Species Diversity and Composition of Forest Vegetation

Biodiversity is the total variety of life on the earth which encompasses the total number,variety and variability of life forms, levels and combinations existing within the livingworld. Species diversity refers to the frequency and variety of species within ageographical area. Nepal covers the land only 0.1% of the global land possesses adisproportionately rich biodiversity.In mid hills, specially there is a unique and highest diversity found in western part ofNepal. The study entitled “Species Diversity and Composition of Forest Vegetation ofBanpale Danda Forest” Kaski ditrict, Nepal was commenced between June to September,2008 with aiming to assess the floral and faunal diversity of Banpale Danda. The data werecollected primarily by field observation as well as secondary sources. The sample plotswere laid out randomly with the sampling intesity 1% for trees, 0.5% for shrubs and0.001% for herbs. The collected data were analyzed by using MS-Excel program andshown by charts and histograms.The floral diversity was assessed by using Simpson’s Diversity Index and Important ValueIndex (IVI).