Biodiversity Hotspots in Nepal Himalaya: Endemic Plants, Threats, and Conservation Priorities for Bagmati Province, Nepal.

Authors

Ripu Kunwar, Prabin Bhandari, Dipak Khadka, Satyam Kumar Chaudhari, Santosh Thapa, Ram Acharya, Suman Ghimire, Bhagawat Rimal, Gagan Sharma, Kedar Baral, Balram Bhatta, Chandra K Subedi, Baburam Paudel, Ram P Chaudhary, Tao Deng

Published in

Environmental management. Volume 76. Issue 7. Jun 25, 2026. Epub Jun 25, 2026.

Abstract

Biodiversity hotspots are ecologically critical areas requiring special attention due to their rich endemism, unique ecosystems, and vulnerability to environmental pressures. Given the biodiversity value of Bagmati Province, Nepal and the escalating environmental threats it faces, this study employed a mixed-methods approach combining desk review, field observations, consultations, GIS mapping, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to identify key conservation priorities at both district (meso-hotspot) and local (micro-hotspot) scales. The province harbors notable plant biodiversity, including 114 endemic plant taxa and 50 threatened species with high concentrations in the mountainous and mid-hill districts (Rasuwa, Dhading, Dolakha, and Kathmandu). These ecologically crucial sites, however, face severe and synergistic threats, including rapid forest cover loss, frequent forest fires, rampant growth of invasive species, and high climate vulnerability. Our analysis identified five meso-hotspots (Dhading, Kathmandu, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Rasuwa) and six micro-hotspots clustered into two key complexes (Chandragiri-Kathmandu-Gokarneshwor and Ruby Valley-Parbatikunda-Gosaikunda). Most of these priority areas lie outside the formal protected area network, highlighting a major conservation gap. These findings reinforce a growing regional consensus that areas outside and between protected areas, including community-managed forests and sacred groves, are indispensable for biodiversity conservation. We urge a landscape-scale approach that mitigates threats, extends conservation beyond and between protected areas, and recognizes the vital stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

PMID:
42347937
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Jun 2026.

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