Scale, Socio-ecological Networks, Corruption and Patronage: Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Plant Resources in Nepal
Objectives
To analyse the perception of the people at different levels on plant resources in Nepal
What is the role of the socio-ecological factors, for example, kin, friends and political networks, monetary flows and patronage, all work together and affect the sustainability of plant resources
To find out who is doing what
Orchids
Sunakhari is an orchid, which is a plant of genera Dedrobium
Sunakhari is not in local medical use but was in trade
Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and Orchids
Sunakhari from Nepal has been exported in China. It is one of the top 50 herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Why this ethnobotanical research?
• An ethnobotanical research has not yet been
conducted in this area, or indeed in Nepal as a
whole
• Ethnographic field work, participants observation,
interviews
Village level Dandabas, local people,
Orchid
Top levelKathmandu (Capital), policy, planning
Middle levelHetauda, DFO, Traders
Orchid journey through different levels
Dandabas, a Tamang village in the Makawanpur district
Dandabas 2010 – Village level
A school girl selling her orchids in village tea shop
A local collector collected up to 25 kilogrammes in one morning
A local trader described three different types of Sunakhari based on its price
A social worker said that his village was hell in the past...
Sunakhari (three species of Dendrobium)
Class one Sunakhari (Dendrobium eriaeflorum) on sale in the village tea shop
Hetauda – Middle level
District Forest Office (DFO)
Traders and local industries
We are just doing our job
We do what it is written on our work plan
Traders persuade collectors
DFO should provide trainings to the collectors
Legal money
Illegal money
Kathmandu – Top level
Department of Forest Ministry of Forest
Policy is not clear
We only look at trees
We have legal authority but do not have manpower to identify plants...
Frequent government changes lead changes in policy from govt to govt
Formed high level commission of 6 members,
10 points procedures
Impose complete ban on Sunakhari collection
A study team and its report
School girls carrying leaf debris from the forest
People carrying fodder in a local bus
Assumed three levels (bottom, middle and top)
DANIDA, DFID, DABUR, AUS AID may not even identify plant species, and are unaware of local ecosystems
Political leaders
NGO’s and CBO’s
District forest offices / officers
Media, Journalists
Village chieftains
Business representatives
Community Forestry User Groups
Local people have knowledge on slow growing nature of Taxus but they are unaware of the commercial use of Taxus leaves
Government of Nepal may not even know a plant’s local uses.
Top level
Middle level
Bottom level
Thank you very much
Queries, comments and feedbacks!!!
This research is supported by the Rufford Small Grant Foundation for Nature Conservation; and partially supported by University Small Grants, University of
Aberdeen and the Hardy Plant Society, UK.