Conserving Red Pandas in Western Nepal

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1 Conserving Red Pandas in Western Nepal Progress Report September 2018 Progress Report RPN is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. redpandnetwork.org

2 Awareness-building workshop in Western Nepal Summary The high-mountain forests in Western Nepal located outside of protected areas account for 53.02% of the habitat that is available to red pandas in Nepal. The red panda (Endangered-IUCN Red List, CITES I) is a flagship species and has been identified as an indicator of ecological health for Eastern Himalayan biodiversity. They are an umbrella species as protecting them leads to the protection of many rare and unique species who share their habitat. Red pandas are also a habitat specialist and an important indicator of climate change. We have identified three districts in Nepal s western region Jumla, Jajarkot, and Kalikot that are critical to the survival of this species. This is an important geographic region as it provides habitat connectivity for red pandas between Rara National park in the west, Shey Phoksundo National park in the north and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in the east. Protecting wildlife here is a challenging task. Our conservation programs are the first of their kind in Western Nepal and there is little environmental awareness among locals. Included is a description of many of the activities we have been able to accomplish in Western Nepal:

3 Status of Activities Inception Project inception activities have been implemented in Jumla, Jajarkot and Kalikot districts. Local stakeholders including elected members of Rural Municipalities (RMs), government officials, journalists and NGOs were educated on project objectives through a PowerPoint presentation. Informative posters and pamphlets were distributed and and documentary on red pandas called The Forgotten Panda was showcased during inception events. Consultation & Education Meetings were conducted in two RMs of Jumla and Jajarkot district and four RMs in Kalikot district. Representatives from government agencies, NGOs, as well as various community, entrepreneur, political and social activist groups were all present. Altogether 129 people participated in the meetings. Consultation and Sharing Workshops RPN organized 8 workshops for newly elected RMs members, government agencies and NGOs in Jumla (Sinja and Patrasi RMs) & Jajarkot (Barekot and Kuse RMs) and four in Kalikot (Khandachakra, Pachaljharna. Mahawai and Kalika RMs). The goal of the workshops was to inform about the status and distribution of red pandas, their importance to local ecosystems, as well as threats to their conservation. Outreach & Education RPN organized two awareness-building workshops for newly elected representatives and other stakeholders in Sinja and Patrasi RMs of Jumla district, Pachaljharana, Khandachakra, Mahawi and Kalika of Kalikot and Barekot and Paink of Jajarkot. 1,081 students participated from 18 schools in Jumla, Kalikot and Jajarkot districts participated in education and outreach events.

4 Consultation & sharing workshops School education & outreach

5 Survey and Monitoring Training A two-day training on red panda survey and monitoring techniques was organized. The participants included students from Mid-western University of Science and Technology, governmental officials and representatives from 12 partner NGOs. They learned GPS handling, red panda ecology and red panda survey skills*, communication and local language/traditions/laws, mapping and reporting skills. We used a land use map of the region to identify potential red panda habitat: areas at an elevation between 2,000 and 4,000 meters with specific forest types (fir, rhododendron, birch and alpine scrub, oak, broadleaf deciduous, broadleaf conifer forest and coniferous forests with bamboo in the understory). Identified potential habitat overlaid with grids (9.6 Km2) before 50% of them were randomly selected to overlay with subgrids (1.6 Km2). It was followed by the random selection of 50% of subgrids in each grid to carry out the survey. Opportunistic sampling occurred after visiting the location where red pandas were reported by local people in the past even if that area falls outside the selected sampling sub-grid. *Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. (2015). Red panda Field Survey and Protocol for Community Based Monitoring, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Training field biologists on red panda survey techniques

6 All the available transects passing across each contour at an interval of 100m elevation; an elevational gradient of 100m in the selected subgrids traversed up to 500m - 1,000m length. Information on GPS coordinates, elevation, aspect, slope, substratum, height from ground surface, vegetation types, bamboo culm number, and distance to nearest settlement and water sources will be recorded. Quadrats are established at an interval of 500m along each transect the location where red panda sign was also observed to assess the habitat suitability and threats. Information on vegetation composition, species, and diameter at breast height (dbh), canopy cover of trees along with the composition of herbs, shrubs and bamboo species; their number and height recorded. Correspondingly, information on anthropogenic disturbance variables including a number of cut stumps, number of observed livestock and their droppings, cattle paths, forest fire, the distance of nearest settlement, etc. will also be documented. Red Panda Survey RPN surveyed a total of 912 plots (286 sign plots) within 90 transects in the study area. We transversed a total of km along transects within 670 hours. Red panda presence has been documented in Patarashi, Kankasundari, Sinja and Tila rural municipalities of Jumla district and Barekot, Kuse and Tribeni-Nagalgad rural/municipalities of Jajarkot district and Mahawi, Khandachakra and Pachaljharana of Kalikot district. Jajarkot district had an average encounter rate (ER) of 2.99 signs/km, Jumla district had 0.74 signs/km and we recorded 1.72signs/km in Kalikot district. The average ER among the three districts was 1.78 signs/km. Measurement of red panda dropping taken during field survey

