Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are a critical livelihood resource for rural communities in Nepal, yet most species continue to be harvested unsustainably from the wild and traded in raw form with limited local value addition. To support ecological conservation and promote commercial cultivation, this study assesses land suitability for MAP cultivation along the proposed China Nepal Railway corridor, covering Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. A multi criteria evaluation framework integrating land use, accessibility, land system, protected area boundaries and elevation was implemented using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and GIS based weighted overlay modeling. Four high value species Gaultheria fragrantissima, Paris polyphylla, Taxus wallichiana, and Rhododendron anthopogon were further examined by overlaying their ecological elevation ranges. Results indicate 31,056.50 ha of high suitability land and 36,811.30 ha of moderately suitable land across the corridor, with Nuwakot contributing the largest share. Species-wise suitability reveal distinct cultivation clusters aligned with district-level ecological gradients. The study provides region specific zoning and identifies intact habitats that could be designated as priority zones to promote commercial MAP cultivation, reduce pressure on wild harvesting, and guide future investment and policy planning under Nepal’s “Make in Nepal” initiative.
- Open Access
- Article
Zoning of Non Timber Forest Products Especially Medicinal Plants in Proposed China Nepal Railway Corridor
- Madan Kumar Khadka 1,2,*,
- Niroj Timalsina 3,4,
- Mohan Dev Joshi 2,5,
- Krishna Ram Bhattarai 2,
- Zhiming Zhang 1
Author Information
Received: 07 Oct 2025 | Revised: 11 Jan 2026 | Accepted: 14 Jan 2026 | Published: 09 Feb 2026
Abstract
Keywords
medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) | Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) | Nepal | AHP | suitability
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