InsideInside AlternativeAlternative EnergyEnergy FairFair 20072007 3 3 for a living planet ® RhinoRhino ActionAction PlanPlan 4 4 CelebratingCelebrating WorldWorld WetlandsWetlands DayDay 5 5 US$10US$10 millionmillion forfor conservationconservation inin NepalNepal 6 6 CaseCase Dismissed,Dismissed, ParkPark StaffStaff ReleasedReleased 7 7 2 4 5 6 © WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER EcoCircularVOL 42 NO. 7 JANUARY-MARCH 2007 NEWSLETTER - SPRING Message from the BIOGAS, Saving Nature Naturally Country Representative TRISHNA GURUNG, Communications and Marketing Manager "One day I woke up and told my husband that I wasn't going to The Year Ahead risk my life by collecting wood from the forest anymore and that we were going to get a biogas stove, even if we had to take a Spring is a time for new beginnings. It also loan," recalls Jari Maya Tamang, 41, as she stands proudly next to coincides with the start of the new Bikram the first biogas system in her village in Badreni, Nepal. Sambat year 2064 so I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful year ahead. WWF Nepal Since Jari Maya took out a micro-credit loan to install the will continue to work towards conserving our energy-efficient stove, others have quickly followed. Today, 80 per cent magnificent species and their habitats. Our of the 82 households in the village - about a 4 hour drive south-west focus on the global issues of climate change, from the capital, Kathmandu - have similar systems in their homes. freshwater and illegal wildlife trade will persist. Together, we will find innovative ways to save Sitting on the edge of Nepal's Chitwan National Park - home to our living planet. some of the largest surviving populations of Bengal tigers and greater one-horned rhinos - Badreni has earned the distinction of Happy New Year 2064! being the first biogas village in Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape. Anil Manandhar Located in the shadow of the Himalayas, the Terai Arc covers Country Representative 5 million hectares from Nepal's Bagmati River in the east to India's Yamuna River in the west. > Contd. from page 1 A Role Model for Alternative Energy As part of WWF Nepal Terai Arc is a major issue facing the Terai Arc. Landscape Programme, some 7,500 Unsustainable firewood extraction biogas plants are to be installed affects both community and throughout the Nepali part in the next government-managed forests. three years. Sixty-one per cent of all households "With more than 9.3 million heads of in the Terai Arc Landscape in Nepal cattle and over 6.7 million people, currently rely on fuelwood for there is a future for biogas in the cooking, and 49 per cent source FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Terai Arc, but this technology is still their wood from nearby out of reach for the majority of people government-managed forests. A who cannot afford it without family uses an average of between 4 Research has shown that an micro-finance schemes that WWF 1.3-2.5kg wood everyday - all evidence funds through grassroots forest users suggests that this is not sustainable. average-sized biogas plant can groups," says Basu Dhungana, save 4.5 metric tonnes of firewood Chairman of the Mirgakunj annually. Buffer Zone User Committee in Chitwan. 4 Cooking with firewood causes chronic respiratory diseases, as "Badreni is our model. The there are no chimneys in traditional people understand there is a direct link between our rural houses in Nepal. Installing a actions and impacts on the biogas system in the house often environment." improves the health of the family. With a dense population, 4 Another health benefit is the high biodiversity, and fragile improved hygiene thanks to toilets ecosystems, deforestation that are usually linked to a biogas system. ............................................................. 4 Through the Terai Arc Landscape Saving Time and Improving Sanitation Programme, WWF-Nepal encourages installation of biogas More and more people are turning to rural houses in Nepal. Installing a systems by giving information and biogas in Nepal, especially as the biogas system in the house often advice, and finances a part of the technology is relatively simple, reliable, improves the health of the family, cost, especially for the construction accessible, and risk-free. especially that of women and of toilets and linking them to biogas children, who spend a lot of time in plants. The total cost for an average "The advantages of a toilet-attached the kitchen. biogas plant are numerous," says Jari sized biogas plant is 20,000 Nepali Maya. "The village's reliance on forest Not only has research shown that rupees (US$280). fuelwood has decreased dramatically, an average-sized biogas plant can and health and sanitation conditions save 4.5 metric tonnes of firewood have improved." annually, but woman like Jari Maya don't have to go as often to the Cooking with firewood causes chronic forest to collect wood where they respiratory diseases, especially as are vulnerable to wildlife attacks. there are no chimneys in traditional EcoCircular 2 Vol. 42 No. 7 