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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 JULY 2008 ATREE — MARCHREGIONAL 2008 OFFICE NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

RED PANDA SURVEY IN NEORA VALLEY NP INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A team from ATREE has just From the evidence gathered flowering plants encountered CONSERVATION 2 conducted a survey of the red during the systematic survey of during the survey. GAINS, panda Ailurus fulgens in Neora the red panda, a minimum The survey team consisted of ECOTOURISM Valley National Park, . number of 28 - 32 red pandas Tenzing Sherpa, Dr. Santosh The survey, supported by the have been estimated for the SURVEY OF 3 Chettri and Dr. Upakar Rai. We PERENNIAL Rufford Small Grants Upper Neora Valley National SPRINGS are very thankful to Dr. Sunita Programme, was a follow up of Park. With this estimate the Pradhan, Scientific Officer, the study and conservation study has come up with baseline MEDICINAL 3 Padmaja Naidu National PLANTS efforts in the Singhalila National data on red panda for the first Zoological Park, Darjeeling for CONSERVATION Park and focused on Neora time in Neora Valley National guiding and advising the study Valley in an effort to piece Park, Darjeeling. A minimum BIODIVERSITY 4 team. & SOCIO together a more complete number of 47 red pandas had ECONOMIC picture of the status of red been estimated for Singhalila SURVEY panda in Darjeeling . National Park in 1998. SURVEY OF 4 PROJECT In , red panda is distributed The survey also highlighted VILLAGES in Darjeeling, and problems such as insufficient . The only infrastructure, inadequately CEPF GRANTEE 5 REPORTS study of red panda so far in trained staff, trans-boundary India has been in the Singhalila issues, poaching of wild National Park, Darjeeling and an , removal of timber and PRODUCTS 7 ex-situ conservation effort at the NTFP, trade of orchids, removal The survey has yielded the first HIMALAYA, ever photographic records of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan of maling , grass and NEWS red panda and serow (below) in Zoological Park in collaboration firewood, fire, grazing of the Neora Valley National Park with the Wildlife Division, livestock from the fringe villages Photos: Tenzing Sherpa Department. and lack of research and monitoring. However no direct OF NOTE Current knowledge on the threats—like poaching, keeping population status from other red pandas as pets or a history • Three CEPF Grantees areas of red panda distribution of red panda trade—were report some exciting is scarce. This information gap is finds from the field. In noticed or detected. The survey considered a significant hurdle their own words... also documented other for conservation of the species. • An assessment of . birds and seasonal biodiversity and socio- economic issues of NE India NEWS IN BRIEF • A survey of ecotourism in Sikkim and The Blue Moon Fund, Virginia, Tripura, Mizoram & A camera survey of Darjeeling USA has committed support to have been selected for a Ford tigers has been carried out by • Conservation gains in a second phase of the Foundation supported project ATREE researchers at Manas a biodiversity hotspot: Conservation and Livelihoods on working with civil society Tiger Reserve in Assam. This livelihoods and Programme in the Eastern groups to advance work was supported by the ecosystem health Himalayas. conservation & livelihoods. Save the Tiger Fund, USA. RED PANDA Page 2 ATREE — EASTERN HIMALAYA REGIONAL OFFICE NEWSLETTER

BETTER LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

ATREE’s work with local revealed that on average awareness and additional communities has each household harvested income generated through a substantially raised their up to 75kg of fuel wood in a basket of livelihood domestic income while day. Through persistent interventions. It is estimated advancing conservation in a efforts by ATREE and that as a result, the saving biodiversity hotspot. Case alternative livelihoods from one village amounts to studies from 3 hill villages opportunities sustained by roughly 960kg of fuel wood, inside Senchel Wildlife new market linkages, or a curtailment of Sanctuary, Darjeeling show villagers have completely approximately 192kg of significant local stopped making wood carbon emission, per day. contributions to enhance charcoal taking much Further, these communities the health of the pressure off the in have innovated cooking surrounding ecosystem. the area. Fuel wood hearths to maximize fuel The innovated cooking hearths are fuel efficient and reduce indoor air pollution extraction from the forests efficiency and use fuel wood Photo: Nishat Rehman Prior to ATREE’s has been reduced by almost more effectively. This also interventions, these villages 4 times since then. has implications for health were harvesting timber to as indoor air pollution from make charcoal on a Today, all households are the improved cooking commercial scale and engaged in sustainable hearths is much reduced. selling this to the suburban livelihoods practices due to population. A survey the high degree of - Nishat Rehman

