2006-7 annual report - Nature Conservation Foundation

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P from top: A herd of bharal; children’s book on snow leopard; national workshop on Project Snow Leopard in progress; markhor amidst snow and cliffs.
i HIGH ALTITUDE LANDSCAPESj Our programme in the high-altitudes of Himalaya and Trans-Himalaya addresses various types of human-wildlife conflicts, including, livestock grazing and associated rangeland degradation and wildlife extinctions, livestock losses to wild carnivores. Led by Charudutt Mishra and several collaborators, it also undertakes ecological studies aimed at recovery and conservation of threatened and newlydiscovered species. A significant facet of the highaltitude programme is to strengthen communitybased conservation initiatives through education and outreach. Conservation of the Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata The Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata is on the verge of extinction in India with less than 100 individuals left in the Hanle Valley of eastern Ladakh. Based on our research programme led by Yash Veer Bhatnagar, on the ecology of the last remaining population of the Tibetan gazelle in Ladakh, we started working with the local nomadic herders to protect the species. The Tibetan gazelle is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. During the early 20 th century, it was distributed over a range of c. 20,000 km2 in Ladakh, India. Although its global conservation status is believed to be secure, our surveys initiated since 2000 found that the gazelle’s population in Ladakh has undergone precipitous declines. Today, c. 50 – 100 individuals survive precariously in an area of c. 100 km2 in eastern Ladakh. Population declines have also been reported from Tibet, which remains its stronghold. Local extinction of the gazelle in Ladakh is imminent unless active population and habitat management are undertaken. Management measures, however, are stymied by the lack of understanding of the gazelle’s ecology and the causes for its decline. Our recent studies in Ladakh establish that past hunting, particularly in the aftermath of the Indo-Chinese war in 1962, and continued disturbance and habitat degradation associated with excessive livestock grazing are the main anthropogenic factors that caused the gazelle’s decline. Our studies have also generated an understanding of the important biotic and abiotic habitat correlates of the gazelle’s distribution, and the land use and socio-economy of pastoral communities that share the gazelle’s range. Based on our research results, the contours of an in situ species recovery programme for the Tibetan gazelle have been drawn. After a series of meetings with nomadic Changpa herders, government departments, and other stakeholders, an agreement was arrived at wherein, in return for our payment of grazing fees for their use of alternate pastures, the nomads agreed to curtail grazing and resource use in the most important part of the gazelle habitat. The village reserve has been established and we have started monitoring the Tibetan gazelle population in the region. The size of the reserve is initially small, and we plan to continue our work with the community to increase it. This is a first step towards a species recovery programme for the Tibetan gazelle. Success or lessons from this program will not only benefit this gazelle population, but also the other species recovery programs in the region. annual report 5
Page 1: 2006-7 annual report nature conserv
Page 5: i CONTENTS j Foreword 1 Doctoral Pr
Page 8 and 9: 2 annual report
Page 12 and 13: Conservation education in the India
Page 14 and 15: Livestock insurance programme Under
Page 16 and 17: • Resource Ecology Group, Wagenin
Page 18 and 19: P from left: Wreathed Hornbills in
Page 20 and 21: Table 1. Long-term monitoring (1998
Page 22 and 23: and January 2007 in 40 of the initi
Page 24 and 25: ter survey in Namdapha. In contrast
Page 26 and 27: ments and suggested improvements. A
Page 28 and 29: in determining levels of hunting, w
Page 30 and 31: P from left: An Elaeocarpus munroni
Page 32 and 33: now in the process of being protect
Page 34 and 35: Survival of mammal populations in r
Page 36 and 37: nant plantation crop on the Valpara
Page 38 and 39: Team • Principal personnel: Divya
Page 40 and 41: P from top: Gaur in Bandipur Nation
Page 42 and 43: through the year. As predicted ther
Page 44 and 45: A forest in weed: Impact of Lantana
Page 46 and 47: P from top: Green turtle in Agatti
Page 48 and 49: ecological processes and the impact
Page 50 and 51: • Principal scientists: Rohan Art
Page 52 and 53: Ecology and conservation of the lio
Page 54 and 55: 48 annual report
Page 56 and 57: i FEMDIG j Friday morning discussio
Page 58 and 59: 13. Namgail, T., Bhatnagar, Y. V. &
Page 60 and 61:
Peer-reviewed publications 1. Arthu
Page 62:
i FINANCIAL STATEMENT j Sources of
Page 65 and 66:
i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS j Individual Sup
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2006-7 annual report - Nature Conservation Foundation

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