WWF - WWF in Nepal

Red List update shows up global failure to slow biodiversity loss

2009-11-03

Gland, Switzerland: The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species should cause alarm over the continuing unprecedented loss of species and the failure so far of mechanisms to arrest biodiversity loss, WWF said today.

The 2009 Red List update, issued today by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, shows more than one-third (36 percent) of the 47,677 species assessed are threatened with extinction. The assessment featured a special focus on freshwater species, which are being hit hard by pollution, loss of wetlands and water diversions.

The Red List ranks species according to their population status and threat levels. It shows the effects that habitat loss and degradation, over-exploitation, pollutants and climate change are having on the world’s species.

“As crucial climate talks in Copenhagen draw near and with the International Year of Biodiversity around the corner, this is a wake-up call for world leaders.” said Amanda Nickson, Director of the WWF International Species Programme. “We are a world away from meeting the globally endorsed 2002 commitment of the Convention on Biological Diversity to deliver a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.”

“This failure and the mechanisms to overcome it will need to be the dominant agenda item on next year’s meeting of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.”

Growing threat of climate change

Through its global initiatives, WWF is pursuing major efforts to arrest biodiversity decline in some of the most spectacular and highly diverse places on the planet, and to recover populations of some of the most endangered species, such as tigers.

It is estimated that less than 3200 tigers exist in the wild in a wide arc of countries from far eastern Russia to India and Indonesia. Tigers - a top predator residing at the top of its food chain - occupy less than seven percent of their original range, which has contracted 40 percent from 10 years ago.

As tigers require a large home range, protection of the species and its habitat bring huge benefits to thousands of other species. An international summit scheduled for 2010 in Vladivostok in Russia is a critical opportunity to reverse the decline in tiger numbers and ensure their survival in the wild.

“Tigers are a symbol of what is happening to many species across the globe, and demonstrate the urgent need for the world to come up with the political will, policies, resources and incentives to maintain a living and diverse planet.” said Ms Nickson. “The IUCN is frank that its assessments are likely to understate the real extent of the loss of species.”

Significant international meetings next year to address biodiversity loss and the threats to planetary life support systems include a major Conferences of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Ms Nickson noted that the CBD’s 2010 target had probably underestimated the growing impact of climate change, which is now being increasingly recognised as an additional threat leading species of animals and plants towards extinction. Polar bears earned US endangered status last year on the basis of climate change and the Red List notes more.

The Queen of the Andes, largest of one the world’s cactus families which dies on flowering and setting seed after an average 80 year growing span, may be having its ability to flower impaired by climate change.

Alarm on freshwater species

The assessment of freshwater species continued to alarm, with more than one third of assessed freshwater fishes under threat of extinction and approaching half of all molluscs. In Lake Dianchi in China, the assessment found all seven freshwater snails and 12 of the 13 freshwater fish species new to the Red List were threatened by overharvesting, pollution and introduced fish species.

The planet’s amphibians are the most threatened of all species with 1895 of 6285 species assessed in the Red List threatened with extinction.

However, in a rare ray of hope in the new assessment, one freshwater fish, the Australian Grayling has been moved from being listed as Vulnerable to being listed as Near Threatened as a result of conservation efforts which included putting fish ladders on dams, improving streamside vegetation and policing anglers.

Tiger experts call for urgent action to save species

2009-10-30

KATHMANDU, Nepal – More than 250 experts, scientists and government delegates from 13 tiger range countries this week called for immediate action to save tigers before the species disappears from the wild, citing the urgent need for increased protection against tiger poaching and trafficking in tiger parts.

WWF welcomes the recommendations from the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop 2009, where organizers on Thursday stated in closing remarks that “without immediate, urgent, and transformative actions, wild tigers will disappear forever.”

The recommendations from the workshop include support for implementing a resolution related to tigers in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and to avoid financing development projects that adversely affect critical tiger habitats.

“These are a good start but the momentum from Kathmandu needs to be carried forward all the way to the Tiger Summit during the Year of the Tiger 2010 and beyond,” said Mike Baltzer, head of WWF’s Tiger Initiative. “The tiger range countries are clearly committed to saving their wild tigers and the world needs to extend unstinting support to this mission because once tigers are gone, they’re gone forever.”

There are only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild and WWF’s goal is to double that number by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Tiger populations are declining in face of massive poaching for illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmentation, and conflict with humans.

“I am convinced we are on the right road to saving tigers,” said Dr. Eric Dinerstein, WWF’s Chief Scientist, in his closing remarks to delegates from 20 countries at the conclusion of the meeting. “We will look back on this meeting as the dramatic turning point for conserving this magnificent species, its habitats, Asian biodiversity, and the billions of people who depend upon healthy natural landscapes for which tigers are the talisman.”

The Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop is the first in a series of political negotiation meetings occurring throughout the year and leading up to a final Heads of State Tiger Summit in September 2010, which is the Year of the Tiger.

The workshop was hosted by Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, and co-organized and co-sponsored by the CITES Secretariat, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative, Save The Tiger Fund, and the World Bank.

Nepal expands critical tiger habitat

2009-10-27

Kathmandu, Nepal - The Government of Nepal announced today an expansion of Bardia National Park in the Terai Arc Landscape by 900 sq km, which will increase critical habitat for tigers.

