Ripu M. Kunwar

• PhD Cultural and Spatial Ecology
• PhD at Florida Atlantic University

Indigenous plant use-systems have evolved under, and constantly adapted to human and non-human impacts. In the last decades however, increasing socioeconomic and cultural transformations, including land-use change, outmigration, globalized markets, the introduction of new species, and climate change have led to a decreasing availability of indigeno...

Background: This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiog...

Human communities that inhabit rural, remote, rugged and biodiverse environments adopt diverse livelihood strategies such as utilizing different ethno-ecological environments. The present study explores how people use plant resources in the context of availability and accessibility of plants and habitats, and diversity of culture. We hypothesize th...

The provision of ecosystem services is directly related to the type of land use and land cover and management practices in a given area. Changes in land use and land cover can alter the supply of ecosystem services and affect the well-being of both humanity and nature. This study analyses the spatiotemporal variations of land use and land cover and...

Ethical accountability is a cornerstone of ethnobotany and ethnobiology research involving Indigenous Peoples and local communities. This editorial affirms that formal institutional ethics review should never be bypassed, even when such processes fall short in addressing culturally specific contexts. We advocate that, when conventional ethics revie...

By studying the population structure and spatial characteristics, the relationship between tree‐ferns and the environment can be reflected, which has high practical significance. In this study, we employed an ensemble distribution model to evaluate the relative contribution of various environmental variables and predict suitable habitats for tree‐f...

Background: Geographic, cultural, phylogenic, and socio-economic factors influence traditional knowledge. This study evaluates the collection and utilization pattern of the chiuri-Butter tree (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam) across varying geographic and cultural gradients in Nepal. Methods: We carried out a survey of 270 households from ni...

Objectives: This study showcases the use of remote sensing technology for monitoring evolutionary patterns of mountain lakes under climate stress in the mid-hills and hard to reach glacial terrains, ranging about 650-8055 meters above the mean sea level in the Gandaki region of Nepal. Method: Spatiotemporal trends were analyzed from Landsat (Themat...

Background: In quantitative ethnobotany, different statistical tools and approaches have been used to compare medicinal floras with the overall flora of a given area and to investigate over- and under-represented medicinal plant families. Methods: In this study, we analyzed a dataset of medicinal plant species of Nepal to evaluate their usefulness...

Prunus mira and Prunus armeniaca are the two prominent fruit-bearing plant species in the Nepal Himalaya and possess notable ethnobotanical significance. These two species represent relatively unexplored edible resources in Nepalese flora and are characterized by the presence of glands in their leaves and fruits with stony endocarp. Subsequent to a...

Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam, butter tree, locally known as Chiuri, is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree widely distributed on the south-facing slopes in the sub-Himalayan region from 200 m to 1500 m. This is an economically valuable, nutritionally important, ecologically slow-growing, and culturally integrated multipurpose tree spec...

Information on prey selection and the diet of the leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is essential for leopard conservation. We conducted an investigation into the prey species and the proportion of each species in the leopard's diet in a human-dominated mid-hill region of Nepal. The analysis of 96 leopard scats collected between August 2020 and March...

Documentation of indigenous knowledge about plants plays a key role for conservation and utilization of plant resources. The present paper documents the diversity of plants and their traditional use in and around the Jhilmil Lake Area, one of the forest-dominated peri-urban areas of Kanchanpur district lying in Sudurpaschim Province. Vegetation sam...

Background Okhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analy...

Satisal (Dalbergia latifolia) Conservation Action Plan 2080-2090

Simal (Bombax) Conservation Action Plan 2080-2090

Background: The prevalence of ethnomedicinal plant usage can be attributed to a combination of factors, primarily driven by local preferences towards traditional herbal remedies. This tendency is exacerbated by a dearth of practicable alternatives and the pervasiveness of economic distress. Additionally, this phenomenon is greatly influenced by a p...

