National Mission for Himalayan Studies (NMHS) by Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Tanhril, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796004

Monitoring and evaluation of species composition and richness in endemic

plants, birds, mammals and reptiles along successional gradient after

shifting cultivation and creating education and awareness for their

conservation in Dampa Tiger Reserve Landscape, Mizoram

Annual report submitted to National Mission for Himalayan Studies (NMHS) by Department of Zoology, Mizoram University Tanhril, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796004

Principal Investigator Prof. G.S. Solanki Researchers Abinash Parida, Sushanto Gouda and Ht. Decemson

National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) NMHS Progress Report (Period from July 2018 to March, 2019)

1. Project Information

Project ID: Sanction GBPNI/ NMHS-2017/MG-22 Date: 26-022018

Project Title: Monitoring and evaluation of species composition and richness in endemic plants, birds, mammals and reptiles along successional gradient after shifting cultivation and creating education and awareness for their conservation in Dampa Tiger Reserve Landscape, Mizoram BTA:

PI and Affiliation (Institution): Prof.G.S.Solanki Department of Zoology Mizoram University, Aizawl-796004, Mizoram Name and address of Dr. N.P.S.Chauhan Co-PI, If any Director, Amity Institute of Forestry and Wildlife (AIFW) Amity University, Noida, UP Structured abstract dealing In July, 2018 project staff was recruited. Survey was conducted With current year progress to villages around Dampa tiger reserve. All the villages (15Nos) ( word limit 250 ) around dampa tiger reserve surveyed along with their co- ordinates.Finally six villages namely; Damparengpui, Khawhnai, Tuipuibari, Sherhmun, Teirei and West Phaileng were identified for further study. During the survey period, jhum land of selected villages were surveyed for cropping pattern, vegetation species composition and richness, mammals, herpetofauna, and bird diversity etc. using standard protocols. Study on vegetation on different age class of jhum land indicated a total 88 plants species. Out of which 41 tree species,17 shrub species,13 herb species, 5 fern species, 7 lianas species and 5 bamboo species. The patterns of dominance based on the IVI values of the tree, shrub and herb species indicate that in recent jhum (1-5 years fallow), Mcaranga indica (IVI 23.64) was the dominant tree species in middle age jhum (5-10 years fallow), Mcaranga indica (IVI 17.37) was the dominant tree species and in old age jhum (˃15 years fallow) schima wallichi (IVI 17.87) was the dominant tree.Mammals were observed based on indirect evidences, direct sighting, and camera trap. 11 mammalian species were recorded on jhum land of different age. Seven amphibians and four retiles were also recorded. Birds occurrence and abundance pattern was recorded on jhum land with age group of 0,1, 5, 10, 15, and >15 years. A total of 158 bird species belonging to 59 families were recorded which includes 11 winter visitors. 36 bird species were recorded in all four categories of sites.

Project Partner Name Affiliations Role & Responsibilities Dr. Gopinathan Zoological Survey of India Identification of specimen after collection Maheswaran M-Block, New Alipore Kolkata-700053 (India) Plant survey.To investigate the pattern of recovery of floral G.B. Pant Institute of composition and richness with Himalayan Environment & respect of time elapsed since Dr. Chandra Sekar Development, Kosi –Katarmal, abandonment after shifting Almora – 263 643,Uttarakhand cultivation Dr H.T.lalremsanga Department of Zoology, Reptilian survey .To examine Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004 changes in spatio-temporal utilisation of habitat by birds, mammals and reptiles along the successional gradient in comparison to habitat utilisation in primary forest.

Dr Kalidas Upadhyaya Department of Forestry, Evaluation of forest resources Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004 and evaluation of utilization pattern and capacity building to indigenous tribes around the Dampa tiger reserve

2. Project Site Details

Projert Site Buffer zone of Dampa tiger Reserve IHR States Covered Mizoram Lat. & Long. 23°20ʹ to 23°47ʹ N and 92°15ʹ to 92°30ʹ E Site map Attached Site Photopgraph Attached Survey route map Attached Vegetation sampling Attached map

3. Project Activities Chart w.r.t. Timeframe [Gantt or PERT]

Project Activities WORK UNDERTAKEN Year 2018-2019 OUTPUT Qtr1 Qtr2 Qtr3 Qtr4 Project Activity 1 Preliminary Site Site survey for site monitoring monitoring selection and data and data collection collection and data compilation for annual report Project Activity 2 Preliminary Site Site survey for site monitoring monitoring selection and data and data collection collection and data compilation for annual report Project Activity 3 Preliminary Site Site survey for site monitoring monitoring selection and data and data collection collection and data compilation for annual report Project Activity 4 Preliminary Site Site survey for site monitoring monitoring selection and data and data collection collection and data compilation for annual report

