March 25, 2005

— Dr. CHANRA GURUNG

Dr. CHANDRA GURUNG - who has a long experience in nature conservation - is the country representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Nepal). Dr. Gurung spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues regarding tiger conservation in Nepal. Excerpts:

How do you see the state of tiger conservation in Nepal?

The flagship conservation in Nepal that includes both tiger and rhino is good. It has played important role internationally since the country has made enormous achievement in this front. The leadership role played by the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) is important. We feel very happy to be part of whole process of conservation in Nepal. In terms of number of tiger population that has increased from 197 in early 1970s to 340-350 now is a remarkable achievement. Of course, we had to struggle hard for the last four decades to achieve this progress.

What is your impression about the conservation now?

This is a very critical time for conservation of all species. The WWF has been working on the conservation since 1960s beginning with the large flagship conservation like rhinos and tigers. We have been working with the HMG on various national parks and protected areas building the capacity of the DNPWC. As the population of the tiger has increased in Nepal since the 1970s, it has created conflict with the local community. There are a lot of cases where the conflict has gone over board. There have been cases of losses of human lives both outside the park including those of staffs, gangsters and people from local community. With the successful and visionary program of the government, particularly community based conservation or in buffer zone programs, such conflict has been minimized.

What is the status of conservation in Nepal?

In Asia, Nepal is now leader in the areas of community based conservation. New initiatives are coming up. Nepal’s experiences have shown that community based conservation can help to minimize human and wildlife conflict particularly with the tiger and rhino to a certain extent. After the successful conservation efforts in Nepal, we need to go beyond from community based conservation and that is where the government has adopted policy of landscape based conservation. This conservation began four years ago. WWF-Nepal is once again very happy and proud to be a part of the conservation program.

What is the landscape-based conservation?

The whole idea of landscape-based conservation is to develop and expand greenery to link forest corridors with national parks and wildlife reserves of Nepal and India. Nepalese government started it as a pilot program four years ago. Collaboration with the Department of Forest and DNPWC with support from WWF, the program called Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) - Nepal aims to link 11 national parks of Nepal and India extending from east of Bagmati and Yamuna river in India. It covers 49,500 square kilometers of forest land. In Nepal, it covers four protected areas or 23,199 square kilometers (in 14 districts) with wild population of 350 tigers, 612 rhinos and 120 elephants.

What is Terai Arc Landscape - Nepal?

TAL is a concept based on linking one protected areas with another so that endangered animals can move in a vast stretch of land. The landscape covers a network of protected areas, forests, agricultural land, settlements (rural and urban areas, forest, agricultural land) and water bodies along the Indo-Nepal border. The TAL project links 11 trans-boundary protected areas from Parsa Wildlife Reserve Nepal to Rajaji National Park in India. If it is successful, it will help to revive the movement of endangered species from one place to other.

Will TAL support the tiger population?

TAL supports some of the highest densities of Royal Bengal Tiger in the world, the second largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, largest herd of swamp deer and Asiatic elephant.

How do you carry out your activities?

While scaling up of our activities from one park to landscape, we need to expand our operational system. There is also possibility to manage those corridors by the communities. TAL program will provide necessary infrastructures software and hardware; thereby the people will manage their areas to fulfill their necessities. It will also prevent animal-human conflict.

How can you say that TAL project is different than others?

Another important aspect of TAL project is to move from island-type conservation concept to integrated concept. This is the concept to link all the island model of conservation with each other. Last four years of implementation has shown that this can be done. We have seen that the participation of local communities in some of these corridor areas is fantastic. Despite constant attacks of wild animals, people in Bardia are committed to conservation.

Are there any complaints from community?

Communities have different demands. In Chitwan Rs 170 million have been given to buffer zone council but there are still some tensions. They forget that parks are for the conservation and protection of the natural resources for their sustainable use. The funding given to the buffer zone council is to develop infrastructures, to improve the livelihood of the people to some extent. These incentives are given to the local communities as benefit of conservation.

Do you see any movements of animals through the corridors?

We had seen a number of animals moving for example in Khata corridor which links Bardia National Parks of Nepal with Kartaniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India. Tigers are moving, rhinos and elephants are moving also in. Same thing is happening in Basanta corridor in Kailali district. This corridor links Churia hill of Nepal with Dudhia National Park of India. Recently, some elephants came and destroyed the houses of some people. It is interesting to say that people are still cooperative with us. Our experiences have shown that if plans are transparent and implemented through discussion with people, it will work. If we encourage their participation, such plans work. We are spending huge amount of money to develop TAL projects. Along with endangered species, the local communities will also benefit from them.

What are your major concerns on the project?

We are concerned about the sustainability of the project. Therefore, we are focusing to build capacity in the government institutions. We are working to increase the capacity. Since there are just three staffs in each site offices, we are taking support from different offices including Department of Forest and local NGOs. TAL does not have permanent office. This is a new concept and is being implemented through the participation of local offices.

How many institutions are involved?

There are 16 different projects working by spending US$ 38 million. The projects are funded by USAID, DFID, UNDP, SNV, IUCN, FAO, KMTNC and other institutions. We are all working together. After developing these kinds of corridors, there will be more spaces for animals. A recent study by an American University revealed that large number of tigers are living outside the protected areas of Nepal. We don’t have the exact data

How do you see the conservation efforts going forward in future?

