2018 ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2015-2016 PROJECT SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATE VITAL EMPLOYMENT (PROJECT SERVE), DARJEELING A JOINT INITIATIVE OF PROJEKTWERKSTATT TEEKAMPAGNE-GERMANY AND WWF-INDIA Published by WWF-India, Darjeeling Field Office Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme Table of Contents 1. Foreword...............................................................................................................................5 2. Area Profile............................................................................................................................6 3. Introduction..........................................................................................................................9 4. Project Vision, Goals and Objectives...................................................................................11 5. Project Activities..................................................................................................................13 Goal 1- Conserve key species, wildlife habitats and priority wetlands..............................13 Goal 2- Build climate resilient communities through appropriate livelihood interventions.......................................................................................................................18 Goal 3- Greening young minds to build a future constituency for conservation..............19 Copyright © WWF-India 2018 WWF-India 172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003 Tel: +91 11 4150 4814 Website: www.wwfindia.org Published by WWF-India Any reproduction in full or part of this publication must mention the title and credit the mentioned publisher as the copyright owner Photo credits: Deependra Sunar and Rikchen Zimba 3 Foreword “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” -Albert Einstein In 1992, we started our reforestation project in Darjeeling. It is still at the core of our activities but no longer the only one. As our project grew, it enabled us to tackle other issues as well – be it catchment of valuable rainwater, awareness programs for school children, eco- tourism or teaching the methods of apiary. Since well over twenty years, the practical organisation of our sustainability project “Safe the Environment and Regenerate Vital Employment” lies in the capable hands of the local team of WWF-India. A lot has been accomplished but there still is a lot to be done. Let us take Albert Einstein’s statement as an encouragement: We shall not cease to imagine in which ways we can preserve the beauty of Darjeeling as well as making it a place that offers a livelihood for the local people. I am looking forward to continue our wonderful project and thank our committed staff. Please enjoy learning about our project’s activities of 2015 and 2016. Prof. Dr. Günter Faltin Founder of Projektwerkstatt GmbH/Teekampagne 5 Area Profile Location: Forest Types and Cover: Darjeeling, West Bengal Terai, Tropical, Subtropical, Lower Temperate, Upper Temperate and Sub Alpine. 38% Forest Cover. Total Area of the District: 3134.74 Sq Km. Tea Gardens: 87 registered tea gardens. Geographical Location: 27° 16’ 05” and N 26° 27’ 10” North Latitude and 88° 53’ 00” and E 87° 59’ 30” East Protected Areas: Longitude. Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Singalila National Park, Neora Valley National Park and Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Altitudinal Variations: 130- 3660 meters Some Key Species Present: Tiger, Asian Elephant, Red Panda, Asiatic Black Bear, Chinese Pangolin, Clouded Leopard, Physical Features: Hornbills, Pheasants, Himalayan Newt, Rhododendrons, Oaks, Orchids etc. Surrounded by Sikkim state in the North and countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh in the west, north-east and south-east respectively. Darjeeling Hills are divided into two by the deep gorges of the river Teesta. To the east of it, lie the Kalimpong Hill, with mountain peaks rising to over 2000m. Rivers radiate in all directions from the hills and flow into Teesta. Tiger Hill is a tourist spot and the following spurs radiate from it in all directions- Darjeeling ridge to the North, Takdah spur to the east, Dowhill ridge to the South and Ghoom ridge to the west. 6 7 Introduction Project SERVE (Save the Environment and Regenerate Vital Employment) was initiated in 1992 and was entrusted to WWF-India for its implementation in 1996 with the support of Projektwerkstatt Teekampagne, Germany. Now Darjeeling Office, along with Sikkim is part of WWF- India’s Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme. Under this project, activities such as ecological reforestation projects in degraded areas, check soil erosion and landslides, protect water catchment areas, supporting community members with employment opportunities. The Project has also been involved in the promoting alternative livelihood options for forest fringe communities, and has had strong focus on education and awareness, particularly with schools and students. The Darjeeling landscape, famous for its high quality tea, is part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. The region bestowed with a unique assemblage of flora and fauna also has diverse cultures represented by communities that live in close proximity to forest areas. Increasing population with high development needs has led to loss and fragmentation of habitats as well as a deepening water crisis across the landscape. Further, a growing tourism industry that has been largely unmanaged has also meant further degradation and escalated waste accumulation. WWF- India works in Darjeeling through Project SERVE to address some of these issues through strong community involvement and in collaboration with other partners. 9 Project Vision, Goals and Objectives Goal 2: Khangchendzonga Build climate resilient communities Conservation Landscape through appropriate livelihood has a vision that ensures interventions conservation of its cultural and natural heritage Objective 2.1- Develop a community based by adopting measures conservation and livelihood strategy for that enable sustainable villages around key conservation areas and development. tea gardens in Darjeeling district For this period, WWF- India Objective 2.2- Strengthen and scale up focused on the following spring shed restoration in critical areas in the goals and objectives to fulfill landscape the vision of the landscape. Objective 2.3- Develop climate resilient agriculture strategies for priority areas in Darjeeling Goal 1: Conserve key species, wildlife habitats and priority wetlands. Goal 3: Objective 1.1- Understanding distribution Greening young minds to build a and status of key species future constituency for conservation. Objective 1.2- Develop pilot strategies and Objective 3.1.- Promote zero waste strategies propose policies for mitigating Human with various stakeholder groups in Darjeeling Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Objective 3.2- Raise awareness through Objective 1.3- Enhance ecosystem services in direct actions, events, and campaign with Darjeeling hills school children and other stakeholders. 11 Project Acitivies Goal 1: Conserve key species, wildlife habitats & priority wetlands. Objective 1.1 Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has emerged as the most challenging conservation Develop pilot strategies issue in the past few years and forest and propose policies for fringe communities across the landscape mitigating Human Wildlife have reported an alarming rise in conflict Conflict (HWC) incidences. National and state level policies on HWC are mostly focused on larger mammals like elephants and tigers and conflict caused by smaller mammals finds very little space in these policies. In this regard, a study aimed at highlighting the extent of human wildlife conflict in Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya was initiated with partner organization Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna (DLR Prerna). A review of existing policies of the two states are recommendations on the same is also envisaged as part of the project. The study has covered the fringe communities of 3 of the most important protected areas- Neora Valley National Park, Singalila National Park and Senchal Wildlife Sancturay. The report shall be shared all relevant stakeholders in Sikkim and West Bengal. Although, agriculture is one of the main occupations of the local communities in Darjeeling, they are slowly reducing their agricultural practices or changing their crops due due to crop depredation and crop raiding. Along with initiating work on human wildlife conflict at policy level, WWF- India also supported DLR Prena to pilot strategies around Singalila National Park through bio-fencing measures to manage conflict. Five villages namely Samanden, Namla, Bich Gaon, Dara Gaon and Gurdum located along the fringe of Singalila National Park were identified where DLR Prerna had previously worked, for expanding the bio fence initiative Species like Asaray (Viburnum sp), Chutro Kara (Berberis sp), Phaledo (Erythrina sp), Narkat (Arundo donax), Gurpis (Leucosceptrum canum) etc. are planted along with existing 13 wire fence installed by the West Bengal Forest Department. These plants grow up providing Objective 1.2 Reforestation in degraded areas, water a natural barrier against the wild animals. Bio-fence plants besides preventing wild animal catchment, and wasteland with the plantation from entering agricultural fields, provides fodder, and conserve the soil. Tea (Camellia Enhance ecosystem services of indigenous plant species is a major activity