicates that this has only occurred for fuelwood. A Logical but perhaps unintended result of widespread community forestry implementation is the reduction in total forest availability for a particular household requiring the resource input into private forests. We argue that private Landholdings will inevitably become an increasingly important source for meeting subsistence forestry needs of rural households as the number of community forests increase. This research thus paves the way for future studies assessing how private forests are emerging to fa_ ce this challenge.

International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, Dec 1, 2007

In the context of ongoing theoretical debate on the role of group size and heterogeneity in affec... more In the context of ongoing theoretical debate on the role of group size and heterogeneity in affecting collective action outcomes, this study analyzed associations of group size, and intra-group heterogeneities arising from ethnic, educational and livelihood-related differences ...

Society & Natural Resources, Jan 26, 2005

In the context of an ongoing debate on the type of institutions or tenurial arrangements that are... more In the context of an ongoing debate on the type of institutions or tenurial arrangements that are appropriate for the sustainable management of common pool resources (CPRs), this article examines the role played by local institutions in determining the conditions of two forests located in the Middle Hills of Nepal. The institutional robustness of the forests' governance systems is evaluated using Ostrom's (1990) design principles that characterize the configuration of rules devised and used by long-enduring CPR institutions. The findings show that the two forests are different in level of historical degradation as well as present condition, and these differences are generally explained by the structural characteristics of the local institutions governing the forests. The analysis indicates that Ostrom's design principles are useful for analyzing institutional robustness of local forest governance systems. However, some of the principles need modification or expansion if they are to be prescribed for forestry situations.

Environmental Management, 2004

This study assessed changes in forest cover in a mountain watershed in central Nepal between 1976... more This study assessed changes in forest cover in a mountain watershed in central Nepal between 1976 and 2000 by comparing classified satellite images coupled by GIS analyses, and examined the association of forest change with major physiographic, economic, and local forest governance parameters. The results showed an increase in forested area (forest plus shrublands) by 7.6% during 1976-2000. Forest dynamism (changes including improvement, deterioration, gain, and loss) was highest in low-elevation, south-facing and less-steep slopes that were closer to roads. Proportionately the highest net improvement and gain to forested area also took place in those locations. Forest degradation occurred at KEY WORDS: Land cover changes; Remote sensing; GIS; Institutions; Land tenure; Nepal

Oryx, Jul 26, 2017

Products obtained from forests or other natural environments play a crucial role in sustaining th... more Products obtained from forests or other natural environments play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries through income generation and the creation of employment opportunities. Although studies have been carried out to evaluate the dependence of local livelihoods on environmental products, quantify the linkage between poverty and biodiversity, and assess the impacts of resource depletion on household economics, most have been focused geographically on the tropics. Our study was conducted in the mountain village of Jumla, Nepal, to quantify the economic contribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba) to local households. Income from yarsagumba accounted for up to % of the total household cash income, on average, and its contribution was highest in the poorest households. It contributed to reducing income inequality by %, and the income was utilized to purchase food and clothes, celebrate festivals, pay for medical treatment and children's education, and for savings. There was a mean annual decline of  pieces in the per capita harvest of yarsagumba during -. However, the decline had no adverse impact on household income, as the price increased.

Banko Janakari, Apr 25, 2017

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Oct 1, 2003

This study analyzed spatial and temporal changes in land use/land cover in a typical mountain wat... more This study analyzed spatial and temporal changes in land use/land cover in a typical mountain watershed covering an area of 153 km 2 in central Nepal by comparing classified satellite images from 1976, 1989 and 2000 coupled by GIS analyses and also investigated changes in the shape of land use patches over the period. The results show an increase in broadleaf forest, conifer forest and winter-cropped lowland agricultural area and decrease in area under shrublands, grasslands and upland agriculture in between 1976 and 2000, although shrublands increased during the second half (1989-2000) of the study period. The number of forest patches decreased substantially in between 1976 and 2000 suggesting merger of patches in the latter periods due to forest regeneration and/or plantation establishment on lands previously separating two or more forest patches. A shape complexity index (SCI) used to study patchiness of land use indicated improved forest habitat in the watershed but increased mean deviation between actual and optimal SCI of forest polygons indicated higher edge effects at the forest patch level during the latter periods. One of the significant changes within non-forestry land use was increased fragmentation of lowland agricultural areas due to expansion of settlements and infrastructural development in the lowlands.

