Assessment of Carbon Sequestration in Private Forests across Two Different Physiographic Regions of Nepal: Implications for Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation.

Private forests offer diverse ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, which are crucial for Nepal. However, there is a notable absence of comprehensive research on these services. Assessing carbon sequestration in private forests can have economic advantages for forest owners by promoting resource conservation and contributing to greenhouse gas reduction. This study aims to estimate and compare carbon stocks in private forests located in two distinct physiographic regions of Nepal while also identifying the factors influencing these carbon stocks. The analysis focuses on 16 private forests (with 0.1 to 0.5 hectares) each from Chitwan district (Terai region) and Kavrepalanchok district (Hilly region). Field data collection involved direct measurements of tree and sapling diameter at breast height (DBH), as well as height and class of trees and poles, utilizing a total enumeration method. These collected values were utilized to calculate aboveground biomass (AGTB), aboveground sapling biomass (AGSB), belowground biomass, and carbon stock. Private forests of Terai region were dominated by Shorea borneensis, Tectona grandis, and Dalbergia sissoo, whereas the Hilly region was dominated by Pinus patula, Alnus nepalensis, Schima wallichii, and Quercus leucotrichophora. The aboveground biomass carbon in the Terai region's private forests was estimated to be 83.53 t·ha-1, while in the Hilly region, it was 37.32 t·ha-1. The belowground biomass carbon in the Terai region's private forests was found to be 21.72 t·ha-1, compared to 9.70 t·ha-1 in the Hilly region. Consequently, the estimated total carbon stock in the Terai and Hilly regions' private forests was 105.25 t·ha-1 (386.26 t·ha-1 CO2-eq) and 47.02 t·ha-1 (172.57 t·ha-1 CO2-eq), respectively. Carbon sequestration in the Terai region's private forests was discovered to be 2.24 times higher than that in the Hilly region. These findings underscore the significant potential of private forests, which can generate economic benefits through carbon trading and leverage mechanisms such as REDD+/CDM to promote sustainable conservation practices.

Understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in elephants through a One Health approach: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) that causes the chronic infectious disease- tuberculosis (TB), often presents with a complicated epidemiological pattern where the transmission chain may include humans, domestic animals and wildlife, including elephants. TB has been reported globally in both captive and wild elephants. The One Health approach might be the most effective way of understanding the shared MTC infection dynamics in captive and wild animals like Asian elephants. This systematic review accumulates evidence on occurrence, transmission pathways, and preventive measures of TB in elephants from a One Health perspective. RESULTS: The prevalence of TB reported in elephant populations ranges from 0 to 23.33% and high prevalence's are reported for elephants that are in close proximity to infected humans. The risk of elephant to human infection transmission increased significantly with exposure duration and contact with infected elephants. Some studies described the plausible TB transmission to captive elephants from other animals (wild and domestic), suggesting inter- and intra-species transmission. The results of this systematic review based on 27 relevant published works, suggest three overarching interrelated transmission pathways for M. tuberculosis infections in Asian elephants- i) humans and elephants, ii) other animals (wild or domestic) and elephants and iii) unclear sources of infection. CONCLUSIONS: The progress made with new TB diagnostic tools provides multiple methods to choose from. However, lack of harmonization of TB testing in elephants and their human contacts remains a challenge to prevent TB in those animals. Routine TB screening among elephants and caretakers by setting up an occupational health program for early diagnosis of infection through combined efforts of public health, veterinary medicine, and occupational health experts is suggested. This implies the need for a One Health approach to elephant TB control. This review reveals the need for more research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex transmission pathways at the human-animal interface.

Prevalence of Diabetes in Tuberculosis Patients in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the data on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among tuberculosis (TB) patients at the Urban Directly Observed Treatment Centers in the Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur districts of Nepal were collected. The prevalence of DM was assessed in 67 previously treated TB (PTTB) and 214 new TB patients. DM was diagnosed in 8 PTTB and 20 new TB patients. Clinical interviews identified 14 patients with DM, rapid blood glucose test was used to diagnose DM in 4 patients, and oral glucose tolerance test was used to diagnose DM in another 4 patients. Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycemia were observed in 8 and 5 patients, respectively. The 18-24-year age group had the largest number of new TB patients (82, 38.3%). However, the incidence of DM among TB patients was higher in the >35-year age group. Moreover, DM was diagnosed in 24.2% of PTTB patients and in 23.1% of new TB patients. To determine the impact of DM screening in TB patients, a larger number of samples should be analyzed. DM screening for patients with TB is expected to start in developing countries. This should be initiated by conducting clinical interviews about DM and glucose tests using rapid kits.

A scoping review on climate change and tuberculosis.

Climate change is a global public health challenge. The changes in climatic factors affect the pattern and burden of tuberculosis, which is a worldwide public health problem affecting low and middle-income countries. However, the evidence related to the impact of climate change on tuberculosis is few and far between. This study is a scoping review following a five-stage version of Arksey and O'Malley's method. We searched the literature using the keywords and their combination in Google scholar, and PubMed. Climate change affects tuberculosis through diverse pathways: changes in climatic factors like temperature, humidity, and precipitation influence host response through alterations in vitamin D distribution, ultraviolet radiation, malnutrition, and other risk factors. The rise in extreme climatic events induces population displacement resulting in a greater number of vulnerable and risk populations of tuberculosis. It creates a conducive environment of tuberculosis transmission and development of active tuberculosis and disrupts tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services. Therefore, it stands to reasons that climate change affects tuberculosis, particularly in highly vulnerable countries and areas. However, further studies and novel methodologies are required to address such a complex relationship and better understand the occurrence of tuberculosis attributable to climate change.

Tuberculosis and Diabetes Mellitus Comorbidity among the Ageing Population: A Threat to the Public Health System of Nepal.

Ageing population is attributable to the growing trend of diabetes mellitus. Diabetic patients are three times greater risk of developing tuberculosis. The review aims to describe the state of tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus comorbidity, risk factors for the comorbidity from the perspective of the ageing in Nepal. It is a systematic narrative review of literature in Google Scholar and Pubmed. At first, title and abstract of an article was reviewed for relevance, and then full article was reviewed for validity. The secondary data was retrieved from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal and WHO, and analysed in the Ms-Excel. In Nepal, the population is ageing. The risk factors associated with diabetes are escalating. On the other hand, tuberculosis is endemic and about 45% of the Nepalese people are infected with tuberculosis bacteria. These circumstances have laid the foundation that fosters tuberculosis and diabetes co-epidemic in the future. The clinical management of patients with the comorbid condition is a difficult task because diabetes and tuberculosis interact with each other, one worsening the other. The upsurge of the co-morbidity needs the provision of more health services threatening the public health system of Nepal. It is fundamental to create a mechanism to integrate diabetes and tuberculosis program such as screening, diagnosis and management of the both diseases at the all levels of health service delivery. Furthermore, increase awareness of healthy lifestyle and the prevention of the risk factors for tuberculosis and diabetes could reduce the occurrence of the comorbidity in the future.