LOCAL PREFERENCES, STATUS TRENDS, AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF KEY MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS IN COMMUNITY FORESTS OF KAVREPALANCHOWK DISTRICT, NEPAL

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are vital for rural livelihoods and biodiversity in Nepal's Himalayan region, yet unsustainable harvesting threatens many species despite community forestry efforts. This study examines local preferences, conservation status trends, and economic contributions of major MAPs in seven community forests of Kavrepalanchowk district, central Nepal. Data were collected through household surveys (n=55), focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and preference ranking exercises in 2007–2008. The Friedman two-way ANOVA test validated ranking differences (χ² = 24.299, df = 8, p = 0.002). Results identified Sugandhawal (Valeriana jatamansi), Pakhanved (Bergenia ciliata), Chiraito (Swertia chirayita), and Kurilo (Asparagus racemosus) as the top four preferred species. Status trends showed marked declines over the prior 20 years due to overexploitation, with recent improvements attributed to community management. Only 13% of households collected MAPs, contributing an average of NRs 11,355 (~US$150 at the time) per collector annually, representing about 6.4% of household income. Market systems were dominated by middlemen, resulting in low collector prices and limited value addition. Findings highlight the potential for domestication and cultivation of high-ranked species to enhance sustainable livelihoods and conservation in community forests. Recommendations include targeted training, inventory-based harvesting, and cooperative marketing to reduce dependency on wild collection and improve equity. This site-specific evidence supports policy for integrating MAPs into community forestry operational plans in the mid-hills of Nepal.