4. Financial and Resource Information Note: A separate bank account is expected to be opened for NMHS Project as per the provision of Direct Beneficiary Account (DBA) as laid out by the Govt. of India and also facilitate the audit of accounts. The interest earned out of the NMHS project funds should be reported clearly in the utilization certificate. Total Grant: ` 9096560.00 Grant Received Date: 21 may, 2018

Project Partner(s) Affiliations/ Institution Budget Allocated to Work Done Dr. N.P.S.Chauhan Director, Amity No separate budget (Co-PI) Institute of Forestry was allocated because and Wildlife (AIFW) study site only at Amity University, Mizoram. Noida, UP Dr. Gopinathan Zoological Survey of Maheswaran India M-Block, New Alipore Kolkata-700053 (India) Dr. Chandra Sekar G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Kosi – Katarmal, Almora – 263 643,Uttarakhand Dr H.T.lalremsanga Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004 Dr Kalidas Department of Upadhyaya Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004

Project Staff Information

Sl. Fellowship/ Name Qualification Designation Remarks No. Wages paid Non NET, 3 ` 18000.00 1. Mr. Abinash Parida M.Sc. Sr. Project Fellow yrs pm experience Non NET, 3 Mr. Sushanto ` 18000.00 2. M.Sc. Sr. Project Fellow yrs Gouda pm experience ` 16000.00 3. Mr. Ht. Decemson M.Sc. Jr. Project fellow Non NET pm

5. Equipment and Asset Information

Lowest Photographs Sl. Equipment Details Date of Qoutation,IF Cost of No. Name (Oty) (Make/Model) Installation NOT Equipment Purchased Camera Cudde back `3,63,490 All are field [Attach] Purchased on 1 traps 20 C1 equipments, lowest Nos they are quotation DSLR NIKON `43950 ready to [Attach] basis 2 camera 01 D5300 use. No Voice ZOOM H4N `75127 installation [Attach] 3 recorders 02 Pro is required 4 Compass 02 SUNNTO A10 `15654 [Attach] Range Bushnell `1,22,535 [Attach] 5 finders 02 Sherman Local made [Attach] 6 `6,700 Traps 25

6. Expenditure Statement and Utilization Certificate

Expenditure Information:

Financial Position/Budget Funds S. No. Expenditure % of Total cost Head Sanctioned

I Salaries/Manpower cost 861,600.00 4,43,667.00 51.49

II Travel 1,000,000.00 72479.00 7.25

III Expendables &Consumables 200,000.00 117559.00 58.78

IV Contingencies 100,000.00 96473.00 96.47

V Activities & Other Project cost 500,000.00 NIL

VI Institutional Charges NIL

VII Equipments 660,000.00 627,456.00 95.1

Total 3321600.00 1357634.00 40.87

Interest earned 91132.00

Grand Total 3412732.00

Period Expenditure Statement Utilization Certificate (UC)

Annua l [Attach] [Attach]

7. Project Beneficiary Groups: work on this aspect is yet to start Beneficiary Groups [Capacity Target Achieved Building]

No. of Beneficiaries with income generation:

No. of stakeholders trained, particularly women:

No. of capacity building Workshops/ trainings:

No. of Awareness & outreach programmes:

No. of Research/ Manpower developed:

8. Project Progress Summary (as applicable to the project): NA

Description Total (Numeric) Description

IHR States Covered one

Project Site/ Field Stations (attach photos) Developed: (attach maps) No. of Patents filed (Description): NIL

Article/ Review/ Research Paper/ NIL

Publication: New Methods/ Modellings Developed NIL

(description in 250 words):

No. of Trainings NIL

(No. of Beneficiaries): Workshop: NA Demonstration Models (Site):

Livelihood Options: NIL

Training Manuals: NIL

Processing Units:

Species Collection:

Species identified:

Database/ Images/ GIS Maps:

Note: Photos/ maps should be attached in high quality in compatible formats viz., JPEG, .JPG, .PNG, .SHP, etc. along with a suitable figure legend/ caption. 9. Project Linkages (with nearby Institutions/ State Agencies):

S. No. Institute/ Organization Type of Linkages Brief Description

Administrative and policy 1 Forest Department, GoM level

10. Additional (publication, recommendations, etc.): NIL

Time Period Publications (Research Papers, Information Material, Policy drafts, Patents, etc.) Annual [Year ...... ] [Attach]

11. Project Concluding Remark

Kindly update the following Progress Parameters for the Reporting Period: See detail progress report

Progress made Project output against Monitoring Project Objectives against each Remarks Indicators (specified objective in Sanction Letter) 1. 2. Methodology (in brief): Major Research Achievements: 1. Area survey 2. Sites selection based on age of jhum land /fallow land 3. Vegetation analysis on all selected site 4. Observation on mammalian availability/distribution on selected sites 5. Observation on Herpetofauna distribution / availability on selected site 6. Observation on avian distribution / Brief Conclusion - the current year progress – availability on selected site during the reporting period (point-wise):

Progress Achieved (%): 20% Remaining work to be done: 80%