The indigenous people of Nepal have accumulated knowledge of plants and their uses spanning millennia of oral history, but the current sociodemographic trend threatens the transition of this knowledge. Recording the uses and knowledge of these plants is therefore imperative for revitalizing the traditions and culture and the sustainable use and ava...

Although trees in the agroforestry system play diverse roles in meeting the food, fodder, wood, and energy requirements of the agrarian community, their multifunctional contribution often remains understudied, especially while assessing the socio-economic status (SES) of farmers. Therefore, we conceptualized, developed, and standardized an instrume...

Climate change is causing shifts in the habitat, distribution, ecology, and phenology of Himalayan plants. These changes are predicted to continue, jeopardizing the survival of medicinal plant species and local livelihoods that rely on them. We analyzed the present and future diversity and distribution of medicinal plant species influenced by diffe...

Ethnobotany Research and Applications 25:14 (2023)-http://dx. Abstract Background: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Miracle tree) is traditionally used as food, vegetable and medicine in different

Climate change is projected to create alterations in species distributions over the planet. The common leopard (Panthera pardus) serves an important ecological function as a member of the big carnivore guild, but little is known about how climate change may affect their distribution. In this study, we use MaxEnt to simulate the geographic distribut...

Ficus (Moraceae) is an exceptionally large pantropical genus with over 800 species worldwide. Of the 36 Ficus species native to Nepal, 21 are indigenously used as food, fodder, fuel wood, vegetable, medicine, etc. and F. religiosa, F. benghalensis, F. benjamina, especially have a high religious value for both Hindus and Buddhists and are deemed sac...

In order to appraise climate change effects and adaptation practices in the forestry sector in Nepal, community forests in Tanahu and Kaski districts, representing tropical and temperate bioclimates respectively, were studied through a literature review, field observation, questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. Although it is clear that...

Figures 1–5 in this chapter have been removed because the authors do not have permission to publish them.

Wildlife conservation in human‐dominated landscapes faces increased challenges due to rising conflicts between humans and wildlife. We investigated the human and wildlife loss rates due to human–wildlife conflict between 2000 and 2020 in Nepal. We concentrated on Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), greater one‐horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), tig...

Traditional herbal remedies are used worldwide for treating both human and livestock health issues. Though such uses are relatively well-explored for humans, the ethnoveterinary uses of plant-based remedies in the healthcare choices of livestock in Nepal and associated knowledge are largely ignored. This is important as sustainable livestock produc...

To assess threats to the population of native mammals and their survival, we performed a retrospective study utilizing a rescue and rehabilitation database from Nepal. Based on a total number of 1013 cases involving six taxonomic families of mammals admitted over five years, the outcome (mortality and survivability) differed significantly among six...

Owing to its diverse climatic and topographic condition, Nepal hosts diverse forests and rich biodiversity which provide a variety of ecosystem goods and services. Spread of invasive alien plants, insect pests and pathogens (IAS) has been contributing to degrading forest ecosystem services in Nepal. This study outlined the status, distribution and...

Human–wildlife conflict is increasing globally, particularly in the areas, where wildlife and humans coexist and share resources. Large mammalian predators such as common leopards not only kill livestock but they are also killing humans. Baitadi is among the top ranked districts in Nepal in terms of number of human common leopard conflict events in...

Climate change can be expected to alter ecosystems and influence the spatial distribution of species. Understanding the effects of climate change on species distribution can help develop effective conservation protocols to tackle further biodiversity loss. Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) global populations appear to follow an overall decreasing trend...

Key message The growth of Shorea robusta is positively correlated with temperature, whereas the relation to moisture is weak. Abstract Tree-ring analyses provide a rich archive of information on environmental attributes affecting tree growth. Tree-ring studies conducted so far have mostly focused on temperate species, and research on tropical tree...

Background The risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continu...

Climate change has become one of the most compelling fields of empirical research over the last couple of decades, partly due to its socio-economic impacts. Using a meta-analysis of 235 peer-reviewed articles published between January 2010 and July 2020, this paper appraises climate change adaptation (CCA) research in Nepal and draws lessons for fu...