NOTES FROM AN ECOTOURISM SURVEY IN DARJEELING AND SIKKIM

Tourism, the mainstay of the environment in one of the growing concern of the Towards this end, one of the Darjeeling economy, is most spectacular regions of disastrous consequences of immediate tasks should be roughly a Rs.500 crore the world that is also a poorly planned and to empower emerging local industry and continues to biodiversity hotspot, managed tourism. community initiatives grow rapidly. About 500,000 unwittingly undermining the engaged in tourism by Ecotourism has been a domestic and foreign very values that make the building their capacity in the buzzword in the region and tourists visit the region every region attractive. effective management and only a marketing tool. year to witness the operation of ecotourism In recent times, the hordes Biodiversity conservation as panoramic views of Mount enterprise for realizing both of tourist that throng the the core of the ecotourism Everest and the economic and conservation region looking to experience ethic has taken a backstage. Khangchendzonga, the outcomes. This will also an oasis of tranquility and Consequently, and prime drawing factor in the require effectively engaging pristine environs far paradoxically, ecotourism region. However, in the with policy and decision removed from their concrete that is supposed to protect process of its growth, makers for enacting legal jungles are gradually biodiversity has started to tourism has created major frameworks that empower spilling to the countryside. negatively impact wild environmental and socio- local communities towards In the wake of increasing habitats and species. There economic problems, practicing ecologically sound demand for such is an urgent need to correct including pollution, tourism. experiences, local the anomaly and bring back deforestation, overcrowding, communities in far-flung the much needed focus on - Akai Mao economic and cultural villages are opening their biodiversity conservation dislocation, and local Akai is currently working on homes to eager tourists. and community benefits in resource shortages. In other developing a project on Amidst the burgeoning order to progress towards a words, tourism has not been ecotourism in the region interest among local more sustainable sustainable and has done communities to get a slice of development in the region. little to protect the the pie, there is also a VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 JULY 2008 Page 2

PERENNIAL SPRINGS OF DARJEELING: AN UNDERVALUED RESOURCE

A team from ATREE undertook a resource degradation, resource springs. The report notes that survey of the perennial springs capture, pollution, upstream Darjeeling’s water crisis can of Darjeeling Municipal Area. developments, community best be solved by managing perceptions of change and such local resources well and A total of 32 major and minor community interest in promoting efficient rainwater perennial springs was carried managing these resources. harvesting in addition to the Communities out. It included photo large water supply projects have evolved documentation, mapping and The report notes among other being planned. The report will interviews with CBO things that perennial springs ways of tapping, be presented to the Darjeeling representatives, water users constitute a very valuable Municipality for further action. storing and and knowledgeable persons in source of water for many sharing of the areas. people especially in areas This survey was carried out on where municipal supplies are behalf of the Darjeeling NGO perennial spring Darjeeling’s municipal water scarce or non-existent. Also, network and the Darjeeling supply system is of British waters and these communities have evolved Municipality. The survey team vintage, distribution is skewed efforts need to ways of tapping, storing and consisted of Arjun Rai, Rajen and the system suffers from sharing of perennial spring Chettri, Nishat Rehman, Anand be appreciated, significant distribution losses. waters and these efforts need Gazmer and Samuel Thomas. Perennial springs meet a great supported and to be appreciated, supported part of this shortfall. The survey - A photo exhibition/ summary of incentivized and incentivized. The report highlighted the various survey findings was presented at urges the Municipality to value community efforts at managing the World Environment Day this as a vital ecosystem celebrations in Darjeeling from 5- perennial springs in such a service and take steps to 10 June 2008 context and issues concerning conserve and manage these MEDICINAL PLANTS SURVEY AND PROPAGATION

Researchers from ATREE have propagation techniques and involvement in Chatakpur. just completed a systematic protocols for the set of eight Standardization of the survey of medicinal plans in medicinal plants species: propagation technique is Sikkim and Darjeeling Nardostachys jatamansi DC., under progress. Although we Himalayas. This project Swertia chirayta Buch.-Ham., have been able to generate ‘Development of strategy for Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex some data on germination participatory conservation of Benth., Aconitum palmatum and survival of some targeted medicinal plants in the D. Don., Dactylorhiza species using different Darjeeling and Sikkim hatagirea (Don) Soo, Panax parameters, more fine tuning Himalayas’ has been pseudoginseng Wall., of the process needs to be supported by Plantlife Valeriana hardwickii Wall., done. Cultivation can only be International, UK. and Mahonia napaulensis DC. undertaken after the Mahonia napaulensis and Picrorhiza kurroa propagation techniques are (below) propagated through community In addition to the survey the The propagation is being fully standardised. involvement at Chattakpur project also developed carried out with community Photo © Upakar Rai

ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES IN NORTH EAST INDIA

ATREE has completed an Foundation Grant which will realizing investments made in assessment of biodiversity support local NGOs to design the area of conservation and and socio-economic issues in and implement sustainable livelihoods. the north east Indian states. models of conservation and The project aims to enhance The assessment has selected livelihood. In selecting the the capacity of civil society the states of Mizoram, three States, the following organizations to organize Nagaland and Tripura for criteria were given due households into viable implementing the Ford weightage: human community-based institutions Foundation supported small development attainments for diversifying natural grant programme ‘Capacity particularly looking at poverty resource based livelihoods; enhancement of NGOs for and the lack of access to explore and establish niche linking conservation and basic facilities such as markets for rural products; livelihood needs in the electricity, safe drinking water link incentives generated from Eastern Himalayas region of and toilets; the presence of diversification of livelihoods India’. marginalized communities; and marketing of rural the level of biodiversity The Northeast is socially, produce to sustainable richness and threats to the culturally, and politically very stewardship and same; the strength of past complex and contains great conservation; and, develop and current investments environmental and natural appropriate policy and made, wherein preference resource diversity that is institutional instruments that A mosaic of forests, shifting cultivation was given to biodiversity rich patches and fallows in Mizoram under increasing pressure. link conservation and States with low investment; Photo: Samuel Thomas The assessment report, an livelihood needs in the region presence of strong local level overview of the demographic, by incorporating lessons institutions, CBOs/ NGOs as socio-economic and gained through this project. possible project partners; and, biodiversity issues in the the presence of a conducive - Akai Mao region, has identified three and enabling environment for States for the Ford

SOCIOECONOMIC SURVEY OF PROJECT VILLAGES UNDERWAY

A household level socio ATREE has been working in commercial or business economic survey is currently Rampuria, Rambi and Upper associations, helping them underway in 12 villages in Chatakpur (Senchel Wildlife explore suitable niche Darjeeling Hills. The Sanctuary), M1, Pokhritar, markets for their organic baseline information of 382 Koilagodam and Lower produce, facilitating shared households will be collected Baukhola (Kurseong produce processing and during this survey. This will Reserved Forest) and packaging and post-harvest form the project baseline Chataidhura, Ghoom collection and marketing, and will be used to assess Bhanjyang and Pubung and enabling households to progress and impact during (Darjeeling Reserved link with financial the second phase of the Forest). Two new villages, institutions and other Project on ‘Engaging Rampuria Khasmal and service providers. Markets to Sustain Lalung have been identified Livelihoods and Advance for delivery and These interventions are also linked to the fair trade and Conservation’. dissemination of best practices established by the marketing effort that ATREE The first phase of the Project has established to try and first phase of the Project. was successfully completed secure the benefits of fair and ATREE is now trying to ATREE has been working trade for small farmers, upscale and replicate the with small and marginal artisans and marginalized Lalung, one of the new villages chosen for the second phase of the project successful activities in other farmers in forest and forest- groups. Photo: Akai Mao forest and forest-fringe fringe villages in Senchel villages with financial Wildlife Sanctuary, support from the Blue Moon essentially organizing .– Nishat Rehman Fund, Virginia, USA. households into viable RED PANDA Page 4 ATREE — EASTERN HIMALAYA REGIONAL OFFICE NEWSLETTER

CRITICAL ECOSYSTEM PARTNERSHIP FUND

The ATREE Eastern Endemic and lesser-known Himalayas Regional Office in taxa in the priority areas of Darjeeling is implementing Kanchenjunga-Singalila the Critical Ecosystem at securing landscape level Complex and the North Bank Partnership Fund (CEPF) conservation outcomes Landscape. Grants Programme in the while the Small Grants Three grantee reports are Indian Eastern Himalayas. programme aims at presented here. Fore more The CEPF programme in the targeted, high-impact efforts visit: region consists of a Core focused primarily on www.cepf.net Grant programme that aims Critically Endangered,

CAUGHT ON CAMERA!

