Annual Report 2017 - 18 BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL II ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Contents Foreword 1 Bird Conservation Nepal 2 Acknowledgements Published in 2018 by Bird Conservation Nepal, 4 Kathmandu, Nepal Highlights 5 Any reproduction in full or in part must mention the Organizational Capacity Enhancement 7 title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the Saving Species copyright owner. 13 Saving Sites and Habitat © Text 2018 BCN, All rights reserve 17 Ecosystem Services and Livelihood Cover Photo: Great Hornbill©Utsav Jung Thapa 21 Back Cover Photo: Ibisbill©Chungba Sherpa Awareness and Publications 25 Financial Updates Design & Printed by: 29 Print Communication, 4241355, 4244148 Membership Updates 31 Annexes 32 Blue-winged Laughingthrush©Rajendra Gurung Acronyms AGM Annual General Meeting BCN Bird Conservation Nepal BES Bird Education Society BDES Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services BNHS Bombay Natural History Society BNCC Bardiya Nature Conservation Club CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CEO Chief Executive Officer CF Community Forest CFUGs Community Forest User Groups CISU Civil Society in Development CRCs Community Resource Centers DFZ Diclofenac Free Zone DFRS Department of Forest Research and Survey DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DoFSC Department of Forest and Soil Conservation DOF Dansk Ornitologisk Forening DPR Department of Plant Resources EC Executive Council FECOFUN Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal GoN Government of Nepal GTS Globally Threatened Species GIS Geographical Information System IBA Important Bird and Biodiversity Area ICBP International Centre for Birds of Prey IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature LCG Local Conservation Group MoFE Ministry of Forest and Environment MPF Madane Protected Forest NGAS Nature Guide Association Shuklaphanta NEVLA Nepal Para Veterinary and Livestock Association NTNC National Trust for Nature Conservation NSAIDs Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs OPs Operational Plan PBS Pokhara Bird Society RCF Ranibari Community Forest RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SAVE Saving Asian’s Vulture from Extinction SBI Subsidiary Body on Implementation SMCRF Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation USAID United States Aid for International Development VCBC Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center VDC Village Development Committee VSZ Vulture Safe Zone WWF World Wildlife Fund ZSL Zoological Society of London Himalayan Monal©RameshHimalayan Shrestha BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Foreword The year 2018 is the centennial IBA has provided us yet another of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, bigger opportunity to continue the most powerful and important the phase II program (2018- bird-protection law ever passed 2021) including an additional and in honor of this milestone, site Madane protected forest. BCN joined with nature lovers BCN’s policy intervention project, around the world to celebrate 2018 “Mainstreaming Biodiversity as the “Year of the Bird”. One of and Ecosystem Services into our outstanding commitments Community Forestry in Nepal” has to protect birds is our critically been successfully piloted and is endangered vulture release work now in a process to be included in through which we successfully government policy and program. released the captive bred birds first ever in the world. Our Vulture and The entire long journey for Bengal Florican conservation work conservation of birds and was also strongly demonstrated biodiversity which has now reached in the Global Flyway Summit to 36 years would not have been this year. Our focus on advocacy Rajendra Gurung possible without trust and support President was also better with publication from government line agencies, of “Globally Threatened Birds especially Ministry of Forest of Nepal” booklet and “Birds of and Environment, Department Nepal: an Official Checklist 2018”. of National Parks and Wildlife The Important Bird and Biodiversity Conservation, Department of Areas (IBAs) in Nepal have been Forest and Soil Conservation, updated from 27 sites to 37 sites National Parks and Wildlife now and the updated publication Reserve Offices, Department of is coming in early 2019. We have Drug Administration, Department also launched “Connecting People of Livestock Services and District with Nature through Bird and Livestock Offices along with other Biodiversity Learning Centre at conservation partners. Ranibari Community Forest” as a We are indebted to the trust our mega urban environment education Ishana Thapa members, volunteers, staffs and program. CEO partners have put on our mission Our successful completion of and expect the same in our future the People Partner with Nature endeavors. phase I program on participatory