Forest biodiversity gradients and the human impact in Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal |
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Authors: | Morten Christensen Jacob Heilmann-Clausen |
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Institution: | 1. University of Copenhagen, Forest and Landscape Denmark, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark 2. Habitatvision, Sk?lsk?rvej 22, 4180, Sor?, Denmark
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Abstract: | Patterns of biodiversity, environment and human impact were studied in 57 sample plots in an 1,178 ha forest area in a rural
mountain area of Nepal that is administrated by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Alpha-, beta- and gamma-diversity
was measured or estimated for six groups of organisms: trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs, polypores and mycorrhizal fungi, and
the recorded patterns were correlated with a set of environmental variables. Human impact in terms of fuelwood collection,
selective cutting and grazing was found to influence species diversity patterns in all organism groups. Species richness of
trees, climbers and polypores at plot level (alpha-diversity) generally responded negatively to human impact, whereas species
richness of herbs and shrubs showed a positive relation. Species turnover (beta-diversity), measured as length of the DCA
first axis, was significantly correlated to distance to village for all species groups. This indicates that the human impact
is very important for the biodiversity patterns in the study area, and that biodiversity connected to undisturbed forest habitats
are potentially threatened in the area. The results are discussed in the context of practical conservation. A proposal for
future management zones addressing protection of biodiversity without limiting the local use of the forest resource is put
forward. |
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Keywords: | Forest conservation Human impact Species richness Species turnover |
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