Assessing plant diversity in community forests of Nepal

This research was carried out in the Bandevi buffer Zone Community Forest (BZCF) and Satkanya Community Forest (SCF) of Barandabhar corridor area in Chitwan district of Nepal to assess and compare the status of floristic diversity in buffer zone community forest and community forest in Barandabhar corridor in Chitwan district of Nepal, managed under different rules and regulations. Primary data were collected from reconnaissance survey, direct observation, forest inventory, interviews with forest user group members and key informant interview. Secondary data were collected from the forestry stakeholders working in community forestry and buffer zone sectors. The floral diversity was assessed by using Simpson s Diversity Index (SI), Shannon Weiner Diversity Index (WI) and Margalef Species Richness Index (MI). Information on management practices were assessed by field observation, key informant interview and review of operational plan of respective forests. Diversity index (SI=0.9367 and WI =3.3714) and species richness index of (MI=10) of BZCF were found higher than the diversity index (SI=0.8749 and WI =3.0099) and species richness index (MI=9.0491) of SCF.