1. Mikania micrantha : A Threat to Community Forest
Surendra Bam, Khusiman Pun, P. Hareesh Chandra, M. Annissa, M. Ashwani, S. Indraja, S. Keredin and P. Shagufta
Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh India
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CONCLUSIONS
The Bagmara Community Forest (BCF) at the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park which has been supplied with high degree of endemism and ecosystem specially famous for its habitat to endangered wild fauna like One horned Rhino, Asian elephant and Bengal tiger is being greatly threatened by Invasive plant species.
Assessing the diversity of Invasive plant species, prioritizing them will add to present backup of their study.
The presence of Mikania in plots greatly reduces the diversity of native plant species in plots.
Identifying and mapping the species like Mikania as a threat to ecosystem can provide more insight view about their ecological attributes and the ways to manage them.
Twenty plants species were identified as alien plants with invasive characteristics.
Mikania micrantha was found to invade all stages of plants species from herbs to trees. Among tree species Trewia nudiflora was found to be mostly invaded by Mikania.
Mikania micrantha has highest IVI which proved plant as the most dominating plant species. Magnitude of species ranking showed Mikania micrantha having the significant impact on the native plants species.
The invasion of the weed decreases with the increase of canopy closure, which shows the intolerance of shade.
The grassland with sparse trees and shrub is observed to be highly prone to invasion by the Mikania.
Data collection:
(i) Primary data (Key informants, survey, Direct observation)
(ii) Secondary data.
Line plot sampling design and Plot size : 20m*20m for tree, 5m*5m for pole,1m*1m for sapling
Important Value Index (IVI) was measured by Formula given by Zobel et al., 1987;
Importance value index (IVI) = RF+RD+RC
Dominance diversity curve
Modified form of invasiveness rank form.
STUDY AREA
RESULTS
CONSERVATION IMPLICATION
Nepal lacks comprehensive study which focuses on assessment of impacts of Invasive species.
Mikania micrantha should be categorized as most serious weed of Chitwan National Park and it needs to take immediate action to control the weed. 
Studying the diversity, distribution and status of invasive species like Mikania micrantha will helps us for sustainable management of natural resources and conservation of wild species over chitwan national park.
This study will be effective reference for future study.
Bagmara Community Forest (BCF) of Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park . Area of BCF is ha.
REFERENCES
Drake, J. A., Mooney, H. A., Di Castri, F., Groves, R.
H., Kruger, F. J., Rejmanek, M. and Williamson, M.
1989. Biological invasion: A global perspective. Scope
37. Wiley, Chichester, London, England.
Mooney, H.A. and Hobbs, R.J Invasive species
in a changing world. Island (press, Washington, D.C.)
Tiwari, S., Adhikari, B., Siwakoti, M. and Subedi, K.
2005. An inventory and assessment of invasive alien
plant species of Nepal, IUCN- The World Conservation
Union, Nepal.
Zobel, D.B., Yadav, U.K., Jha, P.K., and Behan, M.J.
1987. A practical manual for ecology, Rani Printing
Press, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ranking Criteria for Mikania
Scientific name
Mikania micrantha
Impact
High
Biology and ecology
Distribution and abundance
Difficult to control
Invasiveness rank
Study area
Scientific name
Mikania micrantha
Impact
High
Biology and ecology
Distribution and abundance
Difficult to control
Invasiveness rank
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) for funding this project and The Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Nepal for technical assistance.
I would like to thank P. Hareesh Chandra for his valuable suggestions.
I would like to thank my friends for their support and encouragement .