Fritillaria crassicaulis S.C.Chen (Liliaceae) is reported as a new record for the flora of Nepal.

Pteridophytes constitute the primitive vascular plant group, which are found scattered all over the world. There are 580 taxa of Nepalese pteridophytes, which are most diverse and adapted in different climatic zones forming an attractive component of the vegetation showing different ecological habits such as epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial, tre...

Didymocarpus aromaticusWall. ex D. Don: Didymocarpus subalterans Wall. ex R. Br., Henckelia aromatica (Wall. ex D. Don.) Spreng., Henckelia aromatica Spreng., Roettlera aromatica(D.Don) Kuntze

Anthropogenic pressures in human-dominated landscapes often contribute to wildlife mortality. Carnivores are especially vulnerable to human-induced mortality due to the perceived threat to livestock and humans. Despite having widespread conservation implications, carnivore mortality data have been largely underutilized within Nepal. This study util...

Small carnivores are able to adapt to patchy forests and human dominated landscape in proximity to water sources. Small carnivore’s population is declining due to anthropogenic effects, and in most of the areas, their occurrence is little known. We aimed to identify the spatial occurrence of crab-eating mongoose, the factors affecting the occurrenc...

Poverty and high dependency of rural and mountainous households on the natural resources of Nepal have made the country more vulnerable to climate change. On the other hand, there is inadequacy of adaptation services provided to the vulnerable households and ecosystems. Responding to climate change necessitates amore consolidated effort and effecti...

Background: Far-Western mountainous Region of Nepal is a rich source of floral diversity and medicinal plants. The latter is frequently being used in traditional healing systems in the region. In the present study, we aimed to document richness and diversity of flowering plant species including medicinal species and their indigenous uses in Api Nam...

Simple Summary There is little information available about the species diversity and distribution patterns of Nepalese ants, as well as their importance in maintaining forest health. A survey of forest ants was conducted in Nepal to learn about their diversity, distribution, and role in forest management. Ants were collected using vegetation beatin...

We reviewed 76 climate change adaptation projects that were operational between 2010 and 2020. The review was followed by office and field visits for verification. The office visit helped crosscheck the findings, and the field observations carried out between December 2020 and April 2021 asked 24 key informants and collected supplementary informati...

Human wildlife conflict (HWC) impacts the livelihood of many rural communities worldwide. This study investigated the impact of HWC on people living near community forests (CF) in Nepal. Using databases provided by the Division of Forest Offices and data obtained from surveys between October 2019–March 2020, we quantified the financial loss of HWC...

With the intent to better management human wildlife conflict (HWC) and wildlife conservation in mid-hills outside protected areas of Gandaki province, Nepal, we analyzed the patterns and drivers of HWC. Using data collected from literature, government records and questionnaire survey, we investigated temporal, seasonal and spatial distribution of h...

Trillium govanianum is known to be used for primary health care and household economy, however detailed information on its ecology and importance for local economy has remained unknown. In this study, we investigated T. govanianum population, production and distribution range, as well as its use, trade and vulnerability in Nepal. We show that the c...

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors advised that an incorrect version of Fig. 1 had been provided. The published article has now been updated with the correct version of the figure and the corrected figure may be found below. The authors thank you for reading this correction apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Fritillaria crassicaulis S.C.Chen (Liliaceae) is reported as a new record for the flora of Nepal.

Abstract Background There are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model...

Relevance Sugandhawal (Valeriana jatamansi Jones) is a sub-tropical and temperate traditional medicinal plant, folkloric in Nepal for epilepsy, cholera and neurosis and is used as analgesic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant and sedative. It serves as a promising source for household economy, primary healthcare and herba...

Fragaria nubicola(Hook. f,.) Lindl. ex Lacaita.: Fragaria vesca var. nubicola Hook. f.; Potentilla nubicola Lindl. ex Hook. f.