The sub-tropical evergreen , marbled cat and Malayan Malayan porcupine and an Hollong-Nahor forests of sun from Assam. This is unidentified species of flying The Upper Dehing Jeypore-Upper Dehing- also the first time that tiger (); pig-tailed East Reserve Forest Kakojan (ca. 570 km²) are and wild have been macaque, Assamese located in eastern Assam. confirmed in these forests macaque and capped langur is a CEPF priority These are among the last from photographs. (primates). site (outside priority remaining lowland rain forests With five large carnivores Additionally, two and corridors). Four of in northeast India. (tiger, leopard, clouded one bat species photographed the animals Although fragmented and leopard, wild dog and are awaiting identification. photographed highly disturbed, they are the Malayan ) and three It has been gratifying to find (tiger, clouded refuge of several Endangered species of elusive small all these animals still species such as the elephant, (golden cat, marbled cat and leopard, elephant surviving in such disturbed hoolock gibbon, tiger, white- leopard cat), the Jeypore and capped langur) habitat. Several of our winged wood duck and the Reserve Forest now holds the cameras have been stolen by are CEPF priority tree Vatica lanceaefolia distinction of being the only hunters or smashed by species. (globally Critically location in northeast India elephants. I can bear no Endangered). The wildlife is where the sympatric presence grudge against the elephants, poorly documented, and only all of these eight charismatic but the hunters worry me. 111 km² of the entire area is carnivores have been protected as the Dehing- confirmed with photographs. I hope my findings will Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. convince the Forest It is also only the third Department of Assam to I am carrying out a camera- location in northeast India, upgrade the protection status trapping survey to assess after Manas and Namdapha of this crucial wildlife habitat species richness of the national parks, where the and watershed. carnivore community in these increasingly rare wild dog has forests. Surveys in Jeypore been photographed. - Kashmira Kakati and Upper-Dehing East Block The other 15 species of Independent researcher have been completed, mammals recorded on the confirming the presence of 26 camera traps are large Indian species of mammals. civet, , This CEPF-Eastern Himalaya, common palm civet, yellow- WCS-India Program and throated , crab-eating Rufford Foundation supported (small carnivores); effort has yielded the first sambar, barking deer, wild ever camera-trap photographs pig, elephant (ungulates); of the clouded leopard, golden brush-tailed porcupine, From top: Wild dog, leopard, golden cat, tiger, leopard cat and clouded leopard. All photos © Kashmira Kakati VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 JULY 2008 Page 6

BLACK SOFTSHELL TURTLE REDISCOVERED

The black softshell turtle The ongoing study is expected one Critically Endangered, Aspiderates nigricans was to gather baseline information seven each Endangered and once considered to be ‘extinct on current distribution and Vulnerable, two Lower Risk in the wild’ was rediscovered conservation status of this and six species are not yet in the wilderness of Assam threatened species and evaluated due to lack of very recently. This project is contribute towards long term sufficient data on distribution studying distribution and conservation of this and and threats. This study is conservation status of this several other species. gathering up to date ‘Critically Endangered’ species information on distribution The northeast India is in Assam and its neighbouring and threats to their existence considered to be the hotspot areas as a priority. The project in the wild and preparing of freshwater turtles and team has found the existence action plan for conservation tortoises in the country. Out of of this rare species in as many and long term survival of Black softshell turtle Aspiderates 29 species of freshwater nigricans as ten localities including these species in the wild. turtles and tortoises found in National Parks like Kaziranga, Photo ©M Firoz Ahmed the country 22 species are - M Firoz Ahmed Manas and Orang. A number known to occur in the of community temple ponds Wildlife Biologist, Aaranyak northeast India. These include also hold this rare species.

WILD BUFFALO SURVEY IN THE NORTH BANK LANDSCAPE

The Wild water buffalo globe and are of great value to regeneration and to prevent With CEPF support through a Bubalus arnee (=bubalis) is a human. Habitat loss, hunting/ succession by woodland. This small grant, the focus will be in globally threatened species poaching and cross-breeding is done as tall grassland North Bank Landscape area, and has been listed as with domestic buffaloes are habitat has shrunk to a few especially in Lakhimpur-Dhemaji ‘Endangered’ (Criteria:A2e, the main threats faced by the pockets only where many and Dibru-Saikhowa. The field C1) (Population Trend: remaining herds in the wild. Its other globally endangered work for this project would start decreasing) by IUCN. Once distribution is highly grassland-dependent species from September – October 2008 widespread over larger part of fragmented and several such as the Indian one-horned after the monsoon is over. northern and eastern India populations, many of which rhinoceros (Rhinoceros extending up to , this are unviable, have been unicornis) also occurs. Hence, rare bovine is now mainly formed. Most of the the post-grassland burning - Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury confined to northeastern India fragmented buffaloes are period will be given special Rhino Foundation for Nature in NE with small numbers in , separate ‘populations’ as attention owing to better India , and there is no corridor that links visibility. . Even in 1960s, its the animals. The estimated population was substantially numbers in its entire range is reduced numerically and likely to be less than 3,000. eliminated from the greater This study will cover all the part of its former range. Its sites listed for Assam in main concentration is now in Choudhury (1994: Oryx); the Indian state of Assam, however, in Kaziranga where approximately four-fifth National Park, no fresh of the world population exercise will be done as there survives. This buffalo is also was census / estimate by the ancestor of all the Environment & Forest domestic breed of buffaloes in Department of Assam. The the world and hence, it is grassland in buffalo habitat is extremely important as a gene burned annually by the pool. The domesticated water Environment & Forest Wild water buffalo Bubalus arnee (=bubalis) buffaloes are found across the Department to allow Photo © Anwaruddin Choudhury PRODUCTS HIMALAYA: FAIR TRADE INITIATIVE