Trees, forests and people, Jun 1, 2022

Global Ecology and Conservation, Jun 1, 2021

Recent forest assessment in Nepal has shown an increase in total forest area as a result of imple... more Recent forest assessment in Nepal has shown an increase in total forest area as a result of implementation of community-based forest management strategies and effective forest restoration interventions. However, success of ecological restoration in some forest stands are argued based on how restoration success is determined. Does increase in spatial coverage and stem densities of preferable plant species alone represent successful restoration or should benefits to alpha diversity of the assemblages also be required? Empirical studies comparing structural attributes of restored and reference forest stands are very limited in Nepal. In this context, species assemblages and structural metrics of woody plants in restored and natural stands of mixed Shorea robusta forests situated in the central lowland of Nepal were assessed and compared. Woody species were evaluated for 60 sub-plots, each of an area of 0.1 ha, established in two sets of stands of 3 Buffer Zone Community Forests. We observed significant difference (p = 0.002) in plant species composition between restored and natural forest stands. Species wise density showed S. robusta with significantly higher (p < 0.0001) density in restored stands compared to natural stands, but densities of other associated woody plants, such as Mallotus philippensis, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Casearia graveolens and Dillenia pentagyna were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in natural stands. Restored and natural stands did not differ in means of overall basal area of woody plants, but when basal area of S. robusta was considered, it was greater in restored compared to natural stands. Alpha and beta diversity values for woody plant assemblages were significantly higher in natural compared to restored stands. Our study revealed emblematic density diversity deflections in restored forest stands. Indicator species analysis showed substantial fewer numbers of indicator species in restored compared to natural stands. We observed evidence of homogenization in species assemblages in all examined restored mixed S. robusta forest stands of Nepal, so future restoration interventions should focus on increasing species heterogeneity.

Community forestry in Nepal was specifically designed to address the problem of environmental deg... more Community forestry in Nepal was specifically designed to address the problem of environmental degradation and enhance livelihood opportunities through increased supply of forest products, generation of income and empowerment of the rural forestdependent communities. The concept behind such design is that people's access to the forest and their involvement in decision making directly affects distribution of goods and benefits and, therefore, their livelihoods. Although the community forestry approach in the country has demonstrated notable successes in many cases, it still has several shortcomings. The difficulties relate to the inclusion and full participation of traditional users, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized groups, and the distribution of benefits to them. Based on the data collected from seven community managed forests using the International Forestry Resources and Institutions research protocols, this paper examines various ways in which community forestry is contributing to sustainable livelihoods, explores the status of equity in community forest management, and looks at the nature of dependence of the forest users on their community forest and how this is likely to change over time. Finally, the paper provides some recommendations for enhancing the contribution of community forests and forestry towards achieving sustainable livelihoods and improving equity in community forest management.

This research was objectively done to correlate the climatic variables with the number of wildfir... more This research was objectively done to correlate the climatic variables with the number of wildfire incidence and burnt area in Nawalparasi, Nepal. MODIS satellite data was used to detect the fire incidence and burnt areas. Climatic (temperature and humidity) data for 2000-2014 periods were obtained from Government of Nepal. The burnt areas of each year were clipped using Arc GIS to calculate the fire affected areas and number of incidences. Meanwhile, the correlation was evaluated to determine the relationship of climatic variables with the fire incidence and burnt area. The analysis showed that temperature and humidity of the study area varied throughout the active fire season (March to May). R 2 values were 0.0123 and 0.0260 of temperature with number of fire occurrence and brunt area respectively. R 2 was same nearly 0.0288 of the correlation of humidity with fire incidence and burnt area. The regression models were tested applying t-test (p ≤ 0.05) for humidity with fire incidence and burnt area. The results showed that there was a clear relationship between wildfire and climatic factors, especially the humidity. The findings can be useful to establish baseline information for forest fire management in Nepal and other developing countries with similar ecological contexts.

Journal of Mountain Science, Dec 1, 2006

Abstract This study employed an innovative methodological framework that combines geomatics and c... more Abstract This study employed an innovative methodological framework that combines geomatics and conventional survey methods to monitor changes in forest conditions and examine their associations with local forest governance parameters in a mountain ...

Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Dec 31, 2019

This document contains the draft Chapter 6 of the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Eco... more This document contains the draft Chapter 6 of the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Governments and all observers at IPBES-7 had access to these draft chapters eight weeks prior to IPBES-7. Governments accepted the Chapters at IPBES-7 based on the understanding that revisions made to the SPM during the Plenary, as a result of the dialogue between Governments and scientists, would be reflected in the final Chapters.IPBES typically releases its Chapters publicly only in their final form, which implies a delay of several months post Plenary. However, in light of the high interest for the Chapters, IPBES is releasing the six Chapters early (31 May 2019) in a draft form. Authors of the reports are currently working to reflect all the changes made to the Summary for Policymakers during the Plenary to the Chapters, and to perform final copyediting.

Global Ecology and Conservation, 2021