The Rufford Small Grants Foundation Final Report

Congratulations on the completion of your project that was supported by The Rufford Small Grants Foundation. We ask all grant recipients to complete a Final Report Form that helps us to gauge the success of our grant giving. We understand that projects often do not follow the predicted course but knowledge of your experiences is valuable to us and others who may be undertaking similar work. Please be as honest as you can in answering the questions – remember that negative experiences are just as valuable as positive ones if they help others to learn from them. Please complete the form in English and be as clear and concise as you can. We will ask for further information if required. If you have any other materials produced by the project, particularly a few relevant photographs, please send these to us separately. Please submit your final report to [email protected]. Thank you for your help. Josh Cole, Grants Director Grant Recipient Details Your name

Indra Prasad Acharja

Project title

Assessment of Anthropogenic Pressure in Wangchuck Centennial National Park (WCNP) and its effect on Himalayan Musk deer (Moschus leucogaster)

RSG reference

16756-1

Reporting period

July 2015-June2016

Amount of grant

£4851

Your email address

[email protected]

Date of this report

2nd July, 2016

1. Please indicate the level of achievement of the project’s original objectives and include any relevant comments on factors affecting this. Fully achieve

Assess and identify probable poaching sites, frequencies of past and present poaching activities.

Partially achieve

Determine the frequency and extent of interaction between the nomadic communities and musk deer.

Not achieve

Objective

X

Comments

It was found that there was coherence in altitudinal migration of nomadic herders and musk deer. During winter, snow covers mountain tops and both nomads and musk deer migrate towards lower altitudes. As weather gets warmer they gradually migrate towards higher altitudes. Many times Yaks and Musk deer are found grazing together though they keep minimum of 100m distance apart. It’s only during peak winter when nomads travel to villages with yaks for a few months, there is no interactions between them. From this study it is found that nomadic herders do not kill/hunt or poach musk deer in WCNP. Through interviews with nomads and forestry officials it is found that poachers are mostly from other part of the country and even from other neighbouring countries. Records maintained by forestry officials on confiscated products and poachers indicates none of the local nomads and even local communities were found involved in such illegal activities. The frequency of poaching is not very consistent annually. Records indicates the frequency of musk deer poaching has drastically dropped in recent years. Even the nomads feels that their encounter with poachers in the forest is decreasing gradually. However it is not very clear whether it is intelligence of poachers to avoid such encounters of decrease in poaching activities.

X

Poaching sites are not very specific and regular. Forestry staff and nomads expresses that poachers are well aware about the habitat preferences and identifying tracks of musk deer, they can easily locate their presence.

Determine the population status of musk deer.

X

Assess and determine present habitat structure and its preferences

X

WCNP still harbours healthy populations of musk deer. Though this study covered only small part of the area and mostly the area inhabited by nomads, considering pellet density, resting sites and tracks, population density is moderate. However sightings of the species are very rare. During my study I personally sighted only three individuals. Both forestry officials and nomads feels that population is decreasing based on their past field experiences. In WCNP and particularly in study area, most of the area occupied by musk deer were fir (Abies sp.) and hemlock (Tsuga sp.) forest with moderate undergrowth. However during winter they migrate towards lower altitudes, where there is blue pine (Pinus wallichii) and spruce (Piecea sp.) forest and during summers they migrate even to juniper (Juniperus sp) forest and grasslands above treeline. Musk deer were generally found grazing near water sources and area with moderate to low canopy cover with plenty of mosses and linchen growth.

Outline and identify major threats to musk deer population and their habitats.

X

lDisturbances are; seasonal NTFPs (Cordyceps, medicinal herbs, incense etc.) collectors and nomads, however they are not directly impacting the population as they don’t hunt or kill. There is some level of competition for food between musk deer and Yaks as they are using same habitat. However as they are found grazing in nearby areas it is felt that, level of competition of not very significant. On the other hand Yaks most occupies open grasslands and bamboo scrubs while musk deer prefers damp and moist areas.