WWF welcomes the announcement, which was made at the inaugural session of the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal also stated that the government would establish a National Tiger Conservation Authority as well as a Wildlife Crime Control Committee saying, “The solutions will be area specific, but the future of conservation will depend upon how we act now and how we make tiger conservation and overall biodiversity much more valuable to the livelihoods of local communities.”

“This is indeed a great conservation initiative, which will certainly help in curbing illegal wildlife trade and poaching in Nepal,” said Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. “We are confident that by embracing innovative conservation strategies Nepal will succeed in doubling its number of endangered tigers.”

Earlier this year the first ever nation-wide estimate of the tiger population revealed the presence of 121 adult tigers in the wild within four protected areas of Nepal. In order to ensure that these tiger numbers remain stable and start to increase, WWF and its partners called on the government to increase anti-poaching activities and habitat protection.

“In making these commitments at a global forum before the 12 other tiger range countries, the Government of Nepal has set an important precedent for others to follow,” said Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tiger Initiative. “The next three days of the workshop are vital as countries and tiger experts band together to create a game-changing plan to save tigers in the wild.”

The Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop is the first in a series of political negotiation meetings occurring throughout the year and leading up to a final Heads of State Tiger Summit in September 2010, which is the Year of the Tiger.

The workshop is hosted by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, co-organized and co-sponsored by the CITES Secretariat, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative, Save The Tiger Fund, World Bank.

Climate Witness: Apa Sherpa, Nepal

2009-10-15

My name is Apa Sherpa. I am 49 years old and I live in Thame, a village in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal, right on the Everest trail. I’m a mountaineer by profession.

I was born and brought up in Thame and have climbed the mountains in this area for more then twenty years. My parents were yak-herders and farmers, but I went into mountaineering. I started by carrying loads for a few expeditions, then slowly became a professional mountaineer. Now, I hold the world record for climbing Mt. Everest for the most times – 19. I also lead many expeditions in this area.

During the past decades, I have observed many changes in the climate in this area. And when I also talk to the people living here I can hear about many such signs of changes. At first we didn’t realize that the changes were so severe, but then, we also did not know about anything called climate change.

Now, the changes in weather patterns are drastic. It didn’t snow at all during December, January and February, when it should snow heavily, and it finally snowed massively in May, when usually it’s dry. The numbers of hot days are also increasing. We saw mosquitoes in Namche Bazaar (altitude- 3440 m) for the first time in 2008 and we also saw a housefly at Everest Base Camp (altitude – 5360 m) which is unheard of. And, of course, the rapid melting of the snow in the mountains and glaciers. For the first time in my life, during the Eco Everest Expedition 2009, I saw running water around Camp 4 and near the summit of Mt. Everest. In fact, at Camp 2 we did not even have to melt snow for drinking, which was very rare in previous expeditions.

The melting glaciers pose an immediate threat due to the ever-increasing glacial lakes. The Imja glacial lake has slowly grown to a massive size in front of my eyes. My wife and I lost all our property and nearly lost our lives when a similar glacial lake Dig Tsho burst in 1985. I know how severe the impacts will be if a lake like Imja would burst. It would mean total devastation and not just for the people in the immediate vicinity but maybe also for people living downstream.

The people in the area are not very aware about these issues and therefore they cannot connect these changes into a single phenomenon. But these changes could have serious consequences for us. I have heard that there are 20 such glacial lakes in Nepal which are in danger of bursting. This not only poses a grave risk to all our property and infrastructure, but our lives. I have also gathered from the local people that the potato yield is not as good as before and that yak numbers are also decreasing – maybe these are the results of change in weather patterns. We have heard incidents of bushfires. And I cannot fathom what diseases mosquitoes and houseflies would bring in.

I am an uneducated person, yet I realize the seriousness of the issue. I hope our senior politicians and the government realize that climate change poses an immediate threat to the people living in the mountainous region. We need to educate the people there and we need resources so that these problems can be solved. I have dedicated my last two Everest ascents to raise awareness about Climate Change issues. This is just a small individual step. And it is definitely not enough. I think we need to work together unitedly if we are to ever find solutions to Climate Change and the problems it is creating.

Scientific review

A scientific review by a member of the Climate Witness Science Advisory Panel is pending.

Conserveation Heroes remembered

2009-09-23

The Conservation Consortium of WWF Nepal, Bird Conservation Nepal, Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness, The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Nepal, The Mountain Institute and Wildlife Watch Group jointly observed the second National Conservation Day under the leadership of Government of Nepal remembering the Conservation Heroes who lost who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter accident on 23 September 2006 at Ghunsa, Kangchenjunga. The Government of Nepal declared 23 September as National Conservation Day last year in their memory.

Rt. Honorable President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the function and unveiled the biography of charismatic environmentalist Dr. Chandra Gurung, "A Boy from Siklis – The Life and Times of Chandra Gurung" penned by noted author Manjushree Thapa and published by Penguin Books in coordination with Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation (CGCF).

The Government of Nepal conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Tej Bahadur Singh Mahat who introduced the concept of Community Forest in Nepal.