Mentha arvensisL.: Calamintha arvensis (L.) Garsault.; Mentha agrestis Sole; Mentha alberti Sennen; Mentha angustifolia Schreb.; Mentha arvensis ssp. parietariifolia (Becker) Briq.; Mentha arvensis var. villosa (Benth.) S.R. Stewart; Mentha austriaca Jacq.; Mentha lapponica Wahlenb.; Mentha parietariifolia Becker ex Steud.

Ligusticopsis wallichiana(DC.) Pimenov & Kljuykov:Cortia wallichiana (DC.) Leute; Laserpitium coniifolium Wall.; Ligusticopsis coniifolia (DC.) Pimenov & Kljuykov; Ligusticum coniifolium DC.; Oreocome candolleana Edgew.; Oreocome candollei Edgew.; Oreocome cicutaria (Lindl.) Edgew.; Oreocome elata Edgew.; Peucedanum wallichianum DC.; Pleurospermum...

Tinospora cordifolia(Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thomson.:Tinospora malabarica (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson.

Isatis stocksii Boiss.: Pachypterygium macranthum Rchb. f.; Pachypterygium stocksii (Boiss.) Hedge.

Pyracantha crenulata(D. Don) M. Roem.: Mespilus crenulata D. Don; Crataegus crenulata (D. Don) Roxb.; Cotoneaster crenulatus (D. Don) K. Koch

Erigeron alpinus:Language: Local name, local name

Senecio nudicaulisBuch.-Ham. ex C.B. Clarke: Cineraria pauciflora Spreng. ex DC.; Senecio blattariifolia Franch.; Senecio esquirolii Levl.; Senecio esquirolii H.L ev.; Senecio pallens Bojer ex DC.; Senecio yunnanensis Franch.; Senecio pallens Wall. ex DC.

Fagara oxyphylla(Edgew.) Engl.: Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew.

Pleurospermum candollei:Pashto: Braqshundun

Pleione humilis(Sm.) D. Don.: Coelogyne humilis (Sm.) Lindl., Coelogyne humilis var. albata Rchb. f., Coelogyne humilis var. tricolor Rchb. f., Epidendrum humile Sm., Pleione diantha Schltr., Pleione humilis var. adnata Pfitzer, Pleione humilis var. pulchella E.W. Cooper, Pleione humilis var. purpurascens Pfitzer

Lyonia ovalifolia(Wall.) Drude: Andromeda ovalifolia Wall.; Andromeda capricida Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don; Andromeda cordata Royle; Andromeda squamulosa D.Don; Arbutus herpetica Coleb. ex Roxb.; Lyonia neziki Nakai & Hara; Pieridia ovalifolia (Wall.) Peterm.; Pieris ovalifolia (Wall.) D. Don; Xolisma ovalifolia (Wall.) Rehder

Plant use in the Nepal Himalaya, recorded in the 6500-year-old text of the Rigveda, ranks among the earliest uses of medicinal plants (Malla and Shakya 1984). Another early account, the Saushrut Nighantu, is perhaps the oldest Nepali medicinal plant book, which was produced during the rule of the Great King Mandev in the fifth century, and records...

Citrus medicaL.:Aurantium medicum (L.) M. Gómez; Citreum vulgare Torn. ex Mill.; Citrus x aurantium subvar. amilbed Engl.; Citrus x aurantium subvar. ckakotra Engl.; Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck; Citrus x limon var. digitata Risso; Citrus x limonia (L.) Osbeck; Citrus x limonum Risso; Citrus alata (Tanaka) Tanaka; Citrus cedra Link; Citrus cedrata Ra...

Edwardsia hortensis Boiss. and Buhse; Edwardsia mollis Royle; Keyserlingia buxbaumii Boiss.; Keyserlingia hortensis (Boiss. and Buhse) Yakovlev; Keyserlingia mollis (royle) Boiss.; Sophora buxbaumii (Bunge) B.Fedtsch.; Sophora griffithii subsp. hortensis Yakovl.; Sophora hortensis (boiss. and Buhse) Rech.f.

