• Hari Raj Pokhrel
• Deepak Gautam
• Catherine Mhae B. Jandug
• Suman Bhattarai,, Jyoti Bhandari
• Kehab Baral,Gunjan Gahatraj

Invasion of Alien Plant Species is the major threat to wetland ecosystem and its ecological function. In Nepal, more studies are concentrated on the impact of alien species in protected areas whereas limited studies have targeted wetland. We here attempted to explore the status and distribution of IAPS in the Rupa Lake and provide baseline information. We followed systematic sampling with random start for measuring invasion of alien species in the lake where total 107 plots having 1 m2 (1m x 1m) quadrant size were laid out. Altogether 6 Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) were observed which have covered 18.5 hectare of lake’s water zone. Among 6 species; the importance value index of water hyacinth found to be the highest (67.164) and water chestnut as lowest (27.216). Manual or physical collection and its utilization for alternative products; paper and fertilizer, is suggested to reduce the invasion pressure on lake ecosystem.

Wetlands, Quadrant, Vegetation analysis, Importance Value Index, Water hyacinth

"Status and Diversity of Invasive Alien Plant Species in Rupa Lake, Kaski District, Nepal", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.1028-1035, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908444.pdf

"Status and Diversity of Invasive Alien Plant Species in Rupa Lake, Kaski District, Nepal", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp1028-1035, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908444.pdf