Author(s)

Bikram Pandey^1*, Arbindra Timilsina^2,3, Binita Pandey⁴, Chhabi Lal Thapa¹, Kamal Bahadur Nepali⁵, Pradeep Neupane¹, Resham Thapa¹, Sunil Kumar Gaire¹, Mohan Siwakoti¹

¹Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal.
²Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China.
³University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁴Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal.
⁵National Botanical Garden, Godawari, Lalitpur, Nepal.

The present study analyzes the information and perception of the local community of Samagaun VDC, Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) regarding Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soó (Orchidaceae). We assessed the local peoples’ perception on its population status, its availability, factors causing its decline and management practices of this terrestrial orchids. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to gather information targeting the age group between 25 and 60 years (n = 75, 45 male and 30 female). Most of the informants (76%) believe that the abundance of this orchid is declining. Over grazing of domestic animals, over harvesting and lack of awareness among the local community were determined to be the major causes of decline of D. hatagirea in the study area. Protection measures as prescribed by the informants were control grazing, raising awareness among the individuals and sustainable harvestings for the long-term conservation of the species. Systematic management plans that incorporate the participation of local individuals and prioritization of their views will be applicable for the proper conservation of the species.

Local Perceptions, Conservation and Management, Orchid, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Samagaun VDC, Manaslu Conservation Area

Pandey, B. , Timilsina, A. , Pandey, B. , Thapa, C. , Nepali, K. , Neupane, P. , Thapa, R. , Gaire, S. and Siwakoti, M. (2016) Peoples’ Perception and Conservation of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soó in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7, 1662-1672. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.712157.