Bio-diversity

Nepal as a signatory nation to CBD (1992) and member of WTO (1995) through its TRIPS has to register and patent for all biological products and process. By 2006, Nepal has to protect her bio-resources, local knowledge, skill and technologies. Community Bio-diversity Registration (CBR) for that purpose is equally concerned with the documentation of local species along with the associated knowledge and practice. CBR refers to "A record kept in a paper or electronic format by community members, of the genetic resources (landraces) in community, including information their custodians, passport data agroecology, cultural and use values." To implement CBR project, two project sites namely Begnas and Rupakot VDCs of Kaski district is selected. These VDCs represent typical middle hills agro-ecosystem between 670 and 1400m from the sea level. The VDCs are rich both in terms of terrestrial and semi-aquatic diversity. In an study, species diversity of Begnas and Rupa (two renowned lake of Pokhara) watershed recorded are 85 harbaceous species, 32 introduced plant species, 80 species with religious importance, 40 fodder trees, 44 edible wild furits and 128 medicinal species (Oli, 1996). Likewise, Shrestha (1998) assessed aquatic diversity in terms of submerged (18), free floating (7), rooted floating leaved species (6) and emergent species (34). The site is very rich in agro-biodiveristy. More than 64 rice, 24 Taro, 24 sponge gourd and 34 millet landraces are found grown in Begnas village alone. Highly valued Anadi, single sticky rice of Nepal and the most popular Basaune Ghiroula (Luffa cylindrica) are grown for home consumption. On the whole, the site is rich in bio-diversity, however, the question of linking them into people`s livelihoods are hardly discussed. Through this project the valued bio-resources will be promoted as a means of enhancing people`s livelihoods.

Nepal