Shantiban forest patch as an oasis for birds in Pokhara city

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/forestry.v22i1.85280

Keywords:

Anthropogenic pressures, Avifaunal diversity, Habitat, Urban forest

Abstract

Urban forests provide recreational sites for urban dwellers and are equally important for resident as well as migratory bird species. Shantiban is a small forest patch in the middle of the Pokhara city. This green space has been serving as an important habitat for birds. Seasonal surveys were carried out in 2023 and 2024 to comprehend bird composition and importance of urban forest patches by applying Non-Metric Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) with Bray–Curtis Dissimilarity. A total of 81 bird species were documented and Shannon Index of 3.53 (3-07-3.48) and Pielou’s Evenness of 0.80 (0.81-0.86) were obtained. Species richness and diversity index were significantly higher in the winter than in the summer, with a total of 15 species across both seasons. Season and year have significant effects on bird composition (PERMANOVA: F = 7.90, R2 = 0.40, p = 0.001), explaining 40% of the variation, while season alone explained 22% of the variation and year alone explained 8% of the variation in the bird community. Moreover, the NMDS plot also showed distinct clustering of the bird community by season and year. Despite its small size, Shantiban supports diverse avifauna, underscoring the ecological significance of conserving small urban green spaces for biodiversity and sustainable city environments.

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Author Biographies

Krishnaa Dahal, Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara

Kashish Dahal is an undergraduate student at the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry. She is a former Vice-Coordinator of Bird Conservation Nepal, Pokhara, where she contributed to various ornithological research and bird monitoring programs. Her research interests include avian ecology, wildlife conservation, and youth involvement in biodiversity protection.

Grisma Kumar B.C.,, Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara

Grishma kumar BC is an undergraduate student at the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry

Ananda Kumar Shrestha, Wildlife Research and Education Network, Kathmandu

Aananda Shrestha is an Environmental Science graduate from Tribhuvan University with extensive experience in wildlife studies, particularly focusing on birds and mammals. He possesses strong expertise in ecological, statistical, and spatial data analysis. His research interests include avian ecology, habitat assessment, and the application of data-driven approaches for wildlife conservation and management

Ganga Shrestha

Ganga Shrestha holds an academic background in Environmental Sciences from the Central Department of Environmental Sciences, Tribhuvan University. Residing in Tokha, Nepal, she brings a strong foundation in ecological and environmental studies, with a growing interest in research-driven approaches to sustainable development. Her academic training and local engagement position her well to contribute meaningfully to interdisciplinary environmental research.

Mohan Bikram Shrestha

Mohan Bikram Shrestha is a Wildlife Researcher. His researches are primarily in otter, bird and illegal wildlife trade in Nepal. He is PhD fellow in Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSUFT), Changsha, Hunan, China with study focused on Eurasian otter study in Nepal. He advocates community coexistence with wildlife, promotion of wildlife friendly structures and community stewardship in protection, conservation, and eco-tourism. He has authored and co-authored more than 20 research publications in national and international journals. His research interests include wildlife ecology, bird conservation, and environmental management.

Cholangpati, Langtang National Park, Nepal: Photo by Arjun Thapa.

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Oli, S., Dahal, K., B.C., G. K., Shrestha, A. K., Shrestha, G., & Shrestha, M. B. (2025). Shantiban forest patch as an oasis for birds in Pokhara city. FORESTRY: Journal of Institute of Forestry, Nepal, 22(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.3126/forestry.v22i1.85280

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)

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