Third year into the project: Strengthening Tiger Conservation Initiatives in High Altitude Landscapes of Western Nepal

Landscapes of Western Nepal

Sudurpaschhim Province is harbored by great diversity of species throughout the altitudinal gradient with good forest coverage and functional corridors. In the Terai, Shuklaphanta National Park and nearby forest corridors play a significant role for dispersing tigers from lower to higher-latitude areas. Tiger presence in the High-altitude areas of the province have been recorded in several instances. In the Middle-High Mountain areas common leopard and other co-predators also co-exists. The Siwaliks of the Province is also important in the context of climate refugia. NTNC through IUCN's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme is implementing the project Strengthening tiger conservation initiatives in high altitude landscapes of Western Nepal. The major project interventions are (i) Identifying and prioritizing critical habitats, bottlenecks and corridors, (ii) HWC mitigation and alternative livelihood supports to the HWC-affected communities, and (iii) Developing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation capacity of the province.  

Mapping the unmapped

A survey mapping important wildlife habitats, movement corridors, and connectivity has generated knowledge for tiger conservation in the high-altitude areas. A wildlife monitoring survey has also enriched our understanding about the region’s wildlife diversity. This has helped us to identify wildlife hotspots, human wildlife conflict (HWC) affected areas and threats to the wildlife throughout the province. On basis of this scientific knowledge and the learnings from our work with local communities, the project is preparing the High-Altitude Tiger Conservation Strategy for the province. To enrich this process, an assessment to generate knowledge in transboundary level human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and mapping of transboundary wildlife corridors in linkage with the protected areas of India and Bhutan is also underway.  

Helping communities to cope with HWC and improve livelihood

Our approach in HWC impacted communities is to support them to diversify their livelihood and minimize HWC. Eight settlements now have community-banks to provide livelihood loans. So far, 134 local people have received livelihood training out of which 82 are involved in different income generating activities such as turmeric farming, chilly farming, poultry, goat farming and bee farming.  A cash-crop collection center is established to link beneficiaries to markets. Presently, we are working to strengthen local farmers by bringing them in the value-chain.

190 households prone to livestock depredation (form wild predators) are supported to adopt predator-proof corrals. As this economic loss is avoided, their economic security increases. Their negative sentiment to wildlife lessens and human-wildlife coexistence could be improved.

Rescue and rehabilitation of conflict wildlife

The project has established a system for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in the province. A well-equipped wildlife rescue team has been operationalized throughout the province to undertaken rescue operations. The province's first tiger holding center has been established. A leopard holding center is under construction. About a dozen major wildlife rescues are being made annually jointly with the park and forest authorities. 

Spreading conservation awareness 

Behavior change campaign rests on the fact that wildlife cannot change their behavior but humans can. We mobilized a team of 26 local youths to work as behavior change agents in the local communities. The campaign is especially important in places where locals do not know the behavioral causes that lead to negative interaction with wildlife. The change agents have reached about 1600 people so far. 

Disclaimer: This project is supported by IUCN's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of IUCN, the German Cooperation or KfW.

Cover photo: [High-Altitude Tiger project landscape, Doti District, Sudurpaschhim Province, © NTNC]