Department of the Interior

Pangolins are the worlds most trafficked animal, with estimates of more than a million animals removed from the wild over the past decade. The critically endangered Chinese pangolin has experienced population declines of up to 90% in the past 20 years due to poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Pangolin poaching and trafficking is perpetuated by a lack of capacity of government authorities to successfully prosecute pangolin poaching and trafficking cases.To address this gap and counter the illegal trade of Indian and Chinese pangolins in Nepal, this one-year grant will support: development of an electronic wildlife crime database to strengthen analyses of poaching and trafficking trends in three provinces in Nepal; development of blueprint guidelines and train-the-trainer training for investigation officers on gathering and managing evidence, robust chain of custody processes, case building, and reporting; development of training modules and reference documents on wildlife crime, relevant laws, and impacts of poaching on pangolins; and training of 75 judiciary staff to increase their capacity to implement and enforce pangolin-related laws in Nepal.

The transboundary Khata and Karnali forest corridors in the western Terai landscape of Nepal connect the important protected areas of Bardia National Park, Nepal to Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, India, and is home to wild Asian elephants, rhinos, and tigers. This project will work to to strengthen human-elephant coexistence (HECx) in this landscape and promote science-based management of wild elephants through the revision of the Nepal Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP). Project objectives include: 1) revise the NECAP, which expires in 2018 and develop a new plan for the next 10 years; 2) strengthen cooperative Asian elephant conservation activities between Nepal and India focused on the Khata and Karnali forest corridors. Specific project activities include: 1) organize a national and three regional workshops for consultations and preparation of the NECAP; 2) draft a revised NECAP and request formal government approval; 3) organize four cross-border events for community conservation leaders in Nepal and India; 4) organize a local and a national media workshop to convey HECx messages to a broad audience; 5) capacity building to 50 rapid response team members and provision of field gear and equipment; and 6) organize six workshops for newly-elected local government officials.

This project was developed in close collaboration with local.communities and District Forest Officials in Jhapa, Nepal, the.easternmost district in the Terai landscape, in order to.strengthen elephant conservation efforts. Project objectives.include: 1) support local communities in the management and.maintenance of electric fences to prevent elephants from entering.villages; 2) form, train, and equip community-based Elephant.Response Teams (ERT) and strengthen their capacity to deal with.HEC; 3) create a database for long-term tracking of human-elephant.conflict (HEC) data; and 4) conduct community awareness workshops.to encourage behavior change towards elephants. These.interventions are expected to reduce community resentment towards.elephants and lead to behavior change which reduces both human and.elephant fatalities from HEC in this priority landscape of eastern.Nepal.

This project was developed in close collaboration with local communities and District Forest Officials in Jhapa, Nepal, the easternmost district in the Terai landscape, in order to strengthen elephant conservation efforts. Project objectives include: 1) support local communities in the management and maintenance of electric fences to prevent elephants from entering villages; 2) form, train, and equip community-based Elephant Response Teams (ERT) and strengthen their capacity to deal with HEC; 3) create a database for long-term tracking of human-elephant conflict (HEC) data; and 4) conduct community awareness workshops to encourage behavior change towards elephants. These interventions are expected to reduce community resentment towards elephants and lead to behavior change which reduces both human and elephant fatalities from HEC in this priority landscape of eastern Nepal.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) generate a greater understanding of rhinoceros horn trafficking supply chains in China and produce actionable intelligence on online traders, and, (2) enhance capacity for effective enforcement of online trade in rhinoceros horn in China.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) Develop community level trainers on human-tiger coexistence at specific corridors, and, (2) Scale up and intensify community education and outreach programs to increase the tolerance level of local community toward tigers. Project will support train-the-trainers programs for teachers, community members, and community outreach, as well as develop human-tiger coexistence programs for the radio.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) Conserve and manage key tiger habitats in the core area of the park, (2) Control poaching and illegal activities along the buffer zone and corridor forests, (3) Enhance institutional capacity of buffer zone institutions and NRM groups, and, (4) Harmonize the relationship between the park and people so there is less animosity toward wildlife.