Spring 2007 Biogas and Climate Change STEPS TO A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT Biogas also has a direct positive arrangement to install the 7,500 impact on climate change, helping to biogas plants. reduce greenhouse gas emissions Biogas is produced from cattle and global warming. According to "We are actively promoting the manure and toilet waste. Each WWF, a single biogas plant reduces promotion of biogas installation household can produce their own carbon emissions by 4.7 tonnes through microfinance schemes in 13 biogas by installing a biogas plant. per year. sites in the Terai Arc, particularly for the poorer, more marginalized The technology is simple: the manure Alternate energy promotion is an communities," said WWF Nepal and toilet waste are mixed with water important priority for WWF's work in Country Representative Anil and dumped in an airtight Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape. In Manandhar. underground pit of about 6 cubic 2006, WWF Nepal partnered with the metres. Alternative Energy Promotion Centre "There is a great potential for biogas and Biogas Sector Partnership-Nepal, villages like Badreni to be replicated In these anaerobic conditions, signing a tripartite working throughout Nepal." methane starts forming, and it is led ............................................................. via a narrow pipe into the gas stove in the kitchen. Alternative Energy Fair 2007 A valve is turned on whenever the UGAN MANANDHAR, Alternative Energy Officer gas is needed for cooking. The gas in itself is pure methane, KAILALI, Nepal - More than 6,000 Awareness Forum, a clean and odourless. It burns more people learned about alternative community-based NGO, organized energy at an Alternative Energy Fair the fair with active mobilization of effectively than wood, increasing the 2007 organized at Ghodaghodi Tal in local anti-poaching operations and efficiency Kailali district, far west Nepal, on 15 community forest coordination of cooking. January 2007. committees. The fair took place in the premises of The fair had information stalls, Rastriya Higher Secondary School demonstration areas and close to Ghodaghodi lake, an audio-visual shows. Solar tukis, important wetland in the Terai Arc briquette making technology, Landscape. The one-day fair aimed biogas, improved cooking stoves at raising awareness on alternative and use of solar energy for cooking, energy among locals who had drying, boiling water, and using gathered at the lake for the annual electrical appliances were all Maghi festival, which is of great on display. cultural importance for the indigenous Tharus. The main objective was to A popular attraction was local clubs encourage people to adopt and traditional groups in performed alternative energy to improve their short dramas, songs and dances lives and reduce pressure on regarding the use of alternative fuelwood and decrease dependence energy. The people were very on petroleum products that are interested in the products and expensive and cause pollution. various technologies on display. There were popular requests that WWF Nepal in coordination with more fairs should be organized in Ghodaghodi Conservation and coordination with other local NGOs. EcoCircular Vol. 42 No. 7 3 Spring 2007 Rhino Smugglers Arrested CHITWAN, Nepal - Four illegal wildlife part Humla, Mrs Sarswoti Thapalia of Chitwan, smugglers, three of them women, were Mrs Parbati Gautam of Nuwakot, and arrested with one rhino horn, weighing Ms Radha Thapa of Chitwan. All of them balance, mobile phone and NRs 50,000 by currently live in the capital Kathmandu. an anti-poaching team from the District Forest Office at Chitwan on Tuesday, The investigation team is seeking important 16 January 2007. information further into the illegal wildlife trade following interrogations with the accused. The investigation team led by Mr Bhairav They hope to uncover the network in Ghimire, Attached Forest Officer Chitwan Chitwan and follow leads into Kathmandu. designated as special anti-poaching officer by the Department of Forests, acted on The large number of locals who had gathered information gathered by the local informant at the time of the arrest threatened to beat network of the Armed Forest Guard. The up the poachers. The people of Chitwan have team is supported by WWF through the been supporting the authorities to nab rhino Terai Arc Landscape Program. This marks poachers and traders. A large number of the team's fourth successful arrest of people assembled in the local forest office this poachers and illegal wildlife traders. afternoon demanding stern punishment for the recently arrested traders. The arrested have been identified as Mr Sonam Tshering Lama originally from .......................................................................... Rhino Action Plan Launched The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros well as Communication, Toursim and Civil Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2006-2011) Aviation publicly said that no poachers was released by the Speaker of the House of serving jail sentences would be released.