2016 BELT ANNUAL REPORT
Koshi Tappu Kanchenjunga Biodiversity Education Livelihood Terra-Studio [KTK-BELT]
CONTACT US Nepal
51 Larch drive, Manhasset Hills NY 11040, USA Nepal Country Office: Taragaon Museum Boudha, Tusal, Nepal
Web:
www.belt-project.org www.theverticaluniversity.org
Email:
info@belt-project.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kishor Sharma Nirman Shrestha Rajeev Goyal
GRAPHIC AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Priyanka Bista Marco Cestarolli
KTK-BELT studio KTK-BELT, INC. is a non-profit organization that is tax-exempt in the United States under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). KTK-BELT, INC. was registered in the state of New York on August 7, 2014 and possesses the Employment Identification Number (EIN) 47-2166334. It maintains offices in New York and Nepal and complies with laws in both jurisdictions.
Our mission KTK-BELT’s mission is to catalyze new models of biodiversity conservation and environmental learning in eastern Nepal. It works with teachers, farmers, youth, and women to create a ‘Vertical University’ that will span from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary (67 m.) to Kanchenjunga (8,586 m.), the third tallest peak in the world. The idea is to give a framework to local farmers to become ‘professors’ of the Vertical University, to share their indigenous knowledge while also physically conserving threatened species and landscapes.
Our Approach KTK-BELT works in concert with non-profit cooperatives registered under the Nepal Company Act, which it helps establish and nurture, called ‘Learning Grounds.’ Each Learning Grounds, governed by a diverse local Board and monitored by the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of the Nepal Government, owns its own biodiversity-rich conservation land base, which it holds in perpetuity in order to prevent ecosystem fragmentation and deforestation. Youth Fellows and BELT Farmers, trained and supported by KTK-BELT staff, run and administer the Learning Grounds and build capacity across the 8,000-meter vertical gradient through peer-to-peer, upstreamdownstream collaboration.
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01. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
02. CONSERVATION IMPACT
03. EDUCATION IMPACT
04. LIVELIHOODS IMPACT
05. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
06. PROJECT TEAM
SECTION 01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The past year began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in which 246 backers from around the world contributed $102,594 in just 28 days in support of the Vertical University. With these resources, we were able to get numerous projects and initiatives off the ground, which we are pleased to share through this 2016 Annual Report. With extremely limited funding, KTK-BELT launched a Youth Fellowship Program, designed 6 campuses of the Vertical University, and carried out research into the root causes of the decline in endangered species such as the Indian Pangolin and Chinese Pangolin. For its unique design-based approach to conservation, KTK-BELT will be receiving the SEED Award in Portland Oregon this April and has been named a finalist for the Katerva Prize. We dedicate this Annual Report to all of our grassroots supporters and volunteers and staff on the ground in Nepal, whose contributions made these achievements possible. Three critical capacity building programs were launched in 2016. First, the BELT Youth Fellows Program was launched with 4 local youth being trained in such skills as GIS mapping, biodiversity monitoring, green construction, and place-based education. Second, KTK-BELT and its Learning Grounds partners created the ‘BELT Farmers Program,’ which will provide specialized trainings and material support in agro-forestry to local farmers in exchange for commitments to prevent land gabbing, reduce illegal wildlife trade and curb poaching and illegal mining activities. The BELT Farmers program, which is described in-depth in this report, recruited 42 families. Third, this past year, we launched our BELT Schools Program, whereby we will be selecting 3 out of 9 local schools in Yangshila who are interested in implementing place-based environmental education modules and engaging young people in nature-based learning. This past year, KTK-BELT also initiated its agro-forestry plantations in its Learning Grounds in Dahar, Maharaje, Takure, and Rangcha villages, planting nearly 400 trees, including endangered species such as Indian Rosewood and various endangered medicinal plants, according to permaculture principles. It also designed its first seed bank and eco-library which will be constructed using compressed stabilized earth bricks (CSEBs), which are also now being produced in the BELT in Rangcha village. In 2016, we also designed the six major campuses of the Vertical University, each of which will be situated at a different altitude and focus on a different theme. The initial
