Tourism is one of the most promising driver and contributor of the world economy having significant role in sustainable development, economic upliftment and social benefits. It has the potential to contribute towards environmental protection and poverty reduction. Prior to investment in tourism, concerned authorities must know the condition of respective tourist resources, their attractiveness and levels of touristic demand. Very few studies in Nepal have made an effort to quantify the tourism potential in cultural, historical and religious sites such as Bhaktapur Durbar Square. With an objective to assess the tourism potential of Bhaktapur Durbar Square using Weighted Sum Method, this study was carried out from start of June to the end of July in 2013. For this purpose, questionnaire survey with tourists, private businesses and public sector institutions; focus group discussion and key informant interview with tourism enterpreneur and local government officer was carried out. The tourism potential was found to be high with a strength of exceptionally rich cultural, historical and religious heritage, favourable geographical situation, positive image of local Newari food products and friendly and welcoming local people. The areas of weaknesses were lack of tourism infrastructures and services, lack of tourist information and weak management of tourist area. Hence, to utilise the tourism potential of Bhaktapur Durbar Square to the fullest for the economic upliftment of its inhabitants, promotional activities such as tourism fairs, festivals, cultural dances and events should be conducted at regular intervals with prompt security services.

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Soil is a complex mixture of mineral nutrients, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. The primary nutrients for plant growth are organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In order to find the status of pH, organic matter (C), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K) in forest soil, the study was conducted in Ghwangkhola Sapaude Babiyabhir Community Forest in Putali Bazaar Municipality-8, Syangja, Nepal. Soil parameters are analyzed through different standard methods followed worldwide by many soil scientists. Soil pH of sample in all three strata was slightly acidic and varies from 5.7 to 7.18. The carbon percentage was high and varies from 0.65% to 2.39%. The total nitrogen in soil was medium and varies from 0.09% to 0.12%. The concentration of available phosphorus in soil was high and varies from 73.71 kg/ha-93.23 kg/ha. The concentration of available potassium on soil was quiet low and varies from 2.54 kg/ha-4.23 kg/ha. Higher organic matter in the forest land indicate low activities of nitrogen losing process, which is due to the closed nutrient cycling and minimal disturbance in the natural forest system. So, addition of fertilizer rich in potassium and increasing pH is recommended to maintain potassium fertility and neutral pH in the forest soil.

One of the major policies in response to global climate change is reduction of green house gases emission. Community forests of Nepal are acting as major sources and sink of green house gases, in spite of providing socio-economic benefits to the user groups. There is a lack of information on whether community forests address the socio-economic disparity of user groups, and how it affects opportunity cost and willingness to pay to the forest users groups. Focusing on how the socio-economic conditions of forest users affect forest management, opportunity cost and willingness to pay; and effect of carbon trading mechanism and discounting on the cost benefit ratio, this study was carried out in one CF in western Nepal. The data collection methods included carbon stock measurement, household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview. Study has shown that most of the forest users are in medium and poor economic classes and female involvement in forest conservation and management was remarkable. Poor people had high dependency on forest product and are most likely affected in terms of opportunity cost. Rich people were willing to pay more to sustain forest ecosystem services. Benefit cost ratio measured directly with and without discounting was 3.91 and 2.97, respectively. The findings of the present study indicate that the community forests users groups are benefitted from the current state of management.

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