2. Please explain any unforeseen difficulties that arose during the project and how these were tackled (if relevant). Accessibility to some of the habitats which were steep and rugged in high altitudes with harsh climatic condition was one of the major limiting factors in covering large area and continuing field activities for longer time. Sighting of target species was another challenge. Nomads stay in one location for very short period and move to other pasture lands with yaks - reaching them and understanding their interaction with wildlife in the area was not easy. Again one herder occupies area very far from another - reaching each nomad crossing several mountains was very challenging. As questionnaire survey was major component, communicating and convincing them our purpose of study and seeking faithful answers from them was unexpectedly difficult. As we need to travel more and in difficult terrain, we required more human resources which was difficult to meet with budgeted amount. Some of the challenges were expected to some extent considering habitat occupancy of musk deer. However with determination of team to implement the project and with some extra time and cost invested, activities were completed fully and fruitfully. 3. Briefly describe the three most important outcomes of your project. 1. Coherence in Altitudinal migration of nomads and musk deer It is found that the time of migration of musk deer and nomads depend on climatic conditions. When weather becomes colder and snow falls at top of mountains, they gradually start migrating towards lower altitudes and vice versa. However it is not well understood if migration of yaks influences the migration of musk deer. Again nomads migrate to their specific historical pasture lands which can be very far away while musk deer migrate to smaller range within micro habitats unless environmental conditions extremely unfavourable to migrate different areas. 2. Nomads and Yaks are not the major threats to Musk Deer Study found that nomads are not poaching or hunting/killing musk deer. Presence of musk deer along with yaks indicates that presence of nomads and yaks are not really threat to musk deer and its habitat, unless the yak population is too large and food resources are over exploited. With speciality in feeding habitat, yaks preferably in grasslands and musk deer near water sources and area with moderate canopy cover enables their co-existence. However as water is central for all nomads, yaks and wildlife species it can be a threat and chances transmitting diseases can be high. Poachers are usually intruders from different areas and very professional in their business. Encountering them by forestry officials and other authorities during patrolling and monitoring programmes in very unlikely. As nomads inhabit probable poaching areas for longer times, educating and coordinating with nomads to mitigate this issue would be a helpful approach.

3. Lack of community participation in conservation of Musk Deer Study found that there is no active participation of local communities in conservation and protection of wildlife species, including musk deer. It is clear that nomads and other local herders occasionally encounter strangers in the forest, however they don’t inform such incidences to authorities. Even nomads express that they sometimes encounter and see footprints of strangers around their territory, who can be poachers, but there is no proper channel to inform such cases to responsible authorities, otherwise this would be helpful in controlling illegal activities in the area. Forming community conservation support groups in different areas, educating and making them aware on conservation importance and their role would be helpful. Defining proper channel for reporting illegal cases and any suspected individuals and incidences would develop strong conservation network. Involving local communities with little incentives for their timely and critical act of conservation would be helpful for conservation of any species. 4. Briefly describe the involvement of local communities and how they have benefitted from the project (if relevant). Local communities and nomads were involved partly in the project. Five individuals from the local community were hired to carry luggage and field equipment who directly benefited with cash. Nomads were involved as responded in questionnaire survey and also source of information during fieldwork. Forestry staff of WCNP were involved both in fieldwork and questionnaire survey. All individuals involved and encountered during the project implementation were educated and made aware about the conservation importance of musk deer and other wildlife species. However there was no direct benefit to communities from this project. 5. Are there any plans to continue this work? I have already communicated with Department of Forests and Park Services (RSPN), Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) and WWF, Bhutan Program about the need of community based approach to mitigate the illegal trading musk deer products across the region. RSPN was very much interested about the idea and is willing develop new project involving local communities for long term coordination for conservation of this species. 6. How do you plan to share the results of your work with others? I have already communicated about my findings with responsible agencies (DoFPS, WWF and RSPN). Local communities and forestry staff of WCNP are also already informed about findings and need of sustainable and win-win approach for conservation of this species. Recently I have started working on critically endangered white-bellied heron in Bhutan and I always share about musk deer while communicating with local communities, students, stakeholders about white-bellied heron.