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concept plans are enumerated in the pages that follow. Each campus is imagined as a zero-carbon, sustainable conservation, education and livelihood hub of the KTK-BELT, and tin the aggregate will provide education regarding birds, plants, climate change adaptation, natural products, pastoralism, and glaciers. As part of our ongoing attempt to catalogue the incredible indigenous knowledge of eastern Nepal, KTK-BELT launched an Indigenous Knowledge Portal (IKP) and shot and edited the first 15 videos of farmers discussing medicinal uses of local plants. The BELT Plant App was also created by local youth fellows and international volunteers, to provide an easy-to-use platform to learn about more than 660 native plants of the Chure region. This past year also witnessed institutional growth and expansion of our Learning Grounds partners in Kurule Tenupa, Chauki, and Sankhuwasabha. With the growing administrative, legal and accounting needs, KTK-BELT established a small national office in Taragaon Museum, Boudha, and expanded its administrative team. To further the project’s fiscal self-sustainability, we also registered a Vertical Biodiversity Fund (VBF), which will generate revenue through green products and services, to help sustain the Learning Grounds and create new livelihood streams predicated directly on the conservation of nature. While a great deal of work needs to be done in 2017, and much greater levels of funding are needed, we take this moment to pause and celebrate all that has been achieved this past year with extremely modest funding. We also salute to volunteerism and hard work of the local communities who are building the Vertical University and ensuring it sustains for many years. Thank you ----THE KTK-BELT TEAM
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2016 BY THE NUMBERS Chure inventory of 660 unique fauna species developed, and programmed into a special “BELT plant app�
conservation
Habitat mapping of Pangolin as the keystone species of Yangshila VDC Research of critically endangered species across KTK region
Climate+ Change exhibit held in partnership with Photo.Circle Exhibit of the Vertical University Project
education
Research into the current curriculum K-12 Partnership with Habeli to start developing an outdoor education curriculum
42 families enrolled in the BELT farmers program and trained in permaculture design
livelihoods
Employed 38 local people including 32 builders and agriculture technicians, 4 BELT fellows and 2 land plot managers
KTK-BELT admin + operations: $ 17,666 (13%) 8
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Mapping of 150 natural springs that have declined due to climate change Launched KTK-BELT’s Indigenous Knowledge Portal (IKP) and shot and edited the first 15 videos of Yangshila’s farmers discussing medicinal uses of local plants
$ 65,330 (48.2%) Additional 386 ropanis (48.5 acres) of land added to the land trust out of which 189 ropanis (24 acres) was donated by the community Total 359 trees planted of 40 unique fruit and nut trees in four nurseries
$44,457 (32.8%) Engaged nine schools to become BELT partner schools in Yangshila
Began construction of educational infrastructure in four Learning Grounds
Design and development of Six BELT Campuses
Design and development of a prototype 2.6 km educational plant trail in Sikti Forest
$ 7,918 (6%)
Registration of Four Learning Grounds Chapters
Started construction of one ecoguest house for future ecotourism
Created a business plan for the first BELT product, a soap bar using himalayan soap nut
Registration and activation of the Vertical Biodiversity Fund as the long term sustainability mechanism
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SECTION 02 Conservation Impact Our approach to conservation is to tackle root causes of biodiversity and habitat loss such as the lack of rural livelihoods, inadequate research, planning and inventory work, and a wide scale lack of awareness about the unlimited ecosystem services provided by nature. We tackle these complex root causes by first training local people, particularly youth, in how to map, monitor and inventory biodiversity by interviewing local farmers and using plant keys and reference materials. In 2016, KTK-BELT helped identify 660 locally found plants, loaded these species on an easy-to-use BELT plant app which we created, and launched an Indigenous Knowledge Platform (IKP) which will feature farmers talking about the uses of hundreds of locally important flora species. KTK-BELT believes in the use and effectiveness of land trusts. Therefore, in 2016 we supported Yangshila Learning Grounds, Tamur Learning Grounds, and Koshi Tappu Learning Grounds to safeguard a total of approximately 50 acres of conservation