RHINO TIGER-FY 17-RT1710

The purpose of this project is to, (1) Set up a well dedicated and well equipped rhino monitoring unit in Babai valley, to secure rhinos, tigers, and other wildlife species, (2) Conduct scientific monitoring of newly reintroduced rhinos to better understand their habitat use and population performance, and, (3) Improve grassland habitats to ensure good habitat for rhinos and other wildlife species.

The purpose of this project is to eradicate the threat of poaching beginning with four critical protected areas, by (1) supporting the National Census to establish new baselines for tiger populations, and, (2) building capacity with technological support to increase the detection of crimes, identification and prosecution of criminals and, ultimately, reduce illegal activities.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) host the Regional tiger, Asian rhino and elephant veterinary workshop in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, in 2017-2018, and, (2) support 25 veterinarians to travel to and participate in this veterinary workshop in order to build their individual capacity and enhance their wildlife veterinary expertise to more effectively assist conservation efforts in Asia. Wildlife health needs will be addressed from an ecosystem perspective by discussing topics such as disease spillover from humans and/or livestock to wildlife, emerging diseases and/or disease prevalence, as well as reducing stressors in the environment. Wildlife health is an important priority for wildlife conservation in the tiger, Asian rhino and elephant range countries. These workshops result in expanding the network of knowledge and expertise locally and regionally, and further strengthen the alliances, professional relationships, and partnerships urgently needed to address emerging disease threats in the range countries.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) Create suitable habitat for tiger and rhino, (2) Increase support of local communities for tiger-rhino conservation, (3) Generate scientific understanding about tigers, rhinos and other wildlife, and the impact of highway on wildlife, (4) Promote eco-tourism activities to benefit local livelihoods, and, (5) Enhance human-wildlife co-existence.

The purpose of this project is to, (1) translocate two rhinos from Chitwan National Park to Babai Valley in Bardia National Park, (2) Increase park staff capacity to carry out research and monitoring, and, (3) update the rhino translocation manual.

The purpose of this project is to counter wildlife trafficking in Nepal

The goal of this project is to reduce human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Nepal through training of trainers programs in landscapes where humans and wild Asian elephants coexist, targeting educators and local communities. Project activities include: 1) identify and train at least 120 educators in effective preventative and practical human-elephant coexistence techniques in three training workshops; 2) print and provide education materials for multiple age groups and literacy levels; 3) employ recently trained educators to conduct 15 awareness programs for students and communities in high HEC areas; and 4) evaluate the impacts of the program through personal interviews, online discussion groups, and inviting trainees to join an Educator Network. This project will contribute to the conservation of Asian elephants in Nepal by reducing HEC through facilitating attitudinal changes among residents of this region. This award is provisionally approved for two phases or years funding, with each phase or year's funding dependent upon performance and financial management of the previous phase or year, meeting technical and financial reporting requirements, and availability of ASECF funds.

This project continues the human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation work initiated in Bardia National Park, Nepal under USFWS awards F14AP00259 and F15AP00342. The overall goal of the project is to development community stewardship for human-elephant coexistence (HECx) by diversifying livelihood opportunities, strengthening use of HEC mitigation tools such as electric fences and street lights, establishing a value chain approach for unpalatable cash crops, and launching community outreach programs in the eastern sector of the park to increase the tolerance of local communities for wild elephants. Specific project activities include: 1) tourism homestay workshop, training, and promotion in HEC-prone areas; 2) electric fencing and street light provisioning; 3) procurement and training of elephant immobilization equipment to wildlife technicians and mobility support to HEC rapid response teams; 4) scoping study of fire wood species and production of seedlings and plantations; 5) provision of seed money for two agricultural cooperatives in unpalatable crops and business training for farmers; 6) agricultural extension for unpalatable essential oil crops such as mentha, chamomile, and lemongrass; 7) conservation education classes at community schools; and 8) workshop with journalists to broadcast elephant conservation stories. This project contributes to the conservation of wild Asian elephants by supporting and educating local communities sharing the landscape with wild elephants in the Terai region of Nepal. This award is provisionally approved for two phases or years funding, with each phase or years funding dependent upon performance and financial management of the previous phase or years, meeting technical and financial reporting requirements, and availability of ASECF funds.

