Chapter-1: introduction 1 Background

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4.4.1. Plant species at signs recorded in DHR

Habitat and vegetation parameters for every bear sign encountered along transects were recorded using 10m radius plots. We recorded Quercus species and Rhododendron species as a major percentage followed by Malus sikkimensis, Schima wallichii, Pyrus pashia, Maesa chisia, Berberis species, Lyonia ovalifolia,Pinus species, Rubus species, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Engelhardia spicata and Himalayacalamus species, cupressus species, cedrus deodara and Dummer”(“local name).

4.5. Anthropogenic Pressure

4.5.1 Grazing pressure

Table 8: Grazing area, seasons & herders

Summer	Respondent (%)	Winter	Respondent (%)
Buki	39.19	Bobang	9.09
Dhorpatan	18.92	Sukurdung	6.06
Fagune	1.35	Dhorpatan	1.52
Mansun mela	10.81	Morang	4.55
Tharakhola	10.81	Adhikari chaur	1.51
Bhedachang	1.40	Gurjakhani	18.18
Antarekharka	1.40	Deurali	6.06
Dhara	4.05	Pelma	4.54
Hanpa	2.70	Maikot	16.67
Navewang	2.70	Uttarganga	3.03
Ekhark	1.40	Makeltay	3.03

The Buki forest (39.19%) had more pressure followed by Dhorpatan (18.92%), Tharakhola (10.81%), Mansun Mela (10.81%) and Dhara (4.05%) in the summer season. The Gurjakhani (18.18%) forest had highest pressure followed by Maikot (16.67%), Bobang (9.09%), Sukurdung (6.06%), Deurali (6.06%), and Morang (4.55%).

In both season, we found that 90% herders were used for livestock grazing while only 10% herders were not used for livestock grazing. The most frequent age of herder was 40-50 years old and followed by 20-40 and 10-20.It was seen that Rele, Jhim, Syaula forests had more pressure than other forest to collect fuel wood, fodder and timber followed by Ghuri, Chepare forests.

Grazing is usually only a seasonal treat to the high elevation pastures of the Himalayas. The level of livestock grazing is also one of the most serious treats to the ecological integrity of the mid-hill and highlands PAs (NBS, 2002).

4.5.2 Forest resource dependency

The people’s pressure in forest area was mainly for fuel wood, fodder, and wood/timber collection. Beside these, NTFPs collection was also a major pressure exerting activity in the DHR. During the study, we categorized the forest on the basis of distance and collection of forest resources. Three types of forest being used by people were found i.e. ‘nearest forest’, ‘distant forest’ and ‘nearest and distant forest’ to collect forest resources.
Nepal has approximately 4,268,000 hectares of forest (29% of the country’s total land area). The latest available statistics reveal that forest area decreased at an annual rate of 1.7% between 1978/79 & 1994, whereas forest & shrub land together decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 %.The decrease in forest area was not uniform through the different physiographic zones. In the hill areas it decreases at a rate of 2.3% per annum from 1978/79 to 1994 (NBS, 2002). Studied carried on Asiatic black bear had also shown that human impact was the prime cause of extinction of the bear in Japan (Horino and Shingo 2000), and in India (Johnsingh 2003).

4.6. Conflict Zone and Mitigation Measures

4.6.1. Encounter rate of Asiatic black bear in DHR

During field survey, altogether 33 transects were laid of 52.3 km (Annex-1). In the survey period, the existing trials and tracks were chosen for transects to record the reference points and GPS location. During survey, 8 transects were established from which 3 transects that run through agricultural field to forest area and 5 transects entirely in the forest area. Taking consideration of the altitudinal ranges, forest cover, human settlement, agricultural land and perceived bear and human conflict situation, the possible representation was expected by laying out 17 transects in other areas. The average transect length was 1.58 km, the minimum length of 1.0 km transects were laid where the topographical condition was difficult. But in those areas, where frequent survey was difficult, the transect length was maximized up to 3 km length and there were only one large transects. The distance of 1.0 km was maintained between each transects.

During the survey, altogether 25 signs were encountered, which comprised of 17 sings of scats, 5 feeding signs (plant crushing), 2 tracks and 1 nest. Overall, the encounter rate for the black bear signs based on line transect (N=33) was 0.75±0.09 signs/km with standard deviation of 0.56 (Range =1.0-3.0 km).The sign encounter rate of black bear is statistically significant in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (t=7.76, df = 32, P <0.05).

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