Annual Report National Trust for Nature Conservation 2014 MISSION STATEMENT “To conserve, manage and promote nature in all its diversity balancing human needs with the environment on a sustainable basis for posterity-ensuring maximum community participation with due cognizance of the linkages between economics, environment and ethics through a process in which people are both the principal actors and beneficiaries.” The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) was established in 1982 by a legislative act as an autonomous and not-for-profit organization, mandated to work in the field of nature conservation in Nepal. The Trust, in past 3 decades, has successfully implemented various projects to fulfill the need and demands of communities on nature and wildlife conservation, biodiversity as well as cultural heritage protection, ecotourism, alternative energy promotion, gender empowerment, agriculture and livestock support and community based health services for sustainable development of the communities. The Trust’s experience over the years has shown that conservation efforts in low income economies such as Nepal cannot be successful, and sustainable, unless the needs and welfare of the local people are addressed. Holistic and integrated conservation and development programs with active people’s participation aimed at promoting local guardianship is the focus of all the Trust activities. Geographically, the Trust activities have spread from the sub-tropical plains of Chitwan, Bardia, Kanchanpur and Parsa in the lowlands to the Annapurna, Manaslu and Gaurishankar region of the high Himalayas, including the trans-Himalaya region of Upper Mustang and Manang. Currently, the Projects of Trust are divided into three geographical areas - the lowland, the mid hills (Kathmandu Valley) and the high mountains. The Trust’s activities in the lowlands are based in and around Chitwan National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Bardia National Park, Banke National Park and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve located in the central, western and far-western development regions of Nepal, through the Biodiversity Conservation Center (BCC) and Parsa Conservation Program (PCP) in Chitwan and Parsa, the Bardia Conservation Program (BCP) in Bardia/Banke and the Shuklaphanta Conservation Program (SCP) in Kanchanpur. Similarly, the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), the Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) and the Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) are the three protected areas managed by the Trust in the mountain region. The Central Zoo is the only project managed by the Trust in Kathmandu Valley. Annual Report 2014 (Fiscal Year 2013/2014) NTNC Annual Report 2014 I Published by: National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal PO Box 3712, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel : +977-1-5526571, 5526573 Fax : +977-1-5526570 E-mail : [email protected] URL : www.ntnc.org.np Editorial Board: Mr. Ganga Jang Thapa Mr. Binod Basnet Mr. Numraj Khanal Ms. Sikshya Adhikary Rana Mr. Shyam Kumar Thapa Photo credits: ACAP, BCC, BCP, Central Zoo, MCAP, SCP, GCAP, Cover Photo: Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) . © Om Bahadur Gurung, NTNC Back cover photo: Tilicho Lake, Manang, Nepal. © Madhusudan Thapa © NTNC 2014 (FY 2013/14) Printed at: Sigma General Offset Press Sanepa, Lalitpur-2, Nepal II NTNC Annual Report 2014 The co-existence of all living creatures in the nature is only possible by respecting each other’s existence. Each of FOREWORD the species depends upon others as they all are bound in the chain of ecosystem as a habitat or prey or in other role in the way of life. Each and every flora and fauna are closely tied up in their relationship for continuation of their next generation in the planet. Therefore, it is essential to promote harmony among all living creatures. However, population growth and urbanization, encroachment of wildlife habitats, unsustainable extraction of resources, illegal poaching and trading, and the encroachment of non-native invasive alien species are the major threats for maintaining sustainable harmony with the nature. The holistic approach of managing all, not only the flora and fauna but also the different landscapes environment and people can ensure sustainability and enhance performances of ecological services. National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) is dedicated towards ensuring the healthy environment, mitigating the threats to biodiversity and harmonizing the relationship of people with the environment. The Trust’s focus on lowland protected areas is primarily on wildlife research and monitoring which also includes habitat management, biodiversity conservation, community mobilization, anti-poaching and illegal trade control. In the mountain region, NTNC is engaged in an integrated