Phase 1 Summary & Next steps
10th January, 2012 1
Agenda • Background • Phases • Phase 1 recommendations & findings • Proposed future action steps -phase 2 & 3 • Next steps
Background
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Background • Started out as a bird survey in Jan 2010 by a specialized team of wildlife enthusiasts; sponsored by the Nagaland government • Four field visits between Jan June 2010 covering Khonoma, Benrue, Intanki, Mokukchung, Pungro, Fakim • Report submitted to the Nagaland Govt. in mid-2010 summarizing findings & recommending a conservation program
‣ Significant
Bird survey summary
wildlife sightings ‣ Shocking conservation threats ‣ Fantastic opportunity for conservation 5
Conservation program summary • Phase 1:
Done!
- A scientific survey to assess the current status of biodiversity and extent of pressures that may influence the same across the state and identify biodiversity rich sites that would be prioritised for conservation programs • Phase 2: - Pilot the execution of conservation programs in one critical area identified in phase 1 to get the ‘model’ right as well as implementing existing best practices • Phase 3: - Based on learnings from phase 2, roll-out a state-wide 5-year plan for the entire state
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Phase 1
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Phase 1- survey sites
Survey dates: May 1 -- June 15, 2011 8
Phase 1- summary • Surveyed 10+ sites across the state with forest department input / support • Scientific partner -- NCBS -South Asia’s premier wildlife biology & conservation institute • 11 scientists participated for 6weeks in May - June, 2011 • Taxa covered -- Woody plants, Mammals, Birds, Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) and Butterflies
Key findings - mammals
L-R: Ferret Badger (Khonoma), Leaf Deer skull (Wunthsuwong), Spotted Linsang (Shatuza)
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Key findings - birds
Clockwise from top -- Ashy & Yellow-throated Laughing Thrush, Cachar Wedge-billed Wren-babbler, Naga Wren-babbler, Spot-breasted Parrotbill
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Key findings - reptiles
Clockwise from top -- Bella Rat Snake, Pareas macularis, Amphiesma venningi (Keelback), Amphiesma parelallum (Keelback)
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Key findings - others
Clockwise from top -- De Niceville's Windmill (Atrophaneura polla), Oligodon dorsalis, Pareas monticola, Trimeresurus albolabris (Green Pit Viper)
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Key findings - others
Clockwise from top -- Rhacophorus bipunctatus, Rhacophorus species, Caecilian sp., Hyla sp.
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Phase 1 - recommendations • Threat reduction: - Hunting - Conservation awareness - Wildlife rescue & rehabilitation centers - Jhum - Human activity and encroachment - Logging / timber extraction
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Animals kept in captivity / as pets is a big issue
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Phase 1 - recommendations (contd.) • Continued biodiversity & threat assessment studies • Local engagement -- Use of local manpower for ongoing monitoring • Conservation Program - Phase 2 - Phase 3
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Key principles • Don’t reinvent the wheel -- collaborate widely and integrate the best available learnings from across India: - Scientists, scientific institutions & labs - Open Nagaland for research - NGOs • Based on solid science -- scientific documentation of biodiversity, baselines, pre & post • Train and involve local resources at every level 18
Next steps Phase 2
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Phase 2 - objectives • The program will attempt to merge various conservation initiatives and arrive at a Current Best Approach (CBA) based on past efforts undertaken in the past in Nagaland: 1. Conservation education program and creation of eco-camps (pioneered by North-east Network NEN) 2. Creation of community conservation areas (CCAs) pioneered in Saramati by the Late Dr. Ravi Sankaran of SACON, Coimbatore. 3. Stopping hunting in Khonoma by village elders 4. Any other learnings by forest dept. / government to be incorporated? 20
Conservation education & Eco-clubs (NEN) • Initiating conservation education through teacher-training workshops with custom designed education material “Under the Canopy” that helps: - Reconnect children with nature - Channel energies from hunting to curiosity - Exposure to alternative career options • Based on an ongoing conservation program in Chizami (in Phek district) the “Under the canopy” program had the following outcome: - Realization that their forests and animals were in trouble and that they had the power to do something to reverse the damage done. - Desire to eat wild meat reduced - Parts of the forest declared protected - Field visits to wildlife sanctuaries (like Kaziranga) initiated
Creation of community conservation areas • CCA process to sustain community conservation effort: 1. Capacity Building 2. Advocacy 3. Secondary data collection 4. Formulation of CCAs • Impact of the Saramati Project: 1. Many formal resolutions (as many as 25) proposing for new, larger CCAs 2. Christian missionary association banned serving wild animals Church feasts 3. Several student unions banned hunting & selling of wild animals 4. Positive media coverage of the project
Phase 2 - details • Submit final plan and proposal after in-principle agreement -- January 30th • One representative site selected from Phase 1 findings -- possibly Eastern Nagaland (Fakim, Saramati, Wuntsuwong) • Proposed start date March - April 2012 • Phase 2 duration 6-9 months • Incorporate incremental ongoing biodiversity surveys -- mammals, butterflies • Phase 2 learnings leads to Phase 3 (state roll-out across key sites)
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Thanks!