land trust in the form of small pieces of habitat which help link much larger forests and wetlands to expand wildlife corridors and safeguard species. In 2016, we decided to amplify our work on keystone species. In Yangshila alone we discovered through our research that the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal (pangolin), reptile (Golden Monitor Lizard) and plant (Indian Rosewood) are all found in this one community. In response to the recent call to action by IUCN to safeguard the world’s last remaining pangolin species, we tool on a research study into the root causes of pangolin decline discovering that the species was being lost due to poaching, illegal trade, and a lack of awareness about the evolutionary significance of pangolin and the incredible ecosystem services they provide to forests and people. Our strategy for conserving the species therefore has focused largely on public education and engaging youth in a positive dialogue. KTK-BELT will be targeting 5 other keystone species across the KTK-BELT and developing similar public awareness campaigns to safeguard the species. In 2017, KTK-BELT is hoping to work with Cameras4Conservation and other groups to set up camera traps to capture footage of pangolins which can be used to educate local people. Billboards will also be set up to deter poachers and remind violators of the strict penalties and jail sentences involved in poaching. However, our approach is more about engaging the potential poachers in a dialogue and integrating them in conservation work in the future.
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This past year, we also began our plantations in the Learning Grounds, planting nearly 100 varieties of new trees and plants to increase native biodiversity and help support farmers with nurseries for fruit, nut and spice trees that can provide economic, dietary and other benefits. These plantations are being designed along permaculture principles. We carried out the first permaculture training with Rishi Adhikari from Nepal Permaculture Group to the first group of 42 BELT Farmers, to begin to sensitize people to the negative impacts of GMOs and chemical-based agriculture. While decline of water resources is usually seen in terms of impact on humans, we have been striving in Kurule-Tenupa to draw awareness about aquatic biodiversity and the nexus to climate change and groundwater decline. In 2017, we will begin the construction of a Learning Grounds in Bhaisetar village to function as an aquatic biodiversity research station of the KTK-BELT. It will also engage in further research and demonstration work on revival of springs using very low-cost, low-tech solutions such as digging recharge chambers to counteract impacts of climate change on groundwater in the middle hill region of eastern Nepal.
$ 65,330 (48.2%) Chure inventory of 660 unique fauna species developed, and programmed into a special “BELT plant app” Habitat mapping of Pangolin as the keystone species of Yangshila VDC Research of critically endangered species across KTK region Launched KTK-BELT’s Indigenous Knowledge Portal (IKP) and shot and edited the first 15 videos of Yangshila’s farmers discussing medicinal uses of local plants
Mapping of 150 natural springs that have declined due to climate change Additional 386 ropanis (48.5 acres) of land added to the land trust out of which 189 ropanis (24 acres) was donated by the community Total 359 trees planted of 40 unique fruit and nut trees in four nurseries
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BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY By creating an online, geo-tagged database of fauna and flora found across the KTK-BELT, a comprehensive ‘cloud’ database will be created to highlight conservation priorities and aid in project planning. Plant species will be tagged to activate experiential learning opportunities in the landscape, and special habitats for birds, amphibians, reptiles and other groups will be highlighted using informational signage in English and Nepali language. This process will help identify unknown species and fill data gaps by shaping new research directions. A more comprehensive biological audit working with local youth, scientists and the Department of Plant Resources in Nepal, is also being organized which will feed into the database and the BELT App.
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TEAM: Priyanka Bista, Rajeev Goyal, Wangchu Bhutia, Ganga Limbu, Pravin Thakur
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In 2017, we hope to double the number of species in the database and make the App downloadable.
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Youth fellow Ganga Limbu spent hundreds of hours working with international volunteers, Conrad Schloer, Xaver Kandler, and Walter Morselli to help design the BELT App and sort biodiversity-related data.
