Population Forces and Environmental Change: Observations from Western Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

In this article we report on preliminary observations from an ongoing longitudinal study of the reciprocal relations between population and environmental factors in Western Chitwan, Nepal (a recently deforested, settled, and cultivated area). We discuss population forces associated with environmental change, focusing on forest utilization and flora biodiversity in an area where many residents rely on local forest resources. Our work draws on data gathered from multiple methods including interviews, land-use mapping, and environmental surveys. We find some evidence of population and land-use change influencing forest utilization and diversity in the forested areas surrounding Western Chitwan.