J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 30:143-149 (2009) 143
Research ArticleRECIPROCAL RELATION BETWEEN POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT: INNOVATIONSON FLORA DATA COLLECTIOND. R. Dangol
Institute for Social and Environmental ResearchFulbari, Chitwan, NeppalE-mail: dharmadangol@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
In recent years, social and natural scientists have gained interest in understanding reciprocal relationsbetween human populations and the environment. Research methods have been developed forinvestigating the secrets of interations of human and environment. This paper describes the flora datacollection methods used in a longitudinal research project “Reciprocal Relation Between Populationand the Environment” and highlights how the research sites were selected, how the research plots weredesigned in each site and how the qualitative and quantitative data of flora found in each research plotwere recorded. This paper also discusses how the flora data can be linked with sociodemographic dataand how the data can be used to unfold the effect of human activities on flora diversity and/or the effectof flora on the life of the human population in the study area.
Key words:
Human population, research methods, data analysis, longitudinal research, research design.
INTRODUCTION
We can see tremendous interest of both natural as well as social scientists in the investigation of relationships between human populations and the environment (Subedi, 2000; Mathema, 2000). Eachschool of scientists works separately and develops the methodology for their purposes. As a result,ecologists give more attention to plants or animals or environment and less to human population (seeDuwadi
et al.,
2002; Shrestha
et al
., 2002). Social scientists give more attention to human dimensions andwork out and develop their methodologies (for example, Dahal, 2000; K.C., 1998). It is felt important towork together in collaborative research so that the secrets of the interrelationship between population andenvironment can be unfolded. To fill up the gap, we develop a longitudinal research project to studyreciprocal relations between population and the environment. For this study we work together and developmethodology. In this paper, I attempt to highlight on (1) location of our research sites and plots, (2) designof research plots, and (3) data sets we collected. I also try to give appropriate examples of our methods.
Location of Research Sites and Plots
We define a research plot as a 10 × 10 m
2
stratified fashion in the forests, grasslands of ChitwanNational Park and common lands decided on the basis of 1992 aerial map. The research plots wereconfined in the different sites (Blocks), in the Western Chitwan Valley of lowland Nepal.
Forest Block A
To the east of the study site lies the Tikauli/Barandavar Jungle which extends about 13 km south of the East-West Highway. The entire research plots of this Block A in the Tikauli Jungle are located withinthis strip of forest. Each set of plots is approximately 1,250 m (4,100 ft) wide, running inward from theedge of the forest to the center. The area within which the 62 plots are located is the Sampling Frame of Forest Block A. The research plots are based on Plot Sampling Method. The plots are designated asA0101, A0102, A0103, A0104, A0105.The Sampling Frame of Forest Block A consists of twelve rows, the first 11 rows with 5 research plotsin each row and 12
th
one with only 3 research plots. The remaining four plots (A0P08, A0P88 A0P09A0P99) were selected, 2 from left side and 2 from right side of the Khageri Irrigation Canal.
144 Dangol
a.
In each row the research plots were spaced at an interval of 250 m (820 ft). This is a standarddesign.b.
The bearing between every two research plots was set at 140 degrees (note that this bearing iscalculated using the East-West Highway as reference point).c.
The distance between each row of plots was 1 km.d.
The 12 rows of plots began 250 m due south from the East-West Highway crossing of theNarayani Irrigation Canal which runs along the edge of the forest.
Forest Block B
To the south of the Study Site lies the Chitwan National Park (south of the Rapti river). Altogether 44research plots were identified from the Forest Block B. The Sampling Frame of the Forest Block B in theNational Park starts from the Jarneli Post in the east and goes up to the confluence of the Reu Khola andRapti river to the west.Within this area are found grassland, swamps and forest. A total of 10 research plots were identifiedfrom the four blocks of grasslands that fall within the sampling frame. The remaining 34 research plots areselected from the forest of the Chitwan National Park.The sampling frame of Forest Block B had the following design:a.