On the occasion, Abraham Conservation Awards were awarded to four individuals and one organization in recognition to their contribution to grassroots level conservation. The award recipients are Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa, Ramesh Bahadur Chand, Gokarna Devkota, Youba Raj Pokharel and Ghunsa Snow Leopard Conservation Sub-Committee.

Matthew Preece and Yeshi Lama Young Conservation Leaders Awards were awarded to two young individuals Hari Adhikari and Deepti Khakurel for their dedicated and outstanding contribution to conservation. WWF Media in Conservation Award was awarded to Abdullah Miya, a reporter with Kantipur daily, dedicated to covering the issues of conservation.

Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarships and Mingma Sherpa Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Anita Gurung and Chungla Sherpa respectively.

Awardee Profile

Abraham Conservation Award 2009

Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa
Social Service, Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee
Solukhumbu

Mr. Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa is the first and current Chairperson of Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee (SNP BZMC). He played a crucial role in making the Sagarmatha area "bottle free zone" since 1998 and declaring buffer zone in the SNP as well as implementing various integrated conservation and development projects in the area. Ever since the establishment of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) with the support of WWF in the early 1990s, his concerted efforts to mainstream pollution control along the Sagarmatha trekking route and install porter shelters led to establish effective waste management system in the SNPBZ. His support to initiate micro hydro schemes in the SNPBZ is also significant which has directly reduced pressure on forest resources and benefitted local users through alternative energy in Chaurikharka VDC.

Ramesh Bahadur Chand
District Forest Officer, Darchula

Mr. Ramesh Bahadur Chand has 22 years of working experience in different District Forest Offices of Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation since 1987. His contribution towards species conservation is exemplary since he has led many confiscations of wildlife derivatives and sent many poachers to jail. With his strong capability of mobilizing local level user groups, monitoring field activities and coordination with different key stakeholders, he has helped curbing illegal wildlife trade and reducing the poaching activities. With his initiation, a very cordial relationship has been developed with the trans-border security of India.

Gokarna Devkota
Protection Force
Gorakh Bahadur Battalion, Chitwan National Park

Mr. Gokarna Devkota has served in Chitwan National Park for four years and is heading the Counter Poaching Cell in Chitwan National Park. He has carried out more than 30 anti-poaching operations arresting more than 70 rhino poachers. He is highly motivated to drive the anti-poaching cell and forming a best team to control poaching and illegal wildlife trade. He is also the head of intelligence network, media handling and operations.

Youba Raj Pokharel
Forest Technician
Tanahun

Mr. Youba Raj Pokharel has been working in Tree Improvement and Silviculture Unit of Department of Forest since 1998. He has been involved in tree improvement and tree domestication programme for sea buckthorn specis in the northwest Himalayan districts of Nepal. He is actively engaged in-situ and ex-situ gene conservation of two species of sea buckthorn. He has conducted many grassroots level trainings and extension programmes for sea buckthorn cultivation, product development, sustainable utilization and marketing of sea buckthorn products through frequent visits to remote districts.

Ghunsa Snow leopard Conservation Sub-Committee
Ghunsa Village, Taplejung

Ghunsa Snow Leopard Conservation Sub-Committee is the pioneer Community Based Organization (CBO) working towards conserving snow leopard and its habitat through mobilization of local community of Ghunsa. It has been actively implementing and monitoring snow leopard conservation activities at field level. Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) has been piloted and institutionalized by the sub-committee and has played a key role in reducing human wildlife conflict in the areas as well as transferring the knowledge to other mountain regions such as Dolpo and Langtang. The sub-committee has been involved in anti-poaching operations, curbing illegal wildlife trade, wildlife conservation, tourism promotion and NTFP management.

Matthew Preece and Yeshi Choden Lama Young Conservation Leader Awards

Hari Adhikari
Co-ordinator

Mr. Hari Adhikari has been working for bat conservation voluntarily since 2005. He has worked for conservation of bats, birds and wetlands in Palpa, Rupendehi and Kaski districts. He has carried out bat conservation awareness program for school children in Madan Pokhara valley of Palpa district. In recognition of his work on bat conservation in Nepal, he has been appointed as Nepal Representative for IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Bat Specialist Group. He is also a member of the Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network of South Asia (CCINSA). He is also the General Member of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) and Self Help Environment Awareness Camp (SHEAC).

Deepti Khakurel
Development worker
Yatra

Ms. Deepti Khakurel has been leading Yatra since 2004. Yatra is a youth led and youth run organization devoted to environment and youth. She has been dedicated to conservation and promotion of activities related to Primary Environmental Care and wetland conservation. She has also conceptualized and implemented the Primary Education Care Campaign for environmental sustainability to fight against climate change. She is also a motivator and mentor of many young people and has served in different networks such as Association of Youth Organizations of Nepal (AYON) and other environmental organizations.

WWF Media in Conservation Awards

Abdullah Miya
Sub Editor, Kantipur National Daily.

Mr. Abdullah Miya, an active reporter with Kantipur daily, has been writing on conservation issues for the last eight years. He has been specifically reporting on biodiversity conservation and wildlife conservation issues. He is the Secretary of Nepal forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) and General Secretary of Nepal Muslim Journalists Association.