I am also writing an article for national newspaper for disseminating my findings. I will also present my findings in seminars and conference in future if get any chance. 7. Timescale: Over what period was the RSG used? How does this compare to the anticipated or actual length of the project? Project was implemented from August, 2015 to May 2016, which was within stipulated timeline. 8. Budget: Please provide a breakdown of budgeted versus actual expenditure and the reasons for any differences. All figures should be in £ sterling, indicating the local exchange rate used. Item

Budgeted Amount 580.0

1. Transportation cost for Reconnaissance survey, laying transects, field data collection and Questionnaire survey for five individuals (to and fro) 2. Payment for field 1435.00 3 field assistance (152 days), helper to lay transects (12 days) and potters

3. Food refreshment assistants

and 506.00 for

Actual Amount 580.00

Difference

Comments

00.00

-

1482.00

+47.00

565.00

+59.00

Due to snowfall and heavy rain during second field visit, had to spend 3 days more than planned in the field which incurred extra cost (extra amount adjusted from balance of item no.8, 5 and 10) Though we spent extra days in the field and required extra ration, money was more than enough as cost of goods were cheaper than expected (extra amount adjusted from balance of item no.8)

4. Hiring of GPS, 250.00 Compass, Camera, Binocular, and other field equipment 5. Procurement of 670.00 field attire and safety gears (sleeping bags, tents, high altitude gears, field bags, field shoes, measuring tape, altimeter, flash lights, medic 6. Procurement of 140.00 stationaries, printing questionnaire and other items

250.00

0.00

660.00

-10.00

140.00

0.00

7. Visiting 270.00 administrative offices, authorities, information collection, meetings and discussions with management authorities 8. Holding meetings 265.00 with nomads, local communities and awareness programmes

270.00

0.00

200.00

-65.00

9. Report review 114.00 and discussion 10. Report 180.00 preparation and publication

114.oo

0.00

100.00

+80.00

4802.00 (inclusive of overhead cost)

-49.00

TOTAL

4851.00 (inclusive of overhead cost)

GPS, camera, and binoculars were hired and compass and altimeter were purchased. Two sleeping bags, two 3-man tents, 1one backpack, two pairs of waterproof boots and two flashlights were purchased

230 copies of questionnaire were printed, notepads, pencils and few other stationaries were purchased -

In three locations awareness and questionnaire survey were conducted together which incurred less cost. Dissemination ongoing

still

There is still the balance of £49 which will be used to disseminate information in the future.

9. Looking ahead, what do you feel are the important next steps? As suggested earlier the most important step ahead would be developing project involving local communities as key partner in conservation. This would not only help in conservation and protection of species but also benefit communities in long run. As RSPN is already willing to initiate the project, I am positive it will helping in reviving the population of musk deer and many other similar species. Developing multisectoral conservation network involving people from different agencies like local communities, nomads, police, forestry, trade, and customs would help in minimising the trade feasibility and conservation of species. Replicating similar assessments in all habitats of musk deer and specifically identifying poachers and communities who are involved in poaching and illegal trade of musk deer and other wildlife species would help in giving poacher alternative livelihood opportunities and minimizing illegal activities. Developing transboundary network to combat illegal trade of musk deer products and ceasing market would result decline in such trades. 10. Did you use the RSGF logo in any materials produced in relation to this project? Did the RSGF receive any publicity during the course of your work? RSGF logo was used in all printed materials like questionnaire and presentations and was also mentioned in all applications and forms as a donor organisation. All forestry officials who work in this project were also informed about RSGF. If future I will continue to use it in case I get opportunity to present findings in any seminars and conference and any other publications. 11. Any other comments? Musk deer population has already declined due to poaching for its high value in international black market. If this trend continues, this species may disappear in very near future. I will work closely with RSPN to develop holistic conservation approach for this species and look forward for similar support from RSGF in future.