Evolvulus alsinoides(L.) L.: Candemia alsinoides Scop.; Convolvulus alsionoides L.; Convolvulus linifolius L.; Convolvulus valerianoides Blanco; Evolvulus albiflorus M. Martens & Galeotti; Evolvulus alsinoides var. choisyanus Meisn.; Evolvulus alsinoides var. debilis (Kunth) Ooststr.; Evolvulus alsinoides var. linnaeanus Meisn.; Evolvulus azureus V...

Didymocarpus aromaticusWall. ex D. Don: Didymocarpus subalterans Wall. ex R. Br., Henckelia aromatica (Wall. ex D. Don.) Spreng., Henckelia aromatica Spreng., Roettlera aromatica(D.Don) Kuntze

Nigella cretica Mill.; Nigella indica Roxb.; Nigella indica Roxb. ex Flem.; Nigella truncata Viv.

Paris polyphyllaSm.: Daiswa polyphylla (Sm.) Raf.; Paris biondii Pamp.; Paris daiswus Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don; Paris debeauxii H. Lév.; Paris kwantungensis R. H. Miao; Paris polyphylla var. emeiensis H. X. Yin, Hao Zhang & D. Xue; Paris polyphylla var. kwantungensis (R. H. Miao) S. C. Chen & S. Yun Liang; Paris polyphylla var. polyphylla; Paris polyph...

Juncus articulatus L.: Juncus articulatus var. obtusatus Engelm.; Juncus articulatus var. stolonifer (Wohll.) House; Juncus lampocarpus Ehrh. ex Hoffm.; Juncus lampocarpus var. senescens Buchenau; Juncus subartyiculatus Zak. & Novonpokr.

Dryopteris cochleata(Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) C. Chr.:Aspidium cochleatum (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don.) Christ, Aspidium erythrosorum var. souliei Christ, Aspidium filix-mas var. cochleatum (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don.) Christ, Dryopteris chrysocoma var. squamosa (C. Chr.) Ching, Dryopteris filix-mas var. cochleata (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don.) Alderw., Dryopteris hele...

Maesa chisiaBuch.-Ham. ex D. Don.: Maesa prodigiosa C. Chen

Rhododendron anthopogonD. Don: Rhododendron anthopogon var. album Davidian, Rhododendron hypenanthum Balf. f.

Angelica glaucaEdgew.: Angelica archangelica subsp. norvegica (Rupr.) Nordh.; A. commutata (C.A.Mey. ex Rupr.) M.Hiroe; A. discocarpa (Fr.) M.Hiroe; A. intermedia Schult. ex Steud.; A. litoralis (Wahlenb.) Fr.; A. major Gilib. [Invalid]; A. norwegica (Rupr.) Nyman; A. officinalis Moench; A. procera Salisb.; A. sativa Mill.; Archangelica archangelic...

Daphne bholuaBuch.-Ham. ex D. Don.: Daphne cannabina var. bholua (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Keiss.

Polygonatum cirrhifolium(Wall.) Royle: Campydorum verticillatum (L.) Salisb.; Convallaria leptophylla D.Don; C. stellifolia Peterm.; C. verticillata L.; Evallaria verticillata (L.) Neck.; Polygonatum angustifolium Bubani; P. erythrocarpum Hua; P. jacquemontianum Kunth; P. kansuense Maxim. ex Batalin; P. leptophyllum (D.Don) Royle; P. macrophyllum S...

Choerospondias axillaris(Roxb.) B.L. Burtt & A.W. Hill:Poupartia axillaris (Roxb.) King & Prain; Poupartia fordii Hemsl.; Spondias axillaris Roxb.; Cherospondias axillaris var. japonica (Ohwl)Ohwl; Rhus bodinieri H. Lev.; Spondias lutea Engl.