The purpose of this project is to promote human-elephant coexistence (HECx) in the western Terai landscape of Nepal, focusing on education and behavior change in women, specifically households situated in the Laljhadi and Khata forest corridors where HEC rates are very high. Specific project activities include: 1) provision of HECx refresher training to 20 local trainers; 2) 25 subsequent village HECx trainings provided by the local HECx trainers and facilitators; 3) 20 visits by community leaders and local farmers (with a focus on women) to Bardia and Suklaphanta National Parks to observe wildlife and participate in nature interpretation activities; 4) production and broadcast of 40 episodes of an HECx radio program in Nepali and Tharu languages; and 5) support and training of Rapid Response Teams to respond to HEC events, including provision of gear, rations, mobility, and communications. This project was developed in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of Nepal, Bardia National Park, and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, and Community Forest User Groups to scale-up conservation education and HECx activities in this high-HEC area which is home to over 2 million people and is the primary remaining landscape to wild Asian elephants in Nepal.

This project, developed in collaboration with local communities and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) located in the eastern Terai landscape of Nepal, aims to initiate conservation activities to ensure the long-term survival of wild Asian elephants and their coexistence with humans in this region. Project objectives include monitoring of Asian elephants, reduction of human-elephant conflict (HEC), outreach and education centered on elephant conservation and HEC, and promotion of alternative livelihoods in HEC-prone areas. Specific project activities include: 1) collection and analysis of dung DNA to estimate the elephant population size in KTWR; 2) formation and training of a community-based HEC response team (CBHEC) including two members from each of 14 Buffer Zone Community Forest (BZCF) groups; 3) CBHEC team monitoring wild elephants and collection of HEC data; 4) promotion of alternative livelihoods such as fish farming to HEC-affected and marginalized groups; 5) development of awareness and education materials and conducting an awareness program via local media including FM radio, street dramas, and sign boards; and 6) human-elephant coexistence (HECx) training delivery to 14 BZCF groups with 35 participants per training; 7) HECx training for 10 local journalists, 40 army personnel, local grade 9-10 school students; and 8) an exposure visit for the CBHEC response team and KTWR staff to Chitwan and Bardia National Parks to observe successful HEC mitigation measures employed in these parks. This project will contribute to the long-term survival and conservation of wild Asian elephants in Nepal by addressing the relatively new and increasing problem of HEC in the Eastern Nepal landscape. This award is provisionally approved for two phases or years of funding, with each phase or years funding dependent upon performance and financial management of the previous phase or year, meeting technical and financial reporting requirements, and availability of A

The purpose of this project is to study the behavior and genetics of wild Asian elephants in the Chitwan-Parsa National Park complex of Nepal to better understand the drivers of conflict elephant behavior and overall population structure of this subpopulation in Nepal. Specific project activities include: 1) conduct a population survey using genetic techniques; 2) using dung samples perform ELISA tests on stress hormone levels in elephants; 3) extract DNA for DNA-based profiles of individuals; 4) establish and train a rapid response team for human-elephant conflict events; 5) conduct three visits for villagers of high HEC villages to elephant-bearing protected areas. This project will produce reports on the population status and structure of Asian elephants in the Chitwan-Parsa complex, contribute to a better understanding of stress on elephant conflict behavior, build a DNA-profile database of the existing population, create a well-equipped HEC rapid response team, and increase the tolerance of local inhabitants to elephants and overall contribute to the conservation of wild Asian elephants in Nepal. ."

The purpose of this project is to reduce tiger poaching and wildlife crime in the Banke National Park by improving on-site law enforcement. The project has the following objectives: (1) Build capacity for adaptive law enforcement through Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool (SMART) patrols; and (2) Detection of illegal activity strengthened with technological support.

