2006-7 annual report - Nature Conservation Foundation

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ter survey in Namdapha. In contrast, Pakke WLS where there is less hunting and better protection, tiger signs (pugmarks, scats) are commonly encountered. In addition, there were no detections of large herbivore species such as Asian elephant, gaur or serow. We obtained an average of 23 mammal pictures per 100 days in Namdapha. Barking deer was the most abundant, followed by Stump-tailed macaque and Himalayan crestless porcupine based on camera trapping records in Namdapha. With the exception of Indian muntjac and some smaller mammals, encounter rates of the target species were far lower at Namdapha compared to reports from other sites in south-east Asia, while several larger species were not recorded at all in Namdapha. Trail walks, and systematic line transects are used in many places to estimate animal densities. In Namdapha National Park, however, over 23 trails totalling an effort of roughly 42 km between 2005 and 2007, there was just one sighting of a terrestrial mammal: barking deer was seen once and its calls were heard on four occasions. The species encountered during transects were arboreal mammals – four species of squirrels and five species of primates (hoolock gibbon, capped langur, Assamese macaque, stump-tailed macaque and rhesus macaque) –hornbills, pheasants and partridges. Due to very low numbers of sightings of species, we summarize and report the encounter rates (no. per km) of species groups (Table 3). Pilot surveys in Namdapha from 2004-2005 and prior work (only 17 detections in 740 km walked) suggested that standard methods for density estimation of ungulate species could not be used because of poor detectability and low abundance of ungulates. The pellet and track survey also established very low abundance of ungulates in Namdapha. Five species of large ungulates were detected in pellet and track plots, however, only 35 pellet groups were detected in 22 of 387 plots. While barking deer tracks were detected in 100% of the sampled grids, sambar tracks were detected in 81% of grids, wild pig in 50% of grids, gaur in 18% of grids and serow in 5% of grids. We chose the occupancy framework for generating baselines of ungulate species that are targeted by hunting for long-term monitoring of changes in occupancy of ungulates in response to reduction in hunting pressures. Occupancy analyses using pellet data and covariate data on habitat and disturbance variables, indicated that occupancy estimates were high for Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak (1) and sambar Cervus unicolor (0.8) and they seem to be unaffected by disturbance. Occupancy estimates of gaur Bos gaurus (0.24) and wild pig Sus scrofa (0.45) were low and they were negatively affected by disturbance. The occupancy estimates of all three large species that are important prey of the tiger are low in comparison to a better protected site in south-east Asia. Results indicate that even occupancy models may have limited applicability in tracking positive changes in the status of species (such as sambar and barking deer) that are not abundant, yet are widespread. Population estimation methods need to be developed for terrestrial mammals that can be used to track changes in population status. We have mobilized the community in taking a stand against hunting and effecting changes in hunting levels. We also record instances of hunting activity and evidences of hunting in Namdapha through direct evidence or information from local project staff and the community. Although hunting levels have declined among the community, there are still instances of hunting inside the Namdapha NP by a few from the community, other tribes and outsiders coming in from neighbouring Myanmar. We have suggested ways to involve and employ the community in park protection to local and national forest protection authorities. Table 3. Encounter rates of faunal groups in Namdapha NP. Species group Detections (encounter rate, no./km) Sightings (encounter rate, no./km) Primates 28 (0.67) 19 (0.45) Ungulates 4 (0.01) 1 (0.02) Squirrels 14 (0.33) 15 (0.36) Hornbills 13 (0.31) 7 (0.17) Pheasants and partridges 7 (0.17) 5 (0.12) 18 annual report
Mapping forest cover change in Namdapha and the surrounding landscape Analysis of satellite imageries of the park to understand changes in forest cover is underway. We have used over 700 GPS locations to enable habitat classification. We are comparing changes at two levels, a) at a landscape level for Namdapha and surrounding areas over 30 years and b), analysis of the scale of clearing and degradation by settlements in the park between 1997 and 2006. We obtained images from the area (28.5 m resolution) for 1999 (soon after settlements came up) and 2005 (current) and initial analysis of these two images is complete. Preliminary results suggest that about 3% Conservation education and advocacy of the park area is currently affected by settlements/ cultivation/temporary habitation and degraded forests due to human impact, while 1% of the park area is under settlements and cultivation. In terms of area affected, about 45 km 2 in the park appears to be affected by human use, with 16 km 2 under settlements/cultivation/human habitation. A proper comparison with the 1999 image can occur only after all classification and verification is completed. We are using educational material produced since 2003 for conservation education, in partnership with several regional and local NGOs and individuals for wider dissemination. On-site activities at project sites with schoolchildren in 9 schools included hornbill painting competitions, slide and film shows, games and activities, poster reading sessions. At one site, these programs are being conducted in local schools with assistance from tribal youth from a local NGO. Relevant conservation education material produced by other organizations is also disseminated in these schools. We have written and developed an environment and nature activity and handbook specifically for tribal schoolchildren in villages around the two project sites with a supplementary guide book for teachers. Final artwork is awaited, and content is under revision. An educational audio-visual CD introducing children to the wonders of the forests and wildlife of Arunachal Pradesh through the eyes and voice of a reformed tribal hunter is being produced. However production has been delayed somewhat and it should be completed by July 2007. We are developing wildlife alphabet cards for primary schoolchildren, a set of mammal posters for Namdapha, and an antihunting poster to discourage buying and selling of wild meat and wild meat products. Design and production is underway and expected to be completed by July 2007. Repeated advocacy with forest, state and central authorities is resulting in changing negative attitudes to Lisus and helping in decision-making that were long pending. This year, the authorities have held several meetings and were to conduct a land survey in an area suggested by NCF (and agreed on by the district administration and the community) for resettlement outside the park. However, lack of coordination by the authorities resulted in postponement and delay in this survey. The idea of a community (Lisu) protection force for the park has also been mooted. In July 2006, Aparajita Datta, was also appointed a member of the State Wildlife Advisory Board for Arunachal as a representative from the Nature Conservation Foundation. This forum provides an opportunity to highlight conservation problems and suggest solutions. The Board is chaired by the state’s Chief Minister and in the first meeting in December 2006 a quick solution to the relocation issue has been urged and agreed on. A visit was planned in April 2007 with the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state, however this was cancelled due to other engagements of the Chief Wildlife Warden. A visit and meeting is now planned for July-August 2007. However, the park is still beset by problems of poor management and poor enforcement and protection by local authorities and an early solution will depend on greater co-operation between local park authorities and district administration. Community welfare interventions: health care and education Our community health care program initiated from 2003 has improved through partnership with a health care NGO since last year. This year, a qualified doctor spent two months in the villages carrying out medical check-ups and treatment and conducted an eight-day training program for 22 village youth on diagnosis, treatment of common diseases, basic hygiene, family planning etc. She also evaluated the medicinal require- annual report 19
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 10 and 11: P from top: A herd of bharal; child
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 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

2006-7 annual report - Nature Conservation Foundation

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?