1. Background and Introduction

Hariyo Ban Program Terms of Reference (ToR) for Baseline Survey of Macroinvertebrates of Babai and Kali Gandaki River 1. Background and Introduction: Hariyo Ban Program is a 5 year, USAID funded program that aims to reduce adverse impacts of climate change and threats to biodiversity in Nepal. Its objectives are to: 1. Reduce threats to biodiversity in target landscapes 2. Build the structures, capacity and operations necessary for effective sustainable landscape management, with a focus on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) readiness 3. Increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change Hariyo Ban Program has three cross-cutting themes: livelihoods, governance, and gender and social inclusion. It will operate in two landscapes: the east-west Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), and the north-south Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL). Hariyo Ban Program is being implemented by a consortium of NGOs: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (lead), Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and the Federation of Community Forestry Users in Nepal (FECOFUN). The Government of Nepal (GoN) is a key partner and beneficiary of Hariyo Ban Program, as are local communities. The program will also partner with other NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. 1. Monitoring of freshwater ecosystem The rivers that cascade down the Nepal Himalayas represent life in Nepal. The flows in these river systems sustain ecosystems and ecosystem services that support human communities— their livelihoods and lives. Many freshwater species are expected to be directly affected by temperature changes or changes in flow regimes while others will be affected by associated stressors, such as decreased oxygen levels, changes in habitat conditions or modified food resources. Overall, some species will be negatively impacted by decreasing habitable areas whereas others may prevail under expansion of suitable habitat conditions. The effects of temperature and flow regime changes will be evident on abiotic and biotic components of the freshwater ecosystem. These components are broadly categorized as: (a) abiotic variables; (b) primary producers; (c) macro-invertebrates; and (d) fish. The proposed study will focus on abiotic variable and macro-invertebrates of the river systems discussed below. a) Abiotic variables Climate change will affect key river variables, including hydrologic regime, water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, acidity, organic carbons and nutrient loading. These parameters are most appropriate as early warning indicators. Among these, temperature is a key variable in determining physical properties of the water (such as oxygen solubility), duration of water stratification in lakes and biotic properties such as life history traits, reproduction success and metabolic rates. b) Macro-invertebrates Temperature and flow regime induced changes in water quality, hydrology and food resources will have a significant impact on aquatic invertebrates. Community changes are expected to vary between species (species-specific responses) and regions and their direction (increase, decrease or no effect) will be affected by local conditions and initial community state. Monitoring anthropogenic effects on macro-invertebrates is well established and most existing indices may also be useful for detecting temperature induced changes and its impacts on rivers. Species richness and zooplankton and biomass composition are key indicators. Richness tends to be lower in colder areas, i.e. at higher altitude or latitude. Increasing temperatures will enable more species to invade colder ecoregions, but may decrease diversity in warmer ones. Further, increased water temperature in lakes will positively affect zooplankton growth rats. Recording these changes will be crucial in monitoring of freshwater ecosystem. 2. Babai River The Babai River originates in the Churia (Siwalik) range in Nepal, and flows westwards before becoming confluent with the Karnali River south of the Nepal-India border. The Bheri River flows to the northwest and parallel to the Babai River (Figure 1). The Bheri river originates in the Himalayan mountains and carries glacial melt-water. It becomes confluent with the Karnali River within Nepal, about 15 km upstream from Chisapani. The Bheri-Babai diversion multipurpose project proposes to divert water from the Bheri River through a 12 km headrace tunnel to the Babai River. The project is expected to generate 40 MW of hydroelectricity and irrigate 51,000 ha of agricultural land in Bardia and Banke districts. The expected discharge from the outfall, about 200 m upstream from the Chepang bridge, will be 40 m3/s of water. Downstream from Chepang, the Babai river flows through the core area Bardia National Park for about 45 km. This section of the Babai river represents extremely important habitat for several of Nepal’s most charismatic and endangered wildlife, including the tiger and its major Figure 1. Babai River prey species, elephants, and a founder population of Greater one-horned rhinoceros. The Babai River supports a small population of gharial and mugger crocodiles. The fish fauna in the river includes important species such as mahseer, but the fishes and other aquatic fauna has not been well documented. 3. Kali Gandaki River The Kali Gandaki River basin (Figure 2) supports a large human population in the mountains, mid-hills and Terai, which is dependent on the basin’s water resources. Changes in the flow regimes of the rivers will affect people’s livelihoods and lives; where flows are reduced there may be inadequate water for purposes ranging from everyday personal use to crop irrigation. Flow regime changes will also affect the aquatic ecosystems and river biodiversity, including several endemic species. The cumulative effects of multiple dams in the basin will depend on their locations, design and operation, and on the amount of water withdrawn for purposes such as irrigation through the river course. Figure 2: Kaligandaki River 2. Scope of work: Given the conservation importance of the Babai and Kaligandaki River and the respective flood plains, the diversion of more water into and from these rivers has to be assessed and monitored. This proposed study will focus on establishing a baseline of the macroinvertebrate of the two rivers (between Chepang bridge and Babai barrage sampling at 3-5 sites within an estimated 45km of river stretch on the Babai River and sampling around 10-12 sites along the Kali Gandaki River from origin in the trans-Himalayan region to downstream Tribeni barrage in the lowlands. The sampling in Kali Gandaki River will ensure that trans-Himalayan, hills and lowland floods plains are adequately covered with a likely scenario of 4 sites in each of the zones), and develop a protocol for monitoring river condition, including seasonal changes using the macroinvertebrate community as bio-indicators. The consultant will complete the following specific tasks under this study: 1. Conduct post-monsoon surveys of aquatic macroinvertebrates in these rivers. The consultant will assess the river and macro-habitats (i.e., riffles, runs and pools) in it, and propose t sampling sites for adequate coverage of the representative macro-habitats. The final decision of sites will be made following discussions with the Hariyo Ban program team. 2. Propose the protocols for field sampling and data analysis to assess river condition based on the macroinvertebrate bio-indicators. 3. Recommend any other key biotic and abiotic indicators as discussed above (e.g., aquatic plants, fishes, etc.), deemed necessary as co-variates. 4. Prepare a photographic reference collection of the aquatic invertebrates and a sampling protocol for future monitoring. 3. Methodology: Aquatic macroinvertebrates will be collected following to multi-habitat sampling approach reflecting the proportions of the substrate types present with cover greater than or equal to 10% at each river stretch. At each site, ten sub-samples will be collected from 50 -100 m river stretch and one composite sample will be made. The collected samples will be transferred to well labelled plastic container and preserved in situ using 99% ethanol for laboratory analysis. In laboratory, macroinvertebrates will be sorted and preserved in vials with respect to insect order for identification. Each specimen will be identified to mostly genus/Family level based on the available keys (Nesemann et al. 2007; Nesemann, Tachamo Shah and Shah 2011) with the help of stereomicroscope. Different site features from catchment characteristics to hydro- morphological characteristics will be documented at each sampling sites based on observation. Physico-chemical parameters will be tested in field using field kits. 4. Deliverables: A report detailing aquatic macroinvertebrates in the two rivers with an analysis and discussion of how the macroinvertebrate assemblages change in different macro- habitats and identify key tolerant and sensitive indicators for long-term monitoring; An analysis and recommendations of how the macroinvertebrate communities can be used to monitor and assess river condition; An analysis and discussion of current river condition based on the bio-indicators and other biological/chemical/hydrological co-variables; Sampling locations photographed, mapped and described, with GPS coordinates that will enable future sampling of the same sites;

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