Volunteers: Xaver Kandler, Conrad Schloer, Walter Morselli
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Trail mapping the biodiversity
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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Communit
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KEYSTONE SPECIES RESEARCH Six flagship species that are vulnerable (VU) endangered (EN) or critically endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List found in the KTK-BELT will be correlated to each of the 6 campuses of the Vertical University as a public conservation priority. The species will be selected based on issues of how neglected the species is in existing conservation paradigms, the extent of threat and whether or not it can be considered a keystone species. First Flagship Species: The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) With the recent decision by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to place all eight global species of Pangolin on Cites Appendix I, KTK-BELT has decided to focus on conservation of this 65 million year old species which is still found in Yangshila VDC, though being driven into extinction by illegal trade. A community-based research was conducted by KTK-BELT program officer Wangchu Bhutia to understand the habitat location of pangolins throughout Yangshila. Research has illustrated that around 200 pangolins belonging to the Indian and Chinese species, have been killed in the last 4 years (2012-2106) and the population has declined to 25 % with estimated population or just 40-50 organisms left in the wild. It was further realized that there is a profound lack of awareness of the importance of the ecosystem services provided by pangolin and its connection to water conservation and termite control. Based on this, our strategy is to educate communities about pangolins, create public billboards deterring poachers and traders, and sign up ‘BELT Farmers’ who commit to not only refraining from pangolin hunting but also reporting any illegal activity.
Team: Rajeev Goyal, Wangchu Bhutia, Ganga Limbu 14
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Map showing the location of habitats of pangolins in Yangshila
Pangolin tunnel
Termite mounds where pan
angolin habitats are normally found Pangolin scales being harvested for illegal trade
Pangolin paws KTK-BELT PROJECT
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SPRINGS RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY It is now a well-known fact that more than a million groundwater springs, the main water source for millions of farmers in the Himalayas, are declining due to complex impacts of climate change, land use change, and rural road construction. The declining springs issue is having catastrophic impacts of human agriculture and food systems as well as on biodiversity. In 2016, KTK-BELT assisted a local community in Kurule-Tenupa establish a new Learning Grounds organization focused on revival of springs along the Tamur watershed in Dhankuta using low-tech solutions such as digging of recharge chambers. Research carried out by Lokendra Yakha and Rajeev Goyal in 2012-2013 revealed that more than 150 natural springs had partially or completely dried in Kurule and in fact in many of the surrounding villages as well. KTK-BELT laid the groundwork for initiating work in Kurule with the design of the Tamur Learning Grounds campus and setting up of an office space in Bhaisetar village on the banks of the Tamur. Furthermore, Tamur Learning Grounds was supported to create a 15-acre Learning Grounds along the river, where land grabbing has proliferated. KTK-BELT held its first exhibit in Kurule as part of the Climate + Change program which raised local awareness among hundreds of local school children and farmers about the issues of climate change.
Mapping of dried springs in Kurule-Tenupa
TEAM:
Priyanka Bista, Sanam Pradhan, Rajeev Goyal
Partner:
Kishor Sharma and Bhushan Shilpakar, photo.circle
FUNDING PARTNER: Living Earth Institute
Climate + Change exhibit in Yangshila VDC 16
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Climate + Change exhibit in Kurule-Tenupa
Climate + Change exhibit in Kurule-Tenupa KTK-BELT PROJECT
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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE PORTAL Indigenous knowledge is an under-valued and largely ignored system of place-based information. The nature of indigenous knowledge places it at threat of disappearance, just as is the case with local languages, crafts and artisanship. The Indigenous Knowledge Portal (IKP) was created by KTK-BELT and its Learning Grounds partners in 2016 to attempt to capture, display, celebrate and conserve the incredibly intricate array of local knowledge held by farmers from all walks of life in the KTK-BELT landscape. It was also an attempt to portray the kinds of knowledge that have helped millions of farmers adapt to climate change and exist ‘off the grid’ without pharmaceutical medicines and without marketplace products for generations. It is the kind of locally produced and perpetuated knowledge system that represents true resilience. With training support by Rajan Shrestha, local youth learned how to shoot videos, edit footage and compile the first 15 Indigenous Knowledge videos where local farmers discuss the myriad medicinal and other uses of local plants such as aloe vera and basil. The farmers also tell stories from their own personal histories and narratives about the role these plants have held in their own survival.