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Annexures
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Important bird sightings -
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Amur Falcon Falco amurensis: One of the most important passageways for Amurs in India where this species mindlessly slaughtered in N Nagaland. Awareness and strict protection for 2 months in the year can provide safe passage for the species. Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii: State bird of Nagaland. This species has been surviving at high elevations of Khonoma Community Forest, Saramati and Fakim. Captive breeding program and self imposed ban on hunting by few communities there are no other measure for the conservation of this species in the state. This bird is regularly captured alive for the VIPs. Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus: Nagaland is home to very distinct sub species fuscus. We have sighted this bird regularly around Khonoma community forest. This is probably only sighting of this subspecies from India. Blue Pitta Hydrornis cyaneus: This is a photographic record of dead bird being sold in market by filmmaker Rita Banerji. Status of this bird from Nagaland as well rest of India is unknown. Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae: Nagaland is an important wintering ground for this species in the world. We recorded this species near Benrue in Jan 2010. However we also recorded hunting of this species by local kids. Other than Nagaland this species has been recorded only once from Namdapha (AP). Gould’s Shortwing Heteroxenicus stellatus: This species was
recorded during May 2009. This is probably the only record for the state. However we believe that this species might be breeding at higher elevations of Zukku Valley and Saramati regions of Nagaland.
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Himalayan Bluetail Tarsiger rufilatus: We recorded this species breeding on three different occasions at mount Saramati during May 2011 survey. This is probably the first breeding record for the species south of Himalayas. Brown-capped Laughingthrush Trochalopteron austeni: We recorded this species in Khonoma community forest during Jan 2010. This is probably the only record for this species from Nagaland as well as India after 1952 Moustached Laughingthrush Garrulax cineraceus: We recorded this species for the first time during our May 2010 followed by May 2011 visit to Pungro outskirts. There have been no records of this species from India since 1952. This sub-species looks distinctly different from Chinese and south-east Asian ssp. Scaly Laughingthrush Trochalopteron subunicolor: We recorded this species during May 2011 survey in Saramati community forest. This is probably the first record of the species south of Himalayas. Spot-breasted Laughingthush Garrulax merulinus: We recorded this species during May 2010 as well as May 2011 survey from Pungro outskirts. Just recorded from Khonoma. This species has
been recorded only twice since 1952 from India.
during May 2010 and May 2011 survey.
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Black-faced Laughingthrush Trochalopteron affine: We recorded this species during May 2011 survey in Saramati community forest. This is probably the first record of the species south of Himalayas.
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Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler Sphenocichla roberti: We recorded this species from Khonoma community forest (already known) from May 2009 and Jan 2010 visit as well as from Benrue during Jan 2010 survey.
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White-browed Laughingthrush Garrulax sannio: We had sighting of this species from Pungro outskirts during May 2011.
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Yellow-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax galbanus: We recorded this species for the first time during our May 2010 followed by May 2011 visit to Pungro outskirts. There have been no records of this species from India since 1930’s.
Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis: We recorded this species from Benrue for the first time during Jan 2010 survey. This was the only third record for the species from India since 1970’s. However this species was subsequently recorded from outskirts of Pungro during May 2010 & 2011 surveys.
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Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus: We recorded this species during May 2011 survey in Saramati community forest. This is probably the first record of the species south of Himalayas.
Brown Bush Warbler Bradypterus luteoventris: We recorded this species from Fakim wildlife sanctuary during May 2011 survey. This could be the only confirmed breeding site for the species from India.
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White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus: We recorded this species being very common at higher elevations of Saramati community forest during May 2011 survey. This is probably the only confirm record of sub- species austeni from India.
Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus: We recorded this species breeding on two different occasions at mount Saramati during May 2011 survey. This is probably the first breeding record for the species south of Himalayas.
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Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis: We recorded this species during Jan 2010 survey. This is probably the only second sighting of the species from Nagaland in last few years. The only other time this species was recorded was from Murlen national park, Mizoram in Jan 2011.
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Naga Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis chocolatinus: This species is one of the very few endemic northeastern India birds. We recorded this species quite regularly from Khonoma community forest (already known) from May 2009, Jan 2010, March 2010, May 2010, May 2011 and Dec 2011. However we also recorded this species from Fakim wildlife sanctuary
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Phase 2 -- Teacher workshops & Community Conservation Areas (CCA) process 27