Prime Minister of Nepal to take climate change message from 207,552 Nepali youth and Sherpa community to International leaders

2009-09-18

Kathmandu, Nepal – Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has pledged to handover a petition against Climate Injustice signed by 207,552 youth from around Nepal when he meets UN Secretary General H.E. Ban Ki-moon during the UN Climate Change Summit to be held on 22 September 2009 in New York.

At a function held in the PM’s Residence in Baluwatar on 18 September 2009, the Prime Minister also committed that he would take a message on behalf of the climate vulnerable mountain communities of Nepal in the form of a memento of a rock from Mt. Everest addressed to the UN Secretary General as well as US President Barack Obama, during his meeting with the latter in New York on 23 September.

At the function, Deepti Timilsina, a class ten student from Ideal Model School of Kathmandu submitted the petition to the Prime Minister on behalf of all the students who signed the petition under the Climate for Life Campaign. Over the last several months, hundreds of Climate for Life volunteers have been mobilized to schools around Kathmandu and outside to teach young students about the impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas and to sign the Youth Petition. Three Nepali NGOs namely SENSE Nepal, CEN Nepal and SEN Nepal helped the campaign in reaching out to petitioning Nepali youth and collecting their support.

“If the youth rise, the nation will also rise,” said the Prime Minister commending the efforts of the students and volunteers who worked tirelessly on the petition drive.

Similarly, two-times Everest Summiteer Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa handed over a memento containing a piece of rock from the Summit of Mt. Everest as a symbol of the Melting Himalayas in the wake of Climate Change. The Sherpa Community of Nepal is one of the most vulnerable communities from the impacts of Climate Change in Nepal and the memento is a symbol of their protest and expectations from industrialized countries to come together to sort out the problem called Climate Change.

Minister of Environment, Hon. Mr. Thakur Prasad Sharma was also present on the occasion and praised the noteworthy efforts of the youth for taking such an initiative for an urgent cause like Climate change.

Flying frog among hundreds of new species discovered in Eastern Himalayas

2009-08-10

Kathmandu, Nepal - Over 350 new species including the world’s smallest deer, a “flying frog” and a 100 million-year old gecko have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas, a biological treasure trove now threatened by climate change.

A decade of research carried out by scientists in remote mountain areas endangered by rising global temperatures brought exciting discoveries such as a bright green frog (Rhacophorus suffry) which uses its red and long webbed feet to glide in the air.

One of the most significant findings was not exactly “new” in the classic sense. A 100-million year-old gecko, the oldest fossil gecko species known to science, was discovered in an amber mine in the Hukawng Valley in Himalayan regions of far northern Myanmar.

The WWF report The Eastern Himalayas – Where Worlds Collide details discoveries made by scientists from various organizations between 1998 and 2008 in a region reaching across Bhutan and north-east India to the far north of Myanmar as well as Nepal and southern parts of Tibet Autonomus Region (China).

“This enormous cultural and biological diversity underscores the fragile nature of an environment which risks being lost forever unless the impacts of climate change are reversed,” said Tariq Aziz, the leader of WWF's Living Himalayas Initiative.

“People and wildlife form a rich mosaic of life across this rugged and remarkable landscape, making it among the biologically richest areas on Earth. But the Himalayas are also among the most vulnerable to global climate change.”

In December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to reach an agreement on a new climate deal, which will replace the existing Kyoto Protocol.

“Only an ambitious and fair deal based on an agreement between rich and poor countries can save the planet and its treasures such as the Himalayas from devastating climate change,” said Kim Carstensen, the Leader of the WWF’s Global Climate Initiative.

The Eastern Himalayas report also mentions the miniature muntjac, also called the “leaf deer” (Muntiacus putaoensis) which is one of the world’s oldest and smallest deer species.

Scientists initially believed the small creature found in the world’s largest mountain range was a juvenile of another species but DNA tests confirmed the light brown animal with innocent dark eyes was a distinct and new species.

The Eastern Himalayas are now known to harbour a staggering 10,000 plant species, 300 mammal species, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 types of freshwater fish. The region also has the highest density of the Bengal tiger and is the last bastion of the charismatic greater one-horned rhino.

WWF aims to conserve the habitat of endangered species such as the majestic snow leopard, Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, red pandas, takins, golden langurs, rare Gangetic dolphins and one-horned rhinos as well as thousands of plant and animal species left to discover in the Eastern Himalayas region.

Eastern Himalayas- Where Worlds Collide describes more than 350 new species discovered - including 244 plants, 16 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 14 fish, 2 birds, 2 mammals and at least 60 new invertebrates.

Historically, the rugged and largely inaccessible landscape of the Eastern Himalayas has made biological surveys in the region extremely difficult. As a result, wildlife has remained poorly surveyed and there are large areas that are still biologically unexplored.

Today further species continue to be unearthed and many more species of amphibians, reptiles and fish are currently in the process of being officially named by scientists. The Eastern Himalayas is certainly one of the last biological frontiers of Asia with many new discoveries waiting to be made.

New Species Discoveries - Eastern Himalayas

2009-08-10

The Eastern Himalayas is at the crossroads of 2 continental plates represented by 2 biogeographical realms: the lowland Indo-Malayan Realm and to the north, the elevated Palearctic Realm.