The purpose of this project is to bring about positive change in local communitys attitude and behavior towards two iconic species, the greater one-horned rhinoceros and royal Bengal tiger inhabiting Chitwan National Park. The project has the following objectives: (1) Map locations and extent of current human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures and assess their effectiveness; (2) Increase the level of awareness on ecological importance of rhinoceros and tiger, and co-existence with humans in the same ecosystem via local FM radio stations; (3) Sensitize vulnerable communities on increasing incidence of human wildlife (rhino and tiger) conflict and how to avoid such conflicts, via local FM radio stations; (4) Orient media (press, radio, television and online) on biodiversity conservation specially on human wildlife conflict reporting; (5) Promote journalists who do good wildlife reporting through fellowships; (6) Produce and distribute audio visual and printed material to prevent and minimize human-wildlife conflict.

The purpose of this project is to strengthen the capacity of the veterinary team of Chitwan National Park and NTNC in the veterinary care of wild rhinoceros and tiger populations, and subsequent re-wilding and release of rescued rhinoceroses and tigers. The project has the following objectives: (1) upgrade and modernize the veterinary rescue teams ability to capture and rescue injured and sick tigers and rhinoceros, by providing them the necessary training for post immobilization management of captured animals, and use of appropriate anesthetic drugs; (2) upgrade facility for treatment of the injured animal; (3) study the diseases affecting tigers and rhinoceroses; (4) study disease prevalence in livestock in the buffer zone, and vaccinate domestic livestock for diseases that are potentially transmissible to wildlife; and (5) improve the capacity of veterinary workers working in buffer zone.

In partnership with National Trust for Nature Conservation. The purpose of this project is to reduce grazing pressure, develop community ownership of tiger conservation and scientific monitoring of tigers and their prey base. The project has the following objectives: (1) Reduce grazing pressure in SWR through improved breeds of livestock, management of unproductive livestock, promotion of stall feeding and other income generation activities; (2) Strengthen community engagement for tiger conservation in SWR; (3) Monitor tiger populations and their prey base.

The purpose of this project is to secure Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) for rhinoceroses. The project has the following objectives: (1) To set up well equipped rhino monitoring units in BNP and SWR and carry out effective monitoring of translocated rhinoceros to understand their movement, habitat use and breeding performance; (2) To strengthen rhino security in BNP and SWR through improved law enforcements.

The purpose of this project is to support the Government of Nepal in monitoring its tiger population and science-based conservation interventions, to assist in Nepals tiger population recovery efforts. The project will support the following objectives: (1) Enhance the Government of Nepals capacity to conduct tiger and prey base monitoring including the analysis of scientific data; (2) Conduct annual camera trapping and line transect surveys to estimate tiger and prey base density within the newly extended Parsa Wildlife Reserve; (3) Strengthen existing law enforcement interventions by providing park authorities with key data on tiger and prey base presence as well as threats based on monitoring results.

Strengthening human elephant co-existence through community education and outreach programs in the western Terai Landscape, Nepal

The purpose of this project is to maintain and gradually increase the number and survival of tigers in Chitwan National Park (CNP). The project will upgrade rescue team to capture and rescue or radio collar stray tigers and other carnivores as necessary, develop an action selection framework for human-carnivore conflict in CNP, establish web based human-wildlife conflict database with graphics and visual maps, make buffer zone communities more responsible for human-tiger conflict management through capacity building and awareness, pilot preventive measures to minimize loss from tigers, generate scientific information about stray tigers living in the fringe areas to understand and predict the behavior of these animals, and provide suppor to the families of wildlife conflict victims.

The purpose of this project is to significantly reduce human-tiger conflict in Parsa Wildlife Reserve through community engagement programs, establish baseline database, and double the tiger population. The project will identify underlying causes of human-tiger conflict and implement conflict reduction stragegies engaging local communities, promote improved husbandry practice for enhanced daily subsistence of local community and to minimize pressure on buffer zone and core area, implement awareness raising activities in buffer zone area, and implement poaching reduction strategies.