The Products Himalaya store has been women’s groups for stitching and embroidery. We successful in popularizing the products of are also working on an array of hand-made cards artisans and women’s groups in Darjeeling. in collaboration with CHAI project and the Edith We are now trying to reach out to other Wilkins Street Children Foundation. women’s and artisan groups and taking a An informal market survey has revealed that fresh approach to new designs and products. although customers are satisfied with the A new SHG has been formed in Frymal village, products they would like a wider choice of Singamari while others have shown an products. As a result we are focusing on interest to join the fair trade network. We are increasing production to meet the demand and also working on new designs with the older launching at least four new products a month. Self Help Groups in an effort to boost There is also immense scope to tap into the production as well as improve their skills. growing organic foods market. The Products In addition to regular items, we have Himalaya website is expected to be ready soon introduced new designs in cloth and jute and through this we hope to reach out and make bags, dolls, key chains, vanity mirrors, our products accessible on a global level. designer bamboo mirrors and make-up - Reena Chettri pouches. We are also planning to launch a clothes range for men and women, employing news

Reena Chettri has joined the Eastern Himalayas Programme office. She has a Master’s in Fine Arts from MS University, Baroda specializing in sculpture. Reena will manage the fair trade outlet Products Himalaya and work on product innovation, marketing & working with Self Help Groups, small farmers and artisans

Suman Rai made a presentation on ‘Access and Benefit Sharing Opportunities from Biological Resources in the Eastern Himalayas’ at a University Grants Commission supported workshop on ‘Exploration, Exploitation and Conservation of Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas’ held at Darjeeling Government College on 2 June 2008

Prof Jan Salick from the Missouri Botanical Garden and Dr. Shonil Bhagwat, Fellow, Oxford University visited the ATREE EHP office on 20 May to discuss issues relating to and possible collaboration on climate change studies in Eastern Himalayas

Arjun Rai, Rajen Chettri, Nishat Rehman, Anand Gazmer and Samuel Thomas presented a photo exhibition on ‘Perennial Springs of Darjeeling: an undervalued resource’ at the World Environment Day celebrations organized by the Darjeeling NGO network and Darjeeling Municipality from 5-10 June 2008

Prof Kamal Bawa, founder Trustee and President met with the Honorable Chief Minister of Sikkim Dr. Pawan Chamling and discussed issues relating to biodiversity in the state. He also expressed ATREE’s keen interest to work with the authorities and civil society on conservation issues in the state

Akai Mao has completed an assessment of biodiversity and socio-economic issues of north eastern states from a review of secondary sources. The report has been submitted to the Ford Foundation. Based on this study, three states—Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura—have been selected for intervention. ATREE will work on building capacity of six civil society organizations in these three states as part of this project.

Niraj Kakati has moved from the Bangalore office of ATREE to the newly established ATREE Field Office at Guwahati. Niraj will coordinate work on the World Biodiversity Heritage Programme in two sites in Assam—Kaziranga and Manas.

NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK DONORS AND PARTNERS

West Bengal Forest Department; Sikkim Forest Department; Assam Samuel Thomas Forest Department; Department of Biotechnology, GoI; Ministry of E2, 2nd Floor, Golden Heights Environment and Forests, GoI; Blue Moon Fund, USA; Ford Gandhi Road, Darjeeling—734 101 Foundation, Delhi; Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Washington; Sehgal Family Foundation; World Biodiversity Heritage Programme; [email protected] Save the Tiger Fund, USA; Plantlife International

This newsletter is brought out by the Eastern Himalayas Programme of ATREE. For private circulation only.