The meeting of these worlds has created one of the biologically richest areas on Earth.

Spanning Bhutan, the north-eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, North Bengaland Sikkim, the far north of Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and southern parts of Tibet, the regionincludes 4 Global 200 ecoregions with their critical landscapes of international biologicalimportance.

The Himalayas are home to an estimated 10,000 plant species, 300 mammalspecies, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 freshwater fish.

The region supports a high density of the Bengal tiger and is the last bastion for the charismatic greaterone-horned rhinoceros.

Even today the rugged, and largely inaccessible landscape of the Eastern Himalayas, hides the real extent of the region’s biodiversity, with extraordinary new species continuing to bediscovered year-on-year.

Between 1998 and 2008, at least 353 new species have beendiscovered in the Eastern Himalayas.

That's 35 new species finds on average every year for the last 10 years.The extent of the new species finds place the Eastern Himalayas on a par with more well knownbiological hotspots such as Borneo.

What's in the report

This report celebrates these unique and fascinating species discoveries.

It also highlights growing pressures on the ecosystems and species as a consequence of unsustainabledevelopment in the region.

Despite protection efforts, in the last half-century, this area of South Asia has faced a wave of pressures as a result of population growth and the increasingdemand for commodities by global and regional markets.

The host of threats include

forest destruction as a result of unsustainable and illegal logging,
agriculture,
unsustainable fuelwood collection,
overgrazing by domestic livestock,
illegal poaching and wildlife trade,
mining,
pollution,
hydropower development, and
poorly planned infrastructure.

Under threat from climate change
The region is also among the most vulnerable to global climate change, which will amplify the impacts of these threats.

Only 25% of the original habitats in the region remain intact and 163 species that live in theEastern Himalayas are considered globally threatened.

Many of WWF’s established priority conservation landscapes are being impacted by the current unsustainable development in the Eastern Himalayas, and so we consider that a newlayer of strategic action is needed to augment our long standing field projects.

This includes asking the governments of Bhutan, India and Nepal to commit to a shared tripartite vision that recognises the global significance of the region and supports the implementation of a unified conservation and sustainable development plan that ensures the landscapes within the Eastern Himalayas are connected.

By promoting a shared sustainable development vision, WWF believes that real progress can be made in tackling huge poverty-impacting issues in the Eastern Himalayas such as climate change, deforestation, the illegal wildlife and timber trade, poor infrastructure development, and thereby secure the livelihoods, subsistence and fresh water essential to millions of peoplethroughout the region.

Only a concerted focus and a shared vision can maintain a living Himalayas, for people and nature, whether discovered or yet to be discovered.

2008 population estimate confirms the presence of 121 adult tigers in Nepal

2009-07-27

Kathmandu, Nepal - The first ever overall nation-wide estimate of the tiger population brought a positive ray of hope among conservationists. The figures announced by the Nepal Government's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) shows the presence of 121 (100 – 194) adult tigers in the wild within the four protected areas of Nepal. The 2008 tiger population estimate was jointly implemented by the DNPWC, Department of Forests (DOF), WWF, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) with support from Save The Tiger Fund (STF), WWF-US, WWF-UK, WWF International and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The 2008 nation-wide tiger population was initiated on 15 November 2008 in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) of Nepal both inside and outside the protected areas of Nepal. [TAL encompasses the Terai region of Nepal and into tiger range states across the border into India.]

"To obtain reliable population estimates of wide ranging species like the tiger, it is important to undertake the survey simultaneously in all potential habitats," says Dr. Rinjan Shrestha, Conservation Biologist with WWF Nepal. Previous studies had been undertaken in different time periods and at different spatial scales.

"To derive information on both abundance and distribution of tigers, the current survey employed two methods - Camera Trapping method inside the protected areas and Habitat Occupancy survey both inside and outside the protected areas."

According to WWF Global Tiger Network Initiative, the wild tiger population is at a tipping point. Tigers are experiencing a range collapse, occupying 40 per cent less habitat than was estimated just one decade ago. The estimated number of tigers in important range countries is frighteningly low, with a recent government census suggesting there may be as few as 1,300 tigers left in India, the species’ stronghold. And tigers are facing an epidemic of poaching and habitat loss across their range.

The main reason for the decline of tiger populations has been attributed to poaching and illegal trade. This is linked to the illegal international trade in tiger parts and derivatives (skin, bones, meat in some cases although not reported in Nepal) and use in traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM). Apart from these, sporadic cases of retaliatory killing from irate communities have been reported. Other important reasons of tiger population decline are habitat shrinkage and fragmentation due to human intervention, loss/decline of prey species.

"The tiger numbers have increased in Chitwan but decreased in Bardia and Shuklaphanta," said Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative, WWF Nepal.

"In spite of the decade long insurgency, encroachment, poaching and illegal trade, the present numbers is a positive sign, but we can't remain unworried. The declining numbers in western Nepal has posed more challenges, needing a concerted effort to save this charismatic endangered species focusing on anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trade."

