Assessment of Biodiversity and Socio-Economic Conditions in The
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
An Assessment of Biodiversity and Socio- economic Conditions in the Targeted Protected Areas and Biological Corridors Assessment of Biodiversity and Socio-economic Report Conditions in the Targeted Protected Areas and Biological Corridors Report Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience of Forest and Agriculture Landscape and Community Livelihoods in Bhutan UNDP, BHUTAN SEPTEMBER 2016 SEPTEMBER 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms…………………………………………………………………………...……iv Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….v Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………1 1.Background……..……..……………………………………………………….............1 2. Objectives and Scope of the Assignment……………………………………………….1 3. Organization of the report……………………….……………………………………...2 Chapter 2: Approach and Methods 1.Methodology………………………………………………………….............................3 1.1. Study Area………………………………………………………………………….3 1.2 Sampling framework……………………………….………………………………..4 1.3 Data Collection Tools…………...……………………………………......................6 2 Data and information collection…...………….……...…………….…………………....6 3. Data management and analysis……………………………………………………..…..7 4. Limitations……………………………………………………………………...............7 Chapter 3: Assessment of Biodiversity and Social Conditions of 3 Landscapes...…..8 1.Introduction………………………………………………………………...…................8 2. Status of Biodiversity…...……….…………………………...........................................8 2.1. Wild biodiversity…………………………………………………………………8 2.2. Agrobiodiversity………………………………………………………………...15 2.3. Community awareness and perception on biodiversity and ecosystems………..16 3. Status of socio-economic conditions………………………………………………….20 3.1 Demographic Characteristics……………………………………………………..20 3.2 Livelihood and income…………………………………………………...............21 3.3 Membership, gender and social inclusion………………………………………..24 4. Key threats and root causes…………………………………………………………...25 4.1 Human wildlife conflicts…………………………………………………………25 4.2 Over-grazing……………………………………………………………...............27 4.3 Poaching and wildlife trade………………………………………………………28 4.4 Over-exploitation and unsustainable use of natural resources…………….......... 29 4.5 Land use change and conversion………………………………………………....39 4.6 Forest Fires……………………………………………………………………….30 4.7 Infrastructure and hydropower………………………………………………….. 31 4.8 Climate Change…………………………………………………………..............31 5. Status of PA management effectiveness……………………………………………....33 5.1 Management plans and implementation………………………………………… 33 5.2 Policy and legal framework………………………………………………………34 5.3 Institutional and technical capacity………………………………………………35 5.4 Financial sustainability…………………………………………………...............35 ii 5.5 Monitoring and evaluation………………………………………………………..36 Chapter 4: Strategic Recommendations………...…………………………………….37 1. Strategy for Addressing HWC and Threats……………………………………….....................37 2. Recommendation for enhancing management effectiveness………………………...41 Annexure 1: Assessment of Biodiversity and Social Conditions of Landscape 1……….42 Annexure 2: Assessment of Biodiversity and Social Conditions of Landscape 2..……...66 Annexure 3: Assessment of Biodiversity and Social Conditions of Landscape 3..…...…96 Annexure 4. List of Forest Genetic Resources under the landscapes…………………..121 Annexure 5. Survey Questionnaire....…………………………………………………..123 Annexure 6: Biodiversity tracking tools for the PAs in the three landscapes……..…....131 Bobliography……………………………………………………………………………132 iii Acronym BAOWE Bhutanese Association of Women Entrepreneurs BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BC Biological Corridor BWS Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBNRM Community Based Natural Resource Management CFO Chief Forestry Officer CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species DFO Divisional Forest Officer DSA Daily Subsistence allowance FGD Focus Group Discussion FGR Forest Genetic Resources FNCA Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan GEF Global Environment Facility GNHC Gross National Happiness Commission HKH Hindu Kush Himalayas HWC Human Wildlife Conflict ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JDNP Jigme Dorji National Park JKSNR Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve JSWNP Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park LCMP Land Cover Mapping Project LDCF Least Developed Countries Funds MAPS Medical and Aromatic Plant and Spices METT Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool NEC National Enviroment Commission PA Protected Area PM Park Manager PNP Phrumshingla National Park PPG Project Preparation Grant RNR Renewable Natural Resources RSPN Royal Security for Protection of Nature SHG Self Help Group UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Wildlife Conservation Division WCD iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Brief introduction of the project Royal Government of Bhutan remains strongly committed to managing its biodiversity and addressing pressing threat to promote climate resilience of biodiversity, agricultural landscapes, and community livelihoods. The government has requested support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP for a full-sized project titled “Enhancing sustainability and resilience of forest and agriculture landscape and community livelihoods in Bhutan.” The project aims to operationalize an integrated landscape-based approach to climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation. It seeks to do so through: (a) improvement of institutional capacity at national, sub-national, and local levels to manage forest and agricultural landscapes sustainably for enhanced climate resilience; (b) emplacement of governance system for biological corridors and operationalization of conservation management system in the pilot corridors; and (c) development of climate-resilient livelihood options for the local communities. 2. Purpose of the assessment The specific purpose/objective of the assignment is to assess biodiversity and socio- economic conditions of the targeted natural landscapes for project interventions and establish relevant project baselines related to protected areas and biodiversity. 3. Brief overview of the process/methodology Based in the three landscapes the study employed a mixed method to collect data and triangulate information from various sources to carry out the assessment. The study is based on two sources- desk review of secondary information and analysis of primary data collected through anthropological investigation. Desk review of relevant documents, such as, relevant acts, rules, strategies, frameworks, management plan, survey reports, research papers, etc was undertaken. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire based respondent interviews with randomly selected respondents from across the landscapes, focus group discussion with local governments, consultative meetings with Wildlife Conservation Division and PA authorities, and other relevant agencies and experts. Information collected through the surveys were encoded into excel data base and analyzed to assess field conditions. Information collected through consultations and desktop reviews were used to cross check, refine, and confirm findings as reported in the report. Final reports including biodiversity tracking tools were reviewed by park managers and WCD. 4. Summary of key findings 4.1. Biodiversity Ecoregions, ecosystems, and habitats: Biologically, Bhutan is part of Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hot spot with high habitat and species diversity. Bhutan not only harbors high profile species such as tigers and snow leopards, but also continues to provide important global conservation functions. Ecologically, almost all the ecosystems, habitats, and forest types that harbor key species known to occur in Bhutan are found in the three landscapes. v Landscape 1 which is contiguous with Kanchenjunga landscape and connects to landscape 2 which is then connected to Manas providing connectivity not just within Bhutan but internationally. A summary of the key findings of ecosystems and their ecological significance is presented below: Table S1. Ecological and habitat significance of the landscapes Landscape Ecosystem/habitat Ecological significance represented Landscape 1 Temperate, alpine, and Connects Bhutan to conservation landscapes glaciers in India, Tibet and Nepal allowing movement Part of Sacred Himalayan of species internationally Landscape Provides biological corridor for movement of species between JKSNR and JDNP Landscape 2 Subtropical, warm Contiguous with Royal Manas National Park broadleaf, cool broadleaf, and Indian Manas which is a world heritage mixed broadleaf and site. Allow for species to move from the Indian conifer, mixed conifer, plains to the higher mountains in Bhutan and conifer through alpine across to China, Nepal, and Indian Mountains. meadows to glaciers. Source of water for Chendebji, Mangdechu Most pristine and and Punatsangchu hydropower schemes undisturbed conifer forest BC 2 connects JSWNP to JDNP along the found here. boundary between Thimphu and Punakha Wangdue Dzongkhags BC 8 composed of numerous smaller landscapes connects JSWNP to JDNP and WCNP Landscape 3 Temperate, alpine, and Represents mid country temperate ecosystem glaciers and allows lateral connectivity to BWS to east Subtropical, cool broadleaf, and WCNP to the north temperate conifer habitats Important and only corridor that connects JSWNP towards east through PNP. Globally threatened and endemic species: Together the three landscapes harbor almost