There were seventeen rows with only two research plots (e.g. B0101, B0102; B1701, B1702) ineach row.b.
Within each row the first research plot was located 250 m inwards and due south from the forestedge along the Rapti River. The second research plot was located 1 km due south from the firstresearch plot.c.
Research plots (BG0101) in the grasslands have been identified on the basis of size only.
2.3. Forest Block C
To the north of the Study Site, along the left bank of the Narayani River there are different patches of forest. Due to the comparatively small size and irregular shapes of these forests, research plots have notbeen identified according to the Plot Sampling Method. Still the research plots have been proportionallydistributed in these different patches. For the Forest Block C, the inverted "W" pattern has been adoptedfor the identification of the plots. Collectively, these different patches of forest form the Forest Block Cfrom where 21 research plots (C101, C102, C103, C104 for Nagarban) were identified as shown below:The distribution of the research plots within Forest Block C was as follows:1. Nagar ban 4 research plots Near Narayanghat City2. Jhanjhane ko ban 5 research plots Near Mangalpur3. Gobreni or Majhuwa ko ban 7 research plots Near Gunjanagar4. Kalaban 5 research plots Near Gunjanagar
Common lands
A research plot in common lands is defined as 10 x 10 m
2
randomly selected point in the commonlands referred by sampled Neighborhood and identified by POPENV team. We have designed 138research plots (CL101, CL102, CL103.and so on) in the common lands located in 48 Neighborhoods of thePOPENV study. These plots represent different habitats such as Plantation areas, Flood affected area,Common grazing lands, Barandavar grazing and grass cutting area, School ground and airport area,Wetlands (Pokhari (pond) and Ghole areas), Roadways, and Canal ways. In these lands also, the samplingunit of 10 x 10 m
2
was marked starting from the reference point, i.e. south-west corner moving 10 m eachin clockwise direction due north, then east, south and west. Later three sampling units of 1 m
2
werepositioned diagonally from the southwest corner in each 10 x 10 quadrat to record the number and covervalue of the plants growing in the common lands. In the roadways and canal ways, 1 x 25 m plots weremade and in each plot, 3 quadrats of 1 x 1 m were positioned, two at the two ends (between 2 and 3 m and23 and 24 m) and one at the center.
J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 30:143-149 (2009) 145
DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH PLOTSMaterials required
We used simple equipments for the present study as listed below:a.
Measuring tapes (for plotting the quadrats).b.
Compass and pedometer (for locating directions and measuring distances).c.
Four straight sticks, each of one meter long (for making the quadrats of the 1x1 m
2
quadrat).d.
Sickle, iron pegs, ID Plate and long cords.e.
Forest and Common land Plot Forms
Locating research plots
1.
First locate the plot on an aerial and/or traced map. Verify this location with the written directionprovided. This forms the basis for locating the research plot in the forest.2.
While locating the plot make use of a compass and pedometer to verify the direction and to count thepace for measuring distance, respectively.Note that bearing in the forest of more than 30 m will prove difficult. So, be sure to take bearingwithin shorter distances only.3.
Once you are in the research plot, mark a tree and establish it as a South West (SW) corner of theresearch plot. This is the base tree. Mark the tree with corresponding plots ID.
Plotting different sampling units
Starting from SW corner (base tree) of the 10x10 m
2
quadrat, move 2 m east and then 2 m due north.Mark this point. With this point at center, measure one meter of the southern border of the quadrat. Thethree other sides of this unit can be then easily plotted. This will be the first 1×1 m
2
sample unit. For thesecond sample unit, use the northwest corner as the reference point, and measure 2m due east and then 2 mdue south, and mark the plot in the same manner as the first. This is the second sample unit. Using thenortheast corner as the reference point and working 2 m due west and then 2m due south can plot the thirdsample unit. The fourth sample unit, similarly, can be plotted by using the south east corner as referencepoint and then working 2 m due west and then 2 m due north. Make the fifth plot in the center of the 3×3m
2
quadrat. Figure 1 illustrates the outlines of the research plots in our study sites.
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