TEAM: Rajeev Goyal, Kumar Bishwakarma, Ganga Limbu, Durga Kattel
Recording of Indigenous Knowledge Portal
Volunteers: Walter Morselli, Xaver Kandler
Editor: Rajan Shrestha, film-maker
sponsor: CartoDB (free GIS mapping storage)
Designs of the Indigenous Knowledge Portal website 18
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‘Before joining this project, I didn’t even know how to send an email. Now, I’ve helped build a plant database, launched an indigenous knowledge portal, and used advanced programs like Adobe Premiere, GIS, Autocad, and Kobo Toolbox. One day, I hope to be able to train other young girls interested in science and technology to pursue their careers.’ Ganga Limbu, 22 GIS, Conservation Research and Media Fellow
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Field visit in Habeli Outdoor Learning Center
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EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST With 150 acres of conservation land already protected, the aim is to safeguard an additional 850 acres of habitat area in the plains, Chure, Mahabharat hills, and sub-alpine and alpine Himalayas in the form of Learning Grounds, through land acquisition and donation. Our belief is that even a small piece of habitat, if strategically positioned, can safeguard species by linking much larger primary forests and wetlands together into a cohesive whole. This past year, despite major fundraising challenges, KTK-BELT expanded its Learning Grounds land in Koshi Tappu, Yangshila, KuruleTenupa, and Sankhuwasabha. In Chauki, local residents have actually donated 35 acres of land to create a special Learning Grounds focused on local rhododendron and Himalayan Yew trees, both of which have numerous medicinal properties and are known to live for thousands of years. As per KTK-BELT’s policies, local non-profit organizations were registered and the land was acquired for the Learning Grounds partners to hold in perpetuity, with oversight by the Social Welfare Council of the Nepal Government. In 2017 and 2018, KTK-BELT is seeking to raise funds to expand the conservation land base by 850 acres which would be linked by the Vertical University trail.
TEAM:
Rajeev Goyal, Wangchu Bhutia, Lokendra Yakkha, Kumar Bishwakarma
Kurule-Tenupa LG 22
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Rhododendron forest in Chauki Learning Grounds
Yangshila LG
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Uday Lo in Chauki Learning Grounds 24
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‘The Tinjure-Milkhe Jhaljhale Rhododendron conservation area is one of the most unique habitats in all of South Asia, with the highest density of rhododendron species in Nepal. In Chauki, we decided to contribute our ancestral land- a total of 200 ropanis of land- to create a Learning Grounds here, to revitalize a new kind of eco-tourism and also scientific research on the incredible trees found here, some of which are thousands of years old and have cancer-fighting properties.’ Uday Kumar Lo Founding Director, Chauki Learning Grounds
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LEARNING GROUNDS PLANTATIONS Working with Everything Organic nursery in Kavre, KTK-BELT was able to set up fruit, nut, and spice nurseries in Maharaje Learning Grounds (1,400 masl), as a resource center for local farmers. The survival rate of the species planted was 100%, and includes varieties of grapes, almonds, walnut, apple, pears, avocado, macadamia, lavendar, thyme, rosemary, kale, tomatoes, peppers and other species along principles of permaculture design, using organic compost. In Rangcha (500 masl), a tropical village with many varieties of fruit, bamboo and local staple crops, Wangchu Bhutia worked with local farmers to plant over 150 trees including betel nut, mangosteen, jackfruit, mango, and papaya, as well as clove and other native species species. Rangcha will be developed into a tropical permaculture garden with hundreds of fruit, vegetable, spice, bamboo and other varieties. In 2017, vermi-compost, solar drying, and solar power technology will be installed. A major seed bank for the eastern region will also be created. In Takure village (1400 masl), a temperate permaculture farm is being developed with species of lemon, rhododendron, orchids, broom plant, and other native and non-native species planted along permaculture design principles. Barley, a previously grown staple is being revived in the Takure Learning Grounds, which will enable production of local beer.
