Eastern Himalayan Ecoregions Complex Global 200: Terai - Duar Savannas and Grasslands Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)- Nepal Implemented by His Majesty’s Government of Nepal/Ministry of Forests & Soil Conservation, Department of Forests, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and WWF Nepal Program Annual Technical Progress Report July 01, 2001 – June 30, 2002 Report prepared by WWF Nepal Program GPO Box 7660,Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 434820, Fax: +977 1 438458 Email: [email protected] July 2002 Eastern Himalayan Ecoregions Complex Global 200: Terai - Duar Savannas and Grasslands Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)- Nepal Annual Technical Progress Report July 01, 2001 – June 30, 2002 Implemented by His Majesty’s Government of Nepal/Ministry of Forests & Soil Conservation, Department of Forests, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and WWF Nepal Program Funded by United States Agency for International Development, Directorate General International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Netherlands, US Fish and Wildlife Services, Save the Tiger Fund/NFWF, AREAS, World Bank, WWF Netherlands, WWF International, WWF UK, and WWF US Report prepared by WWF Nepal Program GPO Box 7660,Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 434820, Fax: +977 1 438458 Email: [email protected] July 2002 2 Table of Contents Page Summary sheet vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................3 2. WIDER CONTEXT:..................................................................................................4 3. OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................................4 4. CHANGES...................................................................................................................5 5. PROGRESS.................................................................................................................5 5.1. FOREST CORRIDORS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ......................................5 5.1.1. Nursery..............................................................................................................5 5.1.2. Plantation ..........................................................................................................6 5.1.3. Natural Forest Regeneration .............................................................................7 5.1.4. Institutionalization of Forest User Groups........................................................9 5.1.4.1. Formation and legalization of Community Forest User Groups. ............................ 9 5.1.4.2. Formation of Community Forest User Group Coordination Committee (CFCC). 10 5.1.4.3. Capacity building for CFUGs................................................................................ 11 5.1.5. Impact .............................................................................................................13 5.2. SPECIES CONSERVATION........................................................................................14 5.2.1. Habitat Management.......................................................................................14 5.2.1.1. Grassland Management ......................................................................................... 14 5.2.1.2. Waterhole construction.......................................................................................... 14 5.2.1.3. Eradication of invasive species ............................................................................. 15 5.2.2. Anti-poaching .................................................................................................15 5.2.2.1. Strengthening anti-poaching operation (APO) in protected areas and buffer zones 15 5.2.2.2. Anti-poaching post construction ........................................................................... 16 5.2.2.3. Community based anti-poaching unit.................................................................... 16 5.2.2.4. Anti-poaching training .......................................................................................... 16 5.2.3. CITES implementation ...................................................................................17 5.2.4. Problem animal management:.........................................................................18 5.2.5. Minimize wildlife damage ..............................................................................18 5.2.5.1. Trench / biofence................................................................................................... 18 5.2.5.2. Mentha Farming .................................................................................................... 18 5.2.5.3. Watch Tower ......................................................................................................... 19 5.2.6. Rhino translocation.........................................................................................19 i 5.3. RESEARCH, SURVEY AND MONITORING................................................................19 5.3.1. Status survey and wildlife monitoring ............................................................19 5.3.1.1. Tiger monitoring ................................................................................................... 20 5.3.1.2. Rhino monitoring .................................................................................................. 20 5.3.1.3. Monitoring of prey species (swamp deer in Sukla)............................................... 20 5.3.1.4. Black Buck conservation and monitoring ............................................................. 21 5.3.1.5. Feasibility study of swamp deer translocation ...................................................... 22 5.3.1.6. Training on Wildlife Monitoring........................................................................... 22 5.3.2. Vegetation Monitoring....................................................................................22 5.3.2.1. Remote Sensing..................................................................................................... 23 5.3.2.2. GIS (Geographic Information System) ................................................................. 23 5.3.3. Research and study .........................................................................................24 5.3.3.1. Rhino action plan .................................................................................................. 24 5.3.3.2. Study on domesticated elephants .......................................................................... 24 5.3.3.3. Bird Monitoring..................................................................................................... 24 5.3.3.4. Tiger status survey report...................................................................................... 24 5.3.3.5. Study of community forestry in Terai ................................................................... 24 5.4. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................25 5.4.1. Livestock management ...................................................................................25 5.4.1.1. Stall-feeding of livestock....................................................................................... 25 5.4.1.2. Improved breed distribution .................................................................................. 26 5.4.2. Alternate energy support program ..................................................................26 5.4.2.1. Biogas plants and toilet construction..................................................................... 26 5.4.2.2. Improved Cooking Stove (chulo).......................................................................... 26 5.4.3. Income generation program ............................................................................27 5.4.3.1. Piggery and poultry farming.................................................................................. 27 5.4.3.2. Agro-Forestry........................................................................................................ 28 5.4.4. Gender mainstreaming....................................................................................28 5.4.4.1. Gender Sensitization Training............................................................................... 28 5.4.4.2. Girl Student Stipend .............................................................................................. 28 5.4.4.3. Day Care Center .................................................................................................... 29 5.4.5. Community services........................................................................................29 5.4.5.1. Health Care Support .............................................................................................. 29 5.4.5.2. Drinking water support.......................................................................................... 29 5.4.5.3. Irrigation and infrastructure support...................................................................... 30 5.4.5.4. Other infrastructures for community development ............................................... 30 5.4.6. Ecotourism ......................................................................................................30 5.5. EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING..................................................................31