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8 Red pandas are highly elusive animals and it is difficult to estimate their population size through direct sightings. Therefore, estimating their sign ER was used to measure their relative abundance. This was calculated by estimating the ER of red panda signs per km within the survey grids. The highest ER documented in Jumla district was 1.43 in Kankasundari RM followed by 0.76 in Patarashi and 0.59 in Sinja. The highest in Jajarkot was 3.63 in Barekot followed by 1.07 in Kuse and 0.82 in Tribeni-Nagalgad RM. Mahawi RM at 2.62 had the highest in Kalikot district, followed by Khandachakra at 2, Kalika at 1.84 and Pachaljharana at The survey observed evidence of human disturbance in 83% of plots. Vegetation disturbance was observed in 77% of the plots, cattle trail was 41%, human trail-39%, livestock dropping-27%, landslide-22%, solid waste- 17% and settlement-15%. Encounter rate according to rural/municipalities.

9 Socioeconomic Survey A socioeconomic and environmental awareness survey has been completed in all three districts. This survey was instrumental in helping us understand the socioeconomic status and the flora, fauna, forests, and wildlife in the region. Stratified random sampling was used for the survey and the variables included age and sex of pupils, parents socioeconomic status and family size of selected households. Data is being analyzed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS version people were surveyed during this project activity. Consultation with local females during socioeconomic survey

10 Formation of Roots & Shoots Groups and Support of Bulletin Publication Roots & Shoots groups were formed in all three districts: four groups in Kalikot, two in Jumla and 7 were formed in Jajarkot district. Students were selected based on the knowledge and enthusiasm regarding biodiversity and red panda conservation. Students then further educated on red pandas, their endangered status and the importance of their biodiversity. A professional columnist was hired to train students in writing bulletin publications. The objective of the bulletin publication is to enhance red panda and environmental knowledge and to develop skills in writing and creative thinking among students. Roots and Shoots group

11 Conservation Boards Information boards with red panda and environmental conservation messages were produced and installed in strategic locations in all three districts (6 in Kalikot, 7 in Jajarkot and 8 in Jumla. These conservation board helps to value add in local conservation initiatives and tourism promotion. Local community and other visitors find them as valuable assets for conservation interventions. Roots and Shoots group & conservation board

12 Establishment of Monitoring Blocks 15 monitoring blocks were established in 5 Community Forests in Jumla (6 in Sinja RMs and 4 in Patrasi RMs) and Jajarkot districts. An average of 2 transects were demarcated in each block, with an average length of 1 KM. In consultation with local CFUGs, 10 local people were selected to be recruited and trained as FGs. These FGs received red panda education including importance to local ecosystems and legal provisions pertaining to their protection. They were also trained in red panda monitoring and use of equipment such as GPS, DBH tape, and data collection. Transects marked for long-term red panda monitoring

13 Monitoring of Red Panda Habitat RPN is continuing to monitor red panda habitat in Jumla and Jajarkot district. 15 monitoring blocks with average transects of 30 km have been established in three Community Forests (CFs) of Sinja and Patrasi RMs in Jumla and two CFs of Barekot and Paink in Jajarkot district. Celebration of Environment Day Environment Day was celebrated in 5 schools in all three districts; 2 in Kalikot and Jumla district and 1 school in Jajarkot district. Events included essays, content writing, and public speaking competitions. NTFPs/MAPs Distribution In order to support local livelihoods, Uttis, Epilipl, Bhojetro, Daledo, Deodar and Dale ghas plant species were distributed in Kalikot and Jumla districts. In coordination with local people, DFOs and CFUGs these plants were selected based on the needs of locals, suitability, and availability of the saplings. Seedlings being distributed for plantation

14 Partners in Conservation Thank you to the institutions who support RPN's Western Nepal expansion.