The Government of Nepal has approved and launched the 'Tiger conservation Action Plan 2008- 2012'. A comprehensive management plan has been devised in which the target is to increase the population of tigers by 10 per cent within the first 5 year period of the plan implementation.

"Tigers can not be saved by the effort of a single individual or a single organization," said Mr. Gopal Prasad Upadhyay, Director General, DNPWC. "The transboundary relation with India needs to be strengthened further and all organizations should work together to conserve tigers."

300 – 400 snow leopards estimated to be found in Nepal

2009-07-27

Kathmandu, Nepal - The preliminary population estimate of snow leopards in the Nepal Himalaya conducted by WWF in collaboration with the government's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has showed the presence of about 300-400 animals. The study was undertaken with funding supports from WWF-US, WWF-UK and WWF-Finland.

"The population estimate was based on the model describing the relationship between sign (scrape) encounter rates, the snow leopard numbers assessed through genetic analysis and the habitat suitability assessment in the Nepal Himalaya," says Dr. Rinjan Shrestha, Conservation Biologist with WWF Nepal.

"This model is useful for providing relatively good estimates of populations at landscape scales, when the conservation actions are urgently needed and when data gathering poses a challenge to developing and implementing conservation strategies."

Snow leopards are widely, but patchily and sparsely distributed throughout the alpine ecosystems of the Himalayan mountain range. Their preferred habitat is considered to be rugged, non-forested landforms, dominated by cliffs, rocky outcrops, and ravines. Because this terrain is quite inaccessible to people, and because snow leopards are elusive by nature, very little information is available on their distribution and population status.

"The declining numbers of snow leopard due to the widespread poaching for bones and pelts, and retaliatory killing call for urgent and strategic conservation action," said Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative, WWF Nepal.

"Simple, inexpensive, but effective and standardized methods are needed to acquire reasonable estimates of snow leopard abundance and distribution in the Nepal Himalaya that can become the basis for a conservation strategy."

"In Kangchenjunga Complex, the presence of 18 snow leopards shows the success of the Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) in involving the local communities in saving the snow leopards from retaliatory killings," said Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Conservation Program Director, WWF Nepal.

The LIS is being replicated in other snow leopard landscapes with a vision to save the snow leopard throughout its landscape ranging from Dolpo in the west to Kangchenjunga in the east.

In Nepal, the endangered snow leopards are listed in Schedule 1 of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973, thereby making it a priority species for conservation.

"The results from the present study is exciting and positive but we can not stay unworried saying this," said Dr. Uday Raj Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal.

End Notes:

The snow leopard (Uncia uncia) has been categorized as an endangered species by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) since 1972 and is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While Nepal is a signatory to CITES since 1973, the species is further protected under the country's National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973.
At present, there are an estimated 3,500-7,000 snow leopards in the wild. Of this, estimated 300-400 are found in Nepal which hosts 30,000 km2 of potential snow leopard habitat. Prime habitat in Nepal is characterized by steep, broken mountainous habitat in alpine and sub-alpine zones (i.e. 3,000-5,400m) where vegetation is sparse.
Snow leopards are threatened in Nepal particularly as a result of habitat loss, loss of prey, and conflict with herders. To a lesser extent, snow leopards in Nepal also face threats from hunting and the sale of pelt in fur trade, and bones and body parts for use in traditional Asian medicine.
Snow leopards have been sighted or documented in Nepal's mountain protected areas from Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in the east to Shey Phoksundo National Park in the west. However, the country's largest known populations are believed to occur in Dolpa, Mugu, Manang, Mustang, and Taplejung districts.

WWF supports Government of Nepal for biodiversity conservation

2009-07-15

Kathmandu, Nepal – WWF Nepal signed a grant agreement with Government of Nepal's Department of Forests (DoF) and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) on 14 July 2009 to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable community development programmes in Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone Support Project (LNPBZ SP), Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) and Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ) area. The grant amounts NRs. 95,780,875.00.

The grant was handed over by Mr. Anil Manandhar , Country Representative, on behalf of WWF Nepal to Dr. Krishna Chandra Poudel, Director General, DoF and Mr. Gopal Prasad Upadhyay, Director General, DNPWC in presence of DoF, DNPWC and WWF Nepal officials and representatives from Kangchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council and Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone Management Council.

WWF Nepal has been working in the TAL, Kangchenjunga and Sagarmatha region for more than a decade and has been working in Langtang area for the last two years.

Mentha farming fuels prosperity

2009-07-03

Four years ago, Arjun Kumar Shah from Bhagraiya village of Samjhana Community Forest in Khata corridor of Bardia district was a worried man. Shah had a difficult time feeding his family as the production of paddy was not enough to feed his family of eight.

“Despite lots of hard work in the field, food harvested from the field was not enough for us,” recalled Shah.

When WWF's Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) Program brought the concept of mentha farming in his village in 2002, many were reluctant. But Shah tried his hands and his life has transformed ever since.

Just two households, including Shah dared to plant mentha on their farmland at that time. Previously, Shah used to plant maize and wheat but wild animals like rhinos and elephants either destroyed or ate all the crops before he could harvest.

“I had planted mentha, which were distributed for free by TAL, in one bigha land for the first time and earned around Rs.16,000 in four months' time,” the 70-year-old farmer said.
The same year, TAL had also provided funds to install a distillation plant in the village to produce oil from mentha.