Maharajey plot
TEAM:
Rajeev Goyal, Wangchu Bhutia, Kumar Bishwakarma
Rangcha plantations 26
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Composting
Rangcha plantations KTK-BELT PROJECT
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‘Koshi Tappu is a true gem of Nepal. People travel here from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of a rare bird. But Nepali children and youth, even those who live nearby, don’t know about the biodiversity found here. Koshi Tappu Learning Grounds will teach thousands of youth about this incredible wetland and the global movements of hundreds of bird species that come here to nest.’ Raj Kumar Singh Koshi Tappu Bird Guide 28
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Raj Kumar Singh in Koshi Tappu Bird Reserve KTK-BELT PROJECT
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SECTION 03 EDUCATION Impact We believe strongly in place-based emergent education that can create as much diversity of educational experience as the diversity of the local landscapes themselves. Our approach is not to change the existing curriculums, but to find footholds and anchor points in the curriculum to insert opportunities to take children out of the classroom into the local Learning Grounds, to teach not just biodiversity and science but also the arts, music, literature, mathematics, history and a variety of other subjects. In 2016, facilitated by Reshu Aryal of Habeli Outdoor Learning Center in Kakani, we held the first interaction session where all schools across Yangshila, both public and private, came together to discuss an integrated strategy for outdoor education. The community forest user groups were also consulted to open up their forests as educational plant trails for the local schools connecting different Learning Grounds. A plant trail prototype area of 2.6 sq km was identified and mapped out as the first prototype for teaching about hte Chure landscape in Yangshila. 440 different plant species have been mapped, researched, and translated to create plant tags across the trails. In 2016, we also held three exhibits in the local Learning Grounds in Yangshila and Kuruletenupa in partnership with photo.circle. Over 500-800 students from across Yangshila and Kurule-Tenupa VDCs participated, clearly highlighting the need for outdoor education opportunities. To attract young people to conservation, our strategy is to use design and architecture to create ‘Living Classrooms’ in the community Learning Grounds to inspire young people. Local villages in Nepal tend not to have adequate libraries, play and recreation spaces, or land-based learning centers, despite the centrality of agriculture in rural life. Our Learning Grounds therefore aim to create eco-libraries, training centers and natural play spaces to cultivate a love and appreciation of wild habitat. The cornerstone of the Vertical University is its 6 campuses. In 2016, we began construction of the Yangshila campus and established the land base for the campuses of Koshi Tappu, Kurule, and Sankhuwasabha. The campuses will be built as carbon-neutral, organic, sustainably powered centers of environmental learning. They will serve as the hubs for collection of local knowledge and function as training centers for regional youth. The construction sites have also become teaching platforms for the next generation of builders from the local communities. These are young people who would’ve otherwise migrated abroad to work in low-paying jobs under dangerous and often times lifethreatening conditions. Working in large starchitect projects, these builders would’ve remained annonymous sacrificing their lives. We are working in collaboration with them and engaging them at every step to enable them to learn about sustainable construction 30
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techniques, architectural design, spatial planning and construction drawing. We hope they will not just become educated builders but participants in designing the Learning Grounds. For the first time, our construction sites have employed equal gender representation receiving equal payments.
