Impact of Micro-Enterprises on Plant Diversity and Rural Livelihood : A study of forest based micro-enterprises from three VDC's of Western Nepal

Forest is an integral part of the rural livelihood in Nepal. Therefore, the proper utilization of this resource is must in order to promote the livelihood of those forest dependent populations. In this regard, the establishment of forest based micro-enterprises could be the most viable option to strengthen the economy along with the other aspects of their livelihood. In the present scenario, many forest based micro-enterprises have been established and are contributing to enhance the livelihood of those populations. In this context, this study examines the local communities, enterprises and plant diversity and their interrelationships from the eyes of the entrepreneurs and it aims to explore the current status of micro-enterprise, its contribution on livelihood and its impact on plant diversity. The data was collected through household survey, focus group discussion and key informant survey and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences ans Ms-Excel. The study shows the hopeful rays of lights in relation to forest, enterprises and livelihood with the increase in standard of living index of the entrepreneurs after the establishment of forest based micro-enterprises.