Encouraged by the success, Shah now cultivates mentha in three bighas land and this year hopes to earn between Rs. 50000 to 60,000.

“Unlike other crops, mentha has a good market value and is also unpalatable for wildlife,” Shah said.

“There is no fear of mentha getting destroyed by rhinos, elephants and other wild animals. The animals don't come in my field these days.” Shah said the profit he earned was double than what he had been earning by planting wheat or maize and that too for lesser hard work.

“With the earnings it has become easy to send my grandchildren to school and buy daily needs without much difficulty,” said Shah.

He has also started goat farming and built proper cowsheds with some of the savings.
Today, Shah's success has attracted many farmers in his nearby villages to mentha cultivation, giving up the traditional farming of wheat and maize.

The earnings also come at a right time for farmers. Mentha farming begins in March and is harvested by June giving locals the much needed cash for planting rice – the main crop. Currently, one kilogram of mentha oil fetches over Rs.1000 in the market.

Ghanashyam Poudel, 36, from neighbouring village of Khardanga Community Forest, started mentha farming in 2007 after he saw his peers getting financial benefits.

“The best thing about mentha is earning cash even during off-season,” said Poudel. “I used to take loans from money lenders to plant rice in monsoon season and buy fertilizers before I started mentha farming. Now I don't need to go asking for loans.”

Due to growing demand, TAL has supported in installing 12 plants in as many community forests by mid-2009. Over 300 households are already engaged in mentha farming in the Khata region and the trend of menthe farming is ever increasing.

“Mentha has brought happiness among poor farmers in villages as it has helped them in improving their livelihoods at the same time protecting the biodiversity of the region,” said Maya Yogi, TAL program mobilizer in Khata.

“The mentha works as a natural fence and has helped in controlling human-wildlife conflict in the villages,” she said.

Himalayan youth run to combat climate change

2009-06-18

Khumbu, Nepal – In their desperation to bring attention to the imminent dangers of the Imja Lake Outburst on their way of life and indeed, their existence, the Sherpa communities in the Khumbu region organized the Beat-the-GLOF-Action-Run today. The dramatic increase in the size of Glacial Lakes is a direct consequence of Global Warming which is converting the Himalayan Glaciers into lakes at an unprecedented pace. This has brought about an ominous threat called GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) to the people living in the Himalayas.

For the people in the Khumbu Region, the Action Run symbolizes a race against time to deal with the impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas. Ironically, the Sherpa and other mountain communities are going to bear the brunt despite their negligible contribution to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions which has led to Global Warming.

This event is part of WWF’s Climate for Life campaign (www.climate4life.org) to raise global awareness on the impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas. The event was organized by Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa (a Sherpa students’ group) and iDEAS, with sponsorship from The North Face.

“The threats of Himalayan GLOFs exemplifies climate injustice forced upon communities who have played no role in the creation of this problem in the first place. It’s heartening to see, though, that the local communities are coming together and raising their voice against it,” said Prashant Singh, Director, WWF Nepal.

Altogether 137 runners participated in the Action Run which started at 7 am at the Glacial Lake – Imja (5010m) - the biggest threat to the people of the Khumbu, and ended at Khumjung Village School (3740 m). The route was 35Km long and followed the path of the potential Imja Lake GLOF. The run was organised to show the world what lies in the path of destruction. The Action Run demonstrated that even the fastest runner will not be able to outrun the fury of GLOF.

Twenty seven year old Ram Kumar Rajbhandari of Khotang (3 hrs 21 mins) and 25 year old Ang Phuti Sherpa (4 hrs 3 mins) of Namche VDC were the winners of the Action Run among the men and women participants respectively. The enthusiasm among the local communities was evident by their huge turnout at the Event and the fact that several of the participants ran the entire length of the Run in their traditional attire. The audience applauded every participant as a winner as they were running for a great cause.

“We pledge to continue to work towards raising awareness on this issue in the future. We truly appreciate the endeavour of international organizations like WWF in helping us take this message to the wider world,” said Dawa Steven Sherpa, iDEAS Co-ordinator and Climate for Life Ambassador.

Nepalese President lauds WWF's climate campaign

2009-05-27

Kathmandu, Nepal – Honorable President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav appreciated WWF's efforts to highlight the plight of the Himalayas through its campaign Climate for Life, felicitating Apa Sherpa for his record Everest climb carrying climate change message.

The letter of felicitation from the President's office reads, "The message of climate change in favour of clean and healthy environment that you carried with you in your flag will certainly be received whole heartedly by the global community and our future generation."

The President interacted with the Climate for Life campaign team on the climate change issues and possible steps to be taken by all to tackle this alarming issue.

Nepalese Prime Minister felicitates Apa Sherpa

2009-05-26

Kathmandu, Nepal – Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal felicitated Apa Sherpa for his record 19th ascent to Mount Everest carrying WWF's climate change message.

As a gesture that speaks volumes of the Prime Minister's priority towards needs of tackling Climate Change he took out time from his busy schedule on just his second day in office to commend Apa's efforts. He presented him with a letter that reads, "I would like to congratulate you on your glorious ascent to Mt. Everest nineteenth time. I also would like to commend the efforts you have made to highlight the climate change and its impact on the Himalayas. You have done Nepal proud."

