An ecological survey of the Royal Karnali-Bardia Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Part I: vegetation, modifying factors, and successional relationships

Six major vegetational associations (including forest, savanna and grassland) were identified in this newly-created sanctuary for tiger, one-horned rhinoceros etc. in the Terai of SW Nepal. Profiles are given of the 3 main forest types: Shorea robusta/Buchania latifolia; Dalbergia sissoo/Acacia catechu; and Ficus glomerata/Mallotus phillippinensis/Eugenia jambolana. Three other habitat types are also described: Bombax ceiba savanna; ecotonal secondary open forest; and Saccharum spontaneum/Tamarix dioica flood-plain thickets. The major modifying factors affecting vegetational composition in the Terai include: total rainfall; length of monsoon; seasonal flooding; and former land-use practices of grazing, burning, clearing for cultivation, lopping for fodder etc. A scheme is proposed of successional changes in the reserve.