conservation and development program approach. NTNC’s involvement in the field of nature conservation for three decades has shown that the conservation efforts in low income economies, cannot be successful, much less sustainable, unless the needs and welfare of the local people are addressed. Thus, the Trust’s activities are focused in community development and livelihood enhancement addressing the needs of the communities with their active and meaningful participation recognizing them as the actors rather only as beneficiaries. This report is the snapshot of our focus and accomplishments in fiscal year 2013/14. Success achieved is owed to the hard work and dedication of the Trust family, notably the secretariat, the projects, and the Board of Trustees. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our partner agencies and local communities for their support and inspiration. We anticipate your continuous support in the future and also welcome comments and feedback from all our well-wishers and valued readers. Thank you, Govinda Gajurel Member Secretary NTNC Annual Report 2014 III IV NTNC Annual Report 2014 ACRONYMS ABC Annapurna Base Camp CFUG Community Forest Users Group ACA Annapurna Conservation Area CGI Corrugated Galvanized Iron ACAP Annapurna Conservation Area Project CNP Chitwan National Park ACO Assistant Conservation Officer CSO Civil Society Organization ADBN Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal DAO District Administration Office AIDS Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome DDC District Development Committee APU Anti-poaching Unit DFO District Forest Office ARI Acute Respiratory Infection DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation AsRSG Asian Rhino Specialist Group DoF Department of Forest BaNP Banke National Park DRR Disaster Risk Reduction BCC Biodiversity Conservation Center DSP Deputy Superintendent of Police BCF Barandabhar Corridor Forest DWS Drinking Water Scheme BCN Bird Conservation Nepal E-mail Electronic mail BCP Bardia Conservation Program EBC Elephant Breeding Center BNP Bardia National Park FoZ Friends of Zoo BZCFUG Buffer Zone Community Forest Users Group FMsC Forest Management Sub-Committee BZMC Buffer Zone Management Committee GBC Gharial Breeding Center BZUG Buffer Zone User Group GCA Gaurishankar Conservation Area CA Conservation Area GCAP Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project CAMC Conservation Area Management Committee GESI Gender and Social Inclusion CAMR Conservation Area Management Regulation GFC Green Force Club CAPA Community Adaptation Plan of Action GIS Geographical Information System CDO Chief District Officer GoN Government of Nepal CBAPU Community Based Anti-poaching Unit GPS Geographical Positioning System CBO Community Based Organization HDPE High Denstity Polyethylene CE Conservation Education HH Household NTNC Annual Report 2014 V HWC Human Wildlife Conflict NTNC National Trust for Nature Conservation IAS Invasive Alien Species ODF Open Deification Free ICDP Integrated Conservation and Development Program PCP Parsa Conservation Program ICS Improved Cooking Stove PRC Peoples’ Republic of China IDA International Development Assistance PWR Parsa Wildlife Reserve IEF International Elephant Foundation RCC Reinforced Cement Concrete IG Income Generation REDD Reducing Emission from Degradation and Forest Degradation IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature RMB Renminbi Km Kilometer RSPB Royal Society of the Protection of Birds Kw Kilo Watt SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation LDO Local Development Officer SCP Shuklaphanta Conservation Program LHW Livestock Health Worker SLC Snow Leopard Conservancy LRP Local Resource Person SRCWPA Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection in Asia Ltd Limited STD Sexually Transmitted Disease M Meter SWR Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve MCA Manaslu Conservation Area TAR Tibetan Autonomous Region MCAP Manaslu Conservation Area Project TMsC Tourism Management Sub-Committee MICS Metallic Improved Cooking Stove UC Users Committee MIST Management Information System Technology UCO Unit Conservation Office MM Millimeter UK United Kingdom MoFsc Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation USA United States of America MoU Memorandum of Understanding USAID United States Agency for International Development MSFP Multi Stakeholders’ Forestry Program UTI Urinary Tract Infection NCRTC Nepal Conservation Research and Training Center VCBC Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center NGO Non-Governmental Organization VDC Village Development Committee NP National Park WR Wildlife Reserve NRM Natural Resource Management WWF World Wildlife Fund NTFP Non-Timber Forest Product ZSL Zoological Society of London VI NTNC Annual Report 2014 Newsline NTNC Chairman Nominated 1 ICIASM Urged Global Coordination for IAS Management 1 Nepal Celebrates