The conservation in Nepal right now is at a very critical juncture. All those achievements made in the last three or four decades could be destroyed within a very short period of time in case there is any kind of interruptions in funding. We saved tigers and rhinos from the brink of extinction. Because of tourism, the lives of local people have improved. This was achieved after the efforts of last four decades. However, because of the insurgency in the last 10 years, it has affected some of the conservation efforts. The movements of the staffs are restricted. As a result there were heavy poaching of rhinos three years ago in Chitwan and 37 rhinos were killed by poachers - which is almost 8 percent of their total population. We don’t know the condition of rhinos in Babai Valley as it is very difficult to monitor there. This is a critical juncture - what we require is to maintain the present state of conservation of endangered species. 

"KMTNC Is Active In Tiger Conservation"

— ARUP RAJOURIA

Arup Rajouria

ARUP RAJOURIA , a well-known conservationist, is the Member-Secretary of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC). Having long experience in nature conservation, Rajouria talks about the critical need to sustain the efforts to conserve endangered species like tiger. He spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on KMTNC's efforts towards tiger conservations. Excerpts:

When did KMTNC embarked upon tiger conservation?

KMTNC’s involvement in tiger conservation dates back as early as to mid 1980s when KMTNC in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and other conservation partners initiated large mammal research including rhinoceros and tigers and their prey bases in and around Royal Chitwan National Parks, mid lowland. Since then, with its well-trained technical field staff, KMTNC has continuously been engaged in conservation initiatives of critically endangered tigers, their prey bases and habitats in Royal Chitwan National Park, Royal Bardia National Park and Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

What have been the outputs of such endeavors?

Our conservation endeavors focused on the tiger, which is on the top of the food chain, their prey base and habitats. The efforts have resulted in satisfactory comeback of once depleting population of wild tigers and their prey base in their natural habitats. Habitats currently used by tigers and their prey base are well conserved and additional habitats have been created in the peripheral areas, mainly buffer zones of the lowland protected areas and managed through effective community participation. Besides, extensive camera trapping in Chitwan, Bardia and Suklaphanta has yielded a vast amount of database on status, population structure, and space use and movement pattern of tigers. Our constant efforts in partnership with His Majesty’s Government in conservation has not only benefited the tiger but has also equally contributed to the upliftment of livelihood of the marginalized communities through multi-pronged livelihood development initiatives.

What have been the consequences of the growth in tiger population?

The tiger population in Nepal does not seem to have reached to the level where it could pose negative impact on its prey base. However, low impact on prey base would have been due to diverse and abundant prey species found in all protected areas where tigers are confined. Major tiger prey species in Nepal include spotted deer, hog deer, samber deer, wild boar, blue bull and swamp deer, mainly in Suklaphanta. Negative impact of tiger on human life is minimal, as only a few animals become man-eaters and occasionally kill people. Most of these incidents occur inside protected areas. Similar incidents are also reported frequently due to rhino and elephant attacks. In order to minimize such incidents, KMTNC is constantly working to increase the level of conservation awareness among local people living in the vicinity of the tiger areas. To tell you the truth, tigers including other flagship species have become economic asset to the buffer zone communities rather than liabilities – increase in tiger numbers means increase in park/reserve revenues through tourism and increase in park/reserve revenue means increase in the amount plowed-back to the buffer zone for improving local livelihood. Furthermore, in some of the KMTNC supported community forests in the periphery of the Royal Chitwan National Park, the community themselves collect tourism fees. This has emerged as the main source of revenue stream for development activities in these villages.

How do you evaluate the ongoing efforts in tiger conservation, habitat extension etc?

We are fully satisfied with the achievements Nepal has made in conserving tigers, its prey base and habitats. Nepal has already been recognized as one of the pioneering nations in conserving its wildlife resources particularly flagship species. Nepal has already demonstrated commendable achievements in species level conservation to ecosystem level conservation and finally to landscape level conservation. Landscape level conservation initiatives are imperative to ensure long-term survival of species that require larger space including tigers.

Are the existing forest areas sufficient to provide habitat with the growth in tiger populations?

The tiger habitats available within the protected areas system and nearby buffer zone seem to have been adequate for the population at present. For increasing number of tigers, we, together with government institutions, local communities and other like-minded organization, have been incessantly working to restore available potential habitats for tiger and its prey base outside the protected area systems. The riparian ecosystems have been identified as the most suitable habitats for tigers. Landscape conservation initiatives are strictly meant for this.

What is the use of biological corridor?

Biological corridors are the forest strips or patch of forests that link two or more protected areas or habitats and allow safe movement of diverse species of wild animals. Biological corridors are vital to genetically intermix two or more isolated small populations of endangered species where inbreeding is perceived as a threat for ensuring long-term survival. Nepal’s endeavors in maintaining connectivity between RCNP and RBNP, between RBNP and RSWR and between trans-boundary protected areas along Nepal - India border are destined to establish genetic linkage between isolated wildlife populations, mainly endangered species inhabiting the isolated pockets of protected areas. Mention can be made of the Tiger Rhino Project being implemented by KMTNC with support from UNDP that is developing a connectivity corridor between the Mahabharat range and the Royal Chitwan National Park in the Barandabhar area.