Thank you! management of Reshunga Forest BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Bird Conservation Nepal Established in 1982, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) is the leading organization in VISION Nepal to focus on the conservation of birds, “Birds and their habitats and sites. It seeks to promote interest in birds among the general public, biodiversity encourages research on birds, and identifies thriving in Nepal major threats to birds’ continued survival. As a and benefiting result, BCN is the foremost scientific authority providing accurate data and information on people” birds and their habitats throughout Nepal. The organization also provides scientific data and expertise on birds for the Government MISSION of Nepal (GoN) through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation “Bird Conservation (DNPWC) and works closely on birds and Nepal is dedicated biodiversity conservation throughout the to conserve birds country. and biodiversity It is imperative to note that BCN is a while benefiting membership-based organization with a founding President, advisors, patrons, life people” members, ordinary members, friends of BCN and active supporters. The membership provides strength to the society and is drawn GOAL from people of all walks of life from students, “Contribute to bird volunteers, professionals and conservationists. and biodiversity BCN is also part of the BirdLife International conservation in Partnership, a network of 120 organizations around the world, working on a worldwide collaboration with agenda to conserve the world’s birds and their people” habitats. BIRD CONSERVATION NEPAL 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF BCN BCN has established and abides by the following principles: • Conservation of birds, their habitats and overall biodiversity. • People’s participation in conservation and benefiting the people themselves. • Institutional learning and innovation in the area of conservation. • Participatory planning process for formulating periodic policy to guide the organization. • Building national and international networks to increase effectiveness in bird and biodiversity conservation. Water fowls©Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri Jyu fowls©Jyotendra Water Acknowledgements Bird Conservation Nepal would like of Forests and Environment thankful to Mr Deepak Raj Joshi to express deepest appreciation for their support. Man Bahadur and Mr Krishna Aryal from NTB for the continuous support of Khadka, Gopal Prakash Bhattarai, for their continued support in valuable Patrons, Advisors and Laxman Prasad Paudyal, Kamal bird tourism promotion. BCN also Executive Council members. We Jung Kunwar, Ramesh Thapa, Uba offers the sincere appreciation to are equally grateful to BirdLife Raj Regmi, Bed Kumar Dhakal, National Conservation Consortium International, Royal Society for Ram Chandra Kandel, Shyam partners WWF Nepal, IUCN Nepal, Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK Shaha, Lal Bahadur Bhandari ICIMOD, Wildlife Conservation Government’s Darwin Initiative, and Bed Bahadur Khadka of the Nepal (WCN), Environmental BirdLife Young Conservation Department of National Parks and Camps for Conservation Leadership program, International Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) Awareness (ECCA), Wildlife Watch Center for Birds of Prey (ICBP), helped us to implement various Group (WWG), Nepal Forum of Norwegian Ornithological Society activities at the field level. We are Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ), (NOF), Dansk Ornitologisk Society grateful to Krishna Prasad Acharya, Federation of Community Forest (DOF), Norwegian Agency for Dr. Anuja Sharma, Prakash Lamsal Users Nepal (FECOFUN) and Development (NORAD), CISU/ from Department of Forests other partners Nepal Tourism Danida, Taiwan Forestry Bureau, for their tireless support. Ms. Board (NTB) and Trekking Agency Oriental Bird Club and AusAid. Radha Wagle and Nabin Prakash Association of Nepal (TAAN) for Upadhyaya from Central Forest conservation collaboration. We sincerely thank for the support Training and Extension Centre to our international friends, are also thankful for their support Finally, our deepest appreciation especially Particia Zurita, Ian in implementing Forest Officers goes to the instrumental Barber, Vinayagan Dharmarajah, training under the Darwin project. organizations, Ministry of Nonie Coulthard, Billy Fairburn, We would also like to thank Forests and Environment, Toby Galigan, Chris Bowden, Ganesh Karki and Thakur Bhandari Department of National Parks Jemmima Parry Jones, Nick from FECOFUN; Dr. Ghana and Wildlife Conservation, Masters, Paul Donald, Mike Shyam Gurung and Dr Shant Raj Department of Forests and Soil Crosby, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp, Jnawali of WWF Nepal Program; Conservation, Department of Marcus Cotton, Kjetil Slovokan, Dr Prahlad Thapa from IUCN;