The Climate for Life campaign (www.climate4life.org) team briefed the honorable Prime Minister on the campaign and its objectives.

Towards a greener future

2009-05-24

"Can anybody tell me the use of whale's fat?" asked a noted speaker interacting with the gathering.

"It was used for burning lamps in ships," came the quick reply from a small boy seated at the front of the gathering.

Before the presenter wrapped up his session, the students, teachers and locals were convinced that due to the invention of kerosene, the whale could survive in the wild and due to the distribution of solar panels in the upper Dolpa region, the use of kerosene had been minimized and the people had stopped burning the barks of the pine trees.

The third national Eco Summit jointly organized by WWF, Environment Conservation Teacher Forum, School Environment Conservation Education Network, Nepal (SENSE-Nepal), Environment Conservation Teacher Society and Eco Club Network Nawalparasi on 22 – 23 May 2009 saw the convergence of more than 700 students and teachers from 18 districts of Nepal in Chitwan.

The slogan of the summit was "Climate for my life". The students, teachers and locals rallied around Chitrasari and Sauraha chanting slogans to raise awareness on climate change, biodiversity conservation and responsibility of youth towards it, on the inaugural day of the summit.

During the two days, the experts and students interacted with each other, shared the eco club activities in their schools and made friends with each other. The summit was able to strengthen the eco club network across the country and paved the way for developing the eco club students as Green Youth, the future conservation partners. The summit came up with Chitwan Declaration declaring Falgun 2 (mid February) every year as Eco Club Day to be celebrated nationwide.

When the summit concluded, the students were busy exchanging addresses with their friends from other districts. A group of students were having a heated discussion on switching to renewable forms of energy from the existing petroleum products guzzling vehicles. A boy was saying, "Like the invention of kerosene helped save the whales, scientists must invent something to help save the humankind."

End Notes:

An Eco Club is an independent group of students working collectively to support the conservation of natural and cultural environment in their respective schools and communities. WWF Nepal in coordination with conservation partners initiated the formation of school based environmental clubs – Eco Clubs since 1994.
Altogether 463 Eco Clubs have been formed in 22 districts of Nepal. Eco Club members carry out various curricular and extra curricular activities to enhance their knowledge of the environment and its conservation and to raise awareness among students, teachers and youth, encouraging them to participate in the conservation of the natural and cultural environment at local and national level.
First Eco Club Summit was held from 30 May to 5 June 2000 in Kathmandu with the theme ‘Make a difference-join Eco Club!’ It was participated by 2,000 students, teachers and other stakeholders. The event was a huge success in heightening awareness on the importance of environmental awareness.
In 2004, Eco Club Meet was organized on the occasion of World Environment Day from 1 June to 6 June 2004 in Kathmandu. Series of activities were organized during Eco Club Meet 2004.

Record mountaineer reaches Everest peak with Copenhagen climate message

2009-05-21

Kathmandu, Nepal – World record mountaineer Apa Sherpa reached the top of the Mount Everest today for the record 19th time and placed a WWF banner urging the world to take action against climate change.

The banner which he brought to the top of the world at around 0800 local time calls to "Stop Climate Change - Let the Himalayas Live!"

The expedition reminds world leaders of their responsibility towards preserving the Himalayas as a global heritage, and calls on them to strike a global deal to fight climate change at the Copenhagen Climate Summit this December.

"Climate change is already wreaking havoc in the Himalayas -- glaciers are in retreat across the range”, said James Leape, Director General at WWF International.

“Some scientists predict that if climate change is not controlled, the glaciers could be gone in just 25 years. This and many other climate change impacts are threatening not only the lives of people and rich biodiversity of the region, but also the development aspirations of hundreds of millions of people downstream."

At the summit, Apa also installed a Bumpa (sacred vase) personally blessed by the Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche (Buddhist spiritual leader), containing 400 different sacred ingredients intended to restore the sanctity of the Himalayan beyul (sacred valleys) against negative impacts of rapid environmental changes.

Congratulating WWF and Apa, Mr. Ganesh Sah, Nepal's Minister for Environment, Science and Technology said: "The well-being of the Himalayas is crucial for economic development in Nepal. It's only by coming together that we can deliver this message emphatically to the world."

Apa Sherpa has experienced dangerous impacts firsthand, witnessing the changing landscapes of the Himalayas in the wake of climate change during his decades of mountaineering experience, and having been a victim personally of its disastrous consequences.

Apa carried the WWF Banner during the Eco Everest Expedition, which is led by two-time Everest Summiteer Dawa Steven Sherpa, a passionate advocate of climate change issues and also a WWF Climate Witness.

"WWF salutes the efforts of Apa and Dawa for taking the climate change message to the top of the world and being ambassadors for WWF's Climate for Life campaign", said Mr. Anil Manandhar, WWF Nepal Country Representative. "Now the time has come for the world to redirect its attention towards the Himalayas."

Timbung Pokhari Booklet

2009-05-16

Salpa Pokhari Booklet

2009-05-16

Phoksundo Booklet

2009-05-16