$44,457 (32.8%) Climate+ Change exhibit held in partnership with Photo.Circle Exhibit of the Vertical University Project
Design and development of Six BELT Campuses
Research into the current curriculum K-12 Partnership with Habeli to start developing an outdoor education curriculum
Began construction of educational infrastructure in four Learning Grounds
Engaged nine schools to become BELT partner schools in Yangshila
Design and development of a prototype 2.6 km educational plant trail in Sikti Forest
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exhibits and awareness programs The first bi-annual conferences and exhibits were held in Yangshila to stimulate discussion and create awareness around critical local issues such as poaching, illegal trade, youth out-migration, gender discrimination, encroachment, deforestation, wetland degradation climate change to influence local and national practices and policies. In 2017, we will be holding new exhibits focused on flagship species and the Indigenous Knowledge Portal (IKP). The concept is to have exhibits move upstream and downstream from Learning Grounds to Learning Grounds, to enhance knowledge and cooperation. These exhibits will also be venues to sign up additional BELT Farmers.
Nighure Learning Grounds Exhibit April 2016 KTK-BELT held a major community exhibit revealing each of the designs of Yangshila’s 22 Learning Grounds and eliciting community feedback and ideas. The exhibit was attended by over 500 local farmers and engaged more than 800 local students from 9 schools. It also illustrated how Learning Grounds can facilitate community learning, discussion and education. The exhibit was supported by Robotics Association of Nepal (RAN) which helped incorporate virtual reality and motion sensors. Exhibit about the Learning Grounds in Nighure
Climate + Change exhibit in Yangshila and Kurule-Tenupa in June 2016 This powerful, interactive exhibit included photographs of local impacts on the Majhi community in Kurule, from award-winning photographer Kishor Sharma. The exhibit was shown at the local high school in Kurule and also in Yangshbla’s Rangcha Learning Grounds.
PARTNERS: photo.circle, climate + change exhibit
FUNDING PARTNER: Living Earth Institute Government schools visit the Learning Grounds 32
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developing an outdoo
Government schools visit the Climate+ Change exhibit
Government school students visit the Learning Grounds KTK-BELT PROJECT
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OUTDOOR EDUCATION CURRICULUM In 2016, we conducted extensive analysis of the existing Nepalese education curriculum to find anchors and entry points to bridge environmental education. Based on this we began design of special modules tied to the 22 Learning Grounds in Yangshila. We also started to tag local species along this trail to highlight the properties of native species that local people may have ignored or under-valued. In this way, our education work will help advance conservation goals. In 2016, we also set up our first climate monitoring station and designed our first community permaculture farm which will essentially be a village classroom to teach organic agriculture principles in a demonstrative way. Our view to education is to move beyond book learning and to consider economically viable forms of training and capacity building which will also bolster conservation goals. Durga Kattel, KTK-BELT’s environmental education fellow, supported by Habeli Outdoor Learning Center and local teachers, will help create a pilot program in Yangshila that can be replicated all over the VDC and in the other regions of the KTK-BELT landscape.
TEAM:
Possible interpretive point on the trail: Wild bee-hive was seen in the Simal tree, this tree looked quite big and old. So, it can be a place of comparative study of trees of different heights around the world such as the Red Woods in California.
Priyanka Bista, Kumar Bishwakarma, Durga Kattel, Ganga Limbu Consultant: Shirine Habash
partner:
Reshu Aryal, Habeli outdoor learning centre
Possible interpretive point on the trail: Different shapes on the old trees was observed .So, it can be helpful in giving the evolutionary information of the old log and teach the process of disintegration of trees to the students. For example, it can be assumed that many years later the log might become a diamond by compression from earth. 34
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Reshu Aryal with Durga Kattel speaking about the different interpretive points and the educational possibilities inherent in each point.
Termite mound found in the trail suggesting a possible pangolin habitat around and the interconnection between the two. KTK-BELT PROJECT
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BELT SCHOOLS PROGRAM Just as we have created a ‘BELT Farmers Program’ which consists of a give-and-take approach where farmers make certain commitments in exchange for training and support by KTK-BELT, this past year we also launched a BELT Schools Program. The intent of the program is to assist interested schools in implementation of outdoor education programs including teacher support, resource and material development, design of school grounds, and participation in eco-trips to places like Koshi Tappu, and camping activities in the KTK-BELT. So far 9 schools have been engaged and the first cohort of teachers are being involved in the initiative.
