2006-7 annual report - Nature Conservation Foundation

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ments and suggested improvements. A report on community health care issues and recommendations on improvement of health care in the area has been prepared for submission to the state health authorities and health care NGOs. We also plan to conduct a family planning camp with local doctors in late 2007 based on requests from villagers. We had set up five kindergarten schools in the Lisu villages in and around Namdapha in 2003, which now provide better education for over 500 children now. The schools are run and managed by local youth and village community leaders and parents. This year, the community demonstrated their support and commitment by building a proper school. This year, all the teachers attended a 10 day training program on better quality teaching by teachers from Katha, a national educational NGO. The villagers have established linkages with this NGO that will result in inputs for quality education and more employment for village youth. We have also provided a computer for the village and continue providing educational material for the schools. Livelihoods for the Lisu Baseline data on socio-economic conditions, land-use patterns and other important parameters in all Lisu villages inside and outside the park were collected in 2005 and 2006. This has resulted in a better understanding of community needs and problems and in identifying possible areas for interventions. Given the lack of employment options and market access in a remote area, we identified some points of intervention to help augment incomes in the community. Meetings in three villages were conducted with women to discuss the potential and scope for augmenting vegetable production in home gardens for household consumption and income. The women have also pledged to take a stand against hunting in their community. Initial assistance has been provided for purchase and supply of vegetable seeds. In meetings in April 2007 to discuss possible viable livelihood options, community leaders expressed the need for starting a piggery to meet consumption and income needs. After several discussions, a plan was worked out by which beneficiaries would be identified and modalities of the scheme worked out. This would involve contributions in the form of labour and manpower by the community and financial assistance in initial investments by NCF for starting the piggery. The actual establishment will commence in September-October 2007 after the rainy season. We are also assisting one village (of 40 households) in establishing linkages to external markets for sale of handicrafts. We have contacted organizations in Guwahati and Delhi to help promote Lisu handicrafts. Samples and product pictures and descriptions have been provided to two commercial enterprises and some individuals. The initial effort has resulted in generating supplementary cash income for several families amounting to about $600. Financial support was also provided to a partner tribal NGO near the Namdapha NP to help establish and set up a tribal handicraft shop to help augment income for villagers and generate awareness among the locals and outside tourists about Namdapha and its importance. The shop has been built and will open for the winter tourist season. Muntjac mysteries: establishing the identity of muntjac specimens through DNA analysis 20 annual report Recent biological exploration in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot has resulted in the discovery of muntjac species (genus Muntiacus) previously unknown from the area. One of these, the leaf deer (M. putaoensis) a species new to science, was first described from northern Myanmar. It was subsequently found to occur in eastern Arunachal Pradesh during a survey in 2003. Confirmation was based on morphometric analyses of two skulls collected from local hunters. The discovery doubled the size of its known east-west range, which is significant for a newly-discovered and poorly understood species. However, ambiguity remained regarding several other partial skulls and dried skin samples collected during subsequent surveys. The sympatric occurrence of the Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak further complicates species identification based primarily on morphometry. In order to conclusively determine species identity, we conducted molecular genetic analyses of skull and skin specimens that were potentially of the Indian muntjac M. muntjak, the only muntjac hitherto known from the area. We developed molecular genetic analyses that can unambiguously identify muntjac species. In this project, we tested and applied our methods to unknown skin samples to confirm the occurrence of the leaf deer in Arunachal Pradesh. Our study also confirmed that five samples were of the black muntjac M.
crinifrons, a species previously known only from eastern China. A comparison of genetic variation between the Chinese and Indian black muntjacs revealed high population subdivision. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Indian population is reciprocally monophyletic with the Chinese population, and given genetic differences and current geographical isolation between these populations, the Indian population should possibly be considered a separate evolutionarily significant unit. Apart from its isolation, this population deserves special conservation importance because it faces extinction threat due to subsistence hunting. Finally, we used our samples and genetic data from three mitochondrial markers to establish phylogenetic affinities between these samples and other extant members of the Muntiacus genus. Our studies confirmed the occurrence of two other muntjac species in a region earlier believed to harbour only the Indian muntjac. Our approach, which combined the use of specific primers and phylogenetic analyses, revealed the importance of interdisciplinary methods in elucidating cryptic biodiversity in unexplored and species-rich areas like north-east India. Hunting practices by indigenous people in Arunachal Pradesh, a biodiversity hotspot Arunachal Pradesh is unique for not only its rich natural heritage but also for its social and cultural heritage. Apart from being located in a biodiversity hotspot, it is home to 26 major indigenous communities. These communities are dependent on forests and wildlife for food, medicine, ritual and customs. Although hunting is widespread throughout the state, there is a lack of understanding of its extent, ecological impacts, and its socio-cultural aspects. Hunting has a significant impact on wildlife throughout the world, leading to decline in populations and sometimes driving species to extinction. The lack of a scientific understanding of hunting in Arunachal Pradesh remains a serious lacuna, hampering the designing of appropriate, culturally sensitive conservation strategies. This project aims to gain an informed understanding of wildlife hunting by tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh that will help in developing imaginative and innovative conservation strategies. The objectives of the project are (1) to determine the range of species hunted, hunter motivations, hunting practices and patterns (2) to determine the impacts of hunting on key mammalian and avifaunal groups and (3) to document people’s attitudes towards wildlife conservation and ways of reducing their dependence on wildlife resources. In the initial survey, data for the first objective was collected with a rapid survey of some of the dominant tribes in three districts (the Miju Mishmi, Meyor, Monpa and the Nishi). Field work was carried out for five months starting from January 2006. Data on hunting patterns and practices were collected through extensive interviews using questionnaires and informal discussions with hunter households, key informants and other villagers. Information on hunting could be easily obtained from a majority of respondents except in a few villages that were close to towns. Villagers usually talked without any reluctance and took pride in sharing the information on hunting which is part of their culture. There was widespread hunting of wildlife throughout the districts visited with 33 mammal species being hunted. Although food was cited as the main reason for hunting, rituals played a vital role in motivating hunting among animistic tribes. The consumption of wild meat was most common in Miju Mishmi villages in Lohit and Anjaw. Domestic meat is viewed as a reserve resource which is required for sacrifices during rituals or kept for sale. Wild meat on the other hand is regarded as a resource which is freely available in the forests and can be procured any time. In general, people reported that they prefer wild meat, despite 90% consumption of domestic meat. Three types of hunters were documented during the study. First, are the specialist hunters who target particular species such as musk deer, black bear and takin. These hunters undertake long treks, camp in the forest for several days and return only after some success. The second type are the opportunistic hunters who are more generalist in hunting animals. They undertake one-day trips and get whatever they capture and trips are mostly in nearby forests. The third category of hunters are the ritualistic hunters. The hunting trips are carried out only for gathering wild meat to be given as bride price. Religion appeared to be important annual report 21
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 24 and 25: ter survey in Namdapha. In contrast
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

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