Socio-ecological perspectives of Himalayan Giant Nettle (Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Friis) in Nepal

ABSTRACT

Natural fibers have attracted considerable attention in recent years because of their low cost, renewable, and eco-friendly nature. The study investigated the economic, social, medicinal, and traditional use of Himalayan Giant Nettle commonly called “Allo” (Girardinia diversifolia) in Nepal. The fiber extracted from “Allo” is one of the income sources for people living in rural mountainous region of Nepal. The traditional fiber processing techniques, use of locally available materials, and medicinal value helped to preserve “Allo.” Nevertheless, the resource stock is declining from its natural habitat due to changes in traditional grazing practices, rapid expansion of plantation of cash crops like large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) and Chirayito (Swertia chirayita) where “Allo” grows naturally. Cultivation, sustainable harvesting, and policy formulation on “one-door taxation” system are important to preserve this important natural fiber species.

摘要

天然纤维以其低成本、可再生和环保的特性近年来受到人们的广泛关注。研究经济、社会、医疗和传统使用的喜马拉雅巨型荨麻一般称为“异”（girardiniadiversifolia）在尼泊尔。从尼泊尔提取的纤维是农村山区居民的收入来源之一。传统的纤维加工技术，利用当地可获得的材料和药用价值，有助于保存“异体”。然而，资源存量下降，由于在传统的放牧方式改变其自然栖息地，对喜欢大小豆蔻的现金作物的种植快速扩张（amomumsubulatum）和Chirayito（swertiachirayita），“异”自然生长。在“一道税”制度下，种植、可持续采伐和政策制定对于保护这一重要的天然纤维物种十分重要。

KEYWORDS:

• Himalayan Giant Nettle
• bast fibers
• Kailash Sacred Landscape
• economic potential
• traditional fiber
• Allo

关键词:

• 喜马拉雅荨麻
• 韧皮纤维
• 神山圣景
• 经济潜力
• 传统的纤维

Acknowledgment

The views and interpretations expressed in this publication, however, are those of the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study has been undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) Nepal, Research Center for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST) under Tribhuvan University, Nepal and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) under the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI). KSLCDI is a joint effort to promote transboundary cooperation on landscape conservation among China, India and Nepal through the respective governments and partners which is supported by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, the DFID/UKAid, and core funds of ICIMOD contributed by the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.