Diploknema butyracea(Roxb.) H.J. Lam.: Aesandra butyracea (Roxb.) Baehni;Bassia butyracea Roxb., Illipe butyracea (Roxb.) Engl., Madhuca butyracea (Roxb.) J.F. Macbr., Mixandra butyracea (Roxb.) Pierre; Mixandra butyracea (Roxb.) Pierre ex L. Planch

Persicaria amphibia(L.) Delarbre: Persicaria amphibia var. emersa (Michx.) J. C. Hickman, Persicaria amphibia var. stipulacea (N. Coleman) H. Hara, Persicaria coccinea (Muhl. ex Willd.) Greene, Persicaria hartwrightii (A. Gray) Greene, Persicaria muhlenbergii (Meisn.) Small, Polygonum amphibium L., Polygonum amphibium ssp. laevimarginatum Hultén, P...

Euphorbia hirtaL.: Anisophyllum piluliferum (L.) Haw.; Chamnaesyce gemnella (Lag.) Small; Chamnaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp.; Chamnaesyce hirta (L.) Small.; Chamnaesyce hirta fo. glaberrima (Koidz.) Hurus.; Chamnaesyce hirta var. glaberrima (Koidz.) H. Hara; Chamnaesyce hirta var. laeticincta Croizat; Chamnaesyce karwinskyi (Boiss.) Millsp.; Chamnaesyc...

Myrica sapida Wall.; Myrica. farqhariana Wall. (Kabra et al. 2019); Myrica nagi auct. Non Thunb. (Jackson 1994); Myrica integrifolia Roxb. (Patel and De 2006).

Astilbe rivularisBuch.-Ham. ex D. Don.:Astilbe indica (Blume) Backer; Astilbe speciosa Jungh.; Spiraea barbata Wall. ex Cambess.

Stephania elegans:Nepali: Taro lahara, Baatule paati, Baatulapaate; Tamang Paathaa, Tam Barki, Laharache; Hindi: Nagbel, Rajpatha, Dudhiya, Sankhjadi, Satwa, Myanaru; English Elegant Tape Vine (Jain and Jain 2018).

Ferula assa-foetidaL.: Ferula foetida Regel; Ferula foetida St.-Lag.; Scorodosma foetidum Bunge

Nepeta catariaL.:Calamintha albiflora Vaniot; Nepeta bodinieri Vaniot; Nepeta calaminthoides Benth.

Drosera peltataThuinb.: Drosera gracilis Hook.f. ex Planch.; Drosera peltata var. gracilis (Hook.f. ex Planch.) Benth.; Drosera lunata Buch.-Ham. ex DC.; Drosera peltata var. lunata (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) C. B. Clarke; Drosera peltata var. gunniana Planch.; Drosera lobbiana Turcz.; Drosera peltata var. glabrata Y. Z. Ruan; Drosera peltata var. multise...

Chenopodium albumL.:Chenopodium centrorubrum Nakai; Chenopodium virgatum Thunb.; Chenopodium iljinii Golosk

Jasminum humile L.: Jasminum humile var. microphyllum (L.C. Chia) P.S. Green; Chrysojasminum humile, ND; Jasminum farreri Gilmour; Jasminum wallichii Jacques; Jasminum Jasminum wallichianum Lindl.; Jasminum italicum Dippel; Jasminum revolutum Sims; Jasminum mairei H. Lév. Press et al. (2000) Jasminum humile var. glabrum (DC.) Kobuski; J Jasminum in...

Thalictrum cultratumWall.: Thalictrum cultratum subsp. platycarpum (Hook. f. & Thomson) Brühl; Thalictrum cultratum var. tsangense Brühl; Thalictrum deciternatum B. Boivin; Thalictrum yui B. Boivin

Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.): Ageratina trapezoides (Kunth) R.M. King & H. Rob; Eupatorium adenophora Spreng.; Eupatorium aenophorum Spreng; Eupatorium adenophorum var. peruvianum Harms; Eupatorium glandulosum Kunth; Eupatorium glandulosum Sch. Bip. ex Baker; Eupatorium padadendse Parish; Eupatorium trapezoideum Kunth.