The purpose of this project is to secure Bardia National Park from poaching and develop community stewardship in conservation in a meaningful way. The project will improve livelihood of poor and marginalized traditional hunting communities by strengthening the capacity of rural cooperatives, promotion of agro-based enterprises, and nature-based tourism, and increase conservation awareness and strengthen community based anti-poaching initiatives by conducting joint patrols, providing field equipment, build local capacity for community based anti-poaching units, increase conservation education campaigns, provide refresher courses for eco-teachers, and support eco-clubs.

The purpose of this project is to combat wildlife crime in Nepal by building the capacity of Nepal Police and other key stakeholders. Grantee will develop a wildlife identification manual and curriculum for training Nepal police staff to address wildlife crime, select and train 20 proficient trainers to build police capacity to control crime, and build regional law enforecement agencies' capacity to identify and investigate wildlife crime.

The purpose of this project is to combat wildlife crime in Nepal by building the capacity of Nepal Police and other key stakeholders. Grantee will develop a wildlife identification manual and curriculum for training Nepal police staff to address wildlife crime, select and train 20 proficient trainers to build police capacity to control crime, and build regional law enforcement agencies capacity to identify and investigate wildlife crime.

The project will respond to the growing population of wild elephants supported by the Bardia National Park complex by scaling up and strengthening community engagement efforts by the Park to address human-elephant conflict in the region and increase tolerance for these wild megaherbivores. The project will establish a sustainable mechanism to operate electric fences along human settlements to deter elephants by providing additional energizer machines and wire, conduct a workshop for stakeholders on electric fence management, and conduct awareness campaigns to educate community members on the benefits of electric fences and cultivate local ownership of the tool. Awareness campaigns will include a slide show, participatory mapping of fences, contracts of commitment to be signed by community members, and the formation of nine five-member Electric Fence Management Groups (EFMG). Two-day workshops on electric fence repair and maintenance will be provided to 15 fence watch guards, with necessary equipment provided, the nine EFMG will hold regular meetings and organize fence repair and site clearance for optimal performance of the fences. A three-day workshop will be held at Bardia National Park to share knowledge and lessons learned across the Terai Arc Landscape, participants will include park representatives and buffer zone management committees. The project will provide non-palatable crops to buffer zone farmers and a distillation plant to produce aromatic oils for market. Conservation awareness programs will include at least 40 awareness sessions in impacted communities, performances of youth street theaters, and an FM-radio program.

The purpose of this project is to conduct capacity building programs within local communities in the Chitwan-Parsa protected area complex of the Terai Landscape, Nepal. Project activities will include: 1) implement a community-based elephant monitoring system, which will include an inception workshop, formation and training of rapid response teams in four buffer zone user groups, data collection and management of the data in a database maintained at NTNCs Biodiversity Conservation Center at Chitwan National Park; 2) establish a community-based early warning system using elephant data collected by the rapid response teams which will be disseminated to communities via loudspeakers, a mobile phone/group SMS alert, and an FM-radio program; 3) conduct awareness campaigns, which will include local-language poster and brochure development and distribution, a short documentary film on human-elephant co-existence, awareness camps in communities with high risks of HEC, school elephant conservation education programs, and weekly FM-radio elephant conservation programs; 4) increase tolerance of local residents for elephants by the creation of an emergency relief fund to provide financial relief to victims of death, injury, property, crop, or livestock loss caused by wild elephants, and by the provision of a crop insurance scheme. This project, to be implemented jointly by NTNC and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation along with the local buffer zone management committees, will benefit both local communities as well as wild elephants by informing locals of elephant movement, status, and causes of conflict, encouraging communities to take responsibility for HEC-mitigation measures and reduce animosity towards wild elephants by providing emergency relief funds in the event of crop loss and property damage.

The purpose of this project is to reduce illegal trafficking in wildlife products, particularly for rhinos and tigers. Project will provide support for training of Customs personnel on Nepal-lndia and Nepal-China border crossings and improve capacity for investigating potential wildlife trafficking incidents and building wildlife trafficking prosecution cases, and improved relationships and commitment among border Customs officials will lead to better interdictions of wildlife products on those border crossings. Training will also be provided on building wildlife trafficking prosecution cases between key customs personnel and wildlife crime law enforcement personnel, including criminal investigators and prosecutors from Nepal, China and India, and relationships strengthened between these key Customs personnel and wildlife crime law enforcement personnel from Nepal, China and India.

This project will intensify conservation initiatives of snow leopards in the Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) with a primary focus on strengthening community engagement to reduce retaliatory killings and poaching of the leopard. Specific activities include: (1) strengthening community engagement on snow leopard conservation by forming community based snow leopard conservation committees, developing a community based leopard monitoring system, conducting education and awareness camps, and setting up a community based compensation system for livestock damage; (2) establishing a baseline database and developing a human-snow leopard conflict management action plan.

The purpose of this project is to translocate rhinos from Chitwan National Park to Bardia National Park to strengthen the rhino population in Bardia and reduce the density of rhinos in Chitwan. This will be done by translocating at least two rhinos from Chitwan to the Babai Valley of Bardia in early 2015 and establishing a post-translocation monitoring program to protect the translocated rhinos in the Babai Valley and monitor the success of the translocation. Specifically, this will be done by: 1. holding stakeholder consultation meetings with advisory and technical committees; 2. conducting pre-translocation studies in Chitwan and Bardia; 3. identifying the rhinos that will be translocated and identifying the locations for their release in Bardia; 3. making pre-capture logistical arrangements; 4.capturing and transporting two rhinos from Chitwan to Bardia; 5. monitoring the translocated rhino population in Bardia; 6. maintaining a database to ensure the translocated rhinos are adapting to the new habitat; and 7. supporting the use of SMART for effective patrolling and anti-poaching operations in Bardia.

The purpose of this project is to translocate rhinos from Chitwan National Park to Bardia National Park to strengthen the rhino population in Bardia and reduce the density of rhinos in Chitwan. This will be done by translocating at least two rhinos from Chitwan to the Babai Valley of Bardia in early 2015 and establishing a post-translocation monitoring program to protect the translocated rhinos in the Babai Valley and monitor the success of the translocation. Specifically, this will be done by: 1. holding stakeholder consultation meetings with advisory and technical committees; 2. conducting pre-translocation studies in Chitwan and Bardia; 3. identifying the rhinos that will be translocated and identifying the locations for their release in Bardia; 3. making pre-capture logistical arrangements; 4.capturing and transporting two rhinos from Chitwan to Bardia; 5. monitoring the translocated rhino population in Bardia; 6. maintaining a database to ensure the translocated rhinos are adapting to the new habitat; and 7. supporting the use of SMART for effective patrolling and anti-poaching operations in Bardia.

The purpose of this project is to build a community grain storage house that secures the grain of local farmers from crop raiding elephants. By safeguarding grain, the project will help to decrease incidences of human-elephant conflict (HEC), reduce retaliatory killings and foster a more positive attitude toward wild elephants among local communities. The grain storage house will minimize the probability of elephant visits to the villages, thereby reducing the chances of human casualties and injuries. The project will engage the Shreeramnagar Buffer Zone User Committee (BZUC), which falls under Neulapur VDC, and establish a mechanism to manage the community grain storage house in the long term.

The purpose of this project is to build a community grain storage house that secures the grain of local farmers from crop raiding elephants. By safeguarding grain, the project will help to decrease incidences of human-elephant conflict (HEC), reduce retaliatory killings and foster a more positive attitude toward wild elephants among local communities. The grain storage house will minimize the probability of elephant visits to the villages, thereby reducing the chances of human casualties and injuries. The project will engage the Shreeramnagar Buffer Zone User Committee (BZUC), which falls under Neulapur VDC, and establish a mechanism to manage the community grain storage house in the long term.

The purpose of this project is to minimize human-elephant conflict (HEC) through scientific management and community engagement with awareness programs with alternative livelihood options, operationalize rapid response team to deal with HEC incidents and conduct human elephant co-existence (HECx) related awareness activities. The HEC strategy document for Barida NP will be developed.

The purpose of this project is to mitigate tiger human conflict through provision of predator proof corral houses; providing skills training to families that have suffered from tiger human conflict; and raising awareness among communities located adjacent to the park so they may live in greater harmony with big cats. This will be done by: (1) carrying out human wildlife conflict assessments in the buffer zone of the park and maintaining a database for use in identifying communities to be addressed by the project; (2) selecting farmers who have lost livestock due to leopard/tiger conflict and assisting them in replacing their corral houses with predator proof houses (175 such houses to be constructed); (3) providing cooking skills training to family members of families that have lost members due to tiger attacks and assisting them in obtaining employment in local hotels; and (4) carrying out a conservation education program for local school children, youth groups and community members to increase their knowledge and understanding and engagement in tiger conservation.

The purpose of this project is to map rhino movements to optimize the design of and conservation practices in the Khata corridor of the Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal. This will be done by: (a) organizing a central level consultation meeting in Kathmandu to establish the roles and responsibilities of organizations participating in the project; (b) obtaining government approval to place GPS collars on rhinos; (c) procuring the necessary equipment for conduct of the project; (d) conducting a field level coordination meeting at Bardia National Park to coordinate field level activities among the various involved agencies; (e) training the four local people who will carry out the projects field duties; (f) capturing, collaring and tracking four rhinos for one year; (g) mapping the land-use and land cover data in Khata corridor using high resolutions satellite imagery; (h) interpreting the images and assigning rhino movement data to land-use and land cover classes based on wildlife habitat suitability; (I) assessing and classifying the forests of the project area into different classes based on succession and restoration; (j) overlaying the GPS locations from the collared rhinos on the land-use and land cover maps to determine how rhinos move through the corridor habitat matrix; (k) using the preferred habitats of rhinos in the Khata to optimize land-use planning; (l) using the rhino habitat use data to develop a tactical patrolling plan for use by the CBAPO at the local level; and (m) utilizing the project data in assessing the potential of the Karnali, Basanta and Laljhadi corridors for rhino movement.

Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation: A Multi-Pronged Strategy in Bahundangi Village, Eastern.Nepal

Curailing Retributive Killing of Snow Leopards in Nepal by Predator-proofing Corrals.

Curailing Retributive Killing of Snow Leopards in Nepal by Predator-proofing Corrals.

The purpose of this grant is to support assessment of the status of Nepals tigers (now routinely carried out at four year intervals) to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation interventions taken since the last assessment and to provide information needed to plan conservation interventions for the upcoming four years. The Recipient will do this by: (1) forming a central task force in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) made up of representatives from DNPWC, the Department of Forest, WWF Nepal and the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) to review and adapt the monitoring methods based on the monitoring protocol produced in 2008; (2) form the field monitoring teams for each of the five protected areas that will carry out the fieldwork; (3) train and orient the monitoring teams; (4) carry out camera trapping surveys to estimate tiger populations in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Bardia National Park, Banke National Park, Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife as well as the critical habitat corridors of Khata, Basanta, Kamdi and Barandabahar; (5) carry out habitat occupancy surveys both inside and outside of the protected areas to include the occupancy pattern of both tigers and their prey as well as relevant data such as cattle grazing, tree lopping, tree cutting, encroachment and poaching sign; (6) carry out line transect surveys for prey species; (7) carry out analysis of the camera-trapping data, the occupancy data, and the prey transect data; and (8) work with the task force to prepare a comprehensive report detailing the results of the tiger camera trapping in the core areas of the major protected areas, the occupancy surveys of both tigers and prey at the landscape level and the prey density work.

Monitoring Tiger Populations in the Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal

Mitigating human-elephant conflict through a science based approach in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

The purpose of this project is to estimate the population size, genetic structure, and gene flow of elephant herds in western Nepal. Specifically, applicant will use direct field observations of elephants, mark-recapture analysis, household surveys, and DNA genotyping to accomplish these goals and objectives.

This project will strengthen tiger conservation in the park by protecting tigers in adjacent buffer zone community forests. The grantee will collaborate with local communities and park staff to determine human and tiger use patterns at the edge of the park in buffer zone community forests, developing a model to minimize human-tiger conflict. This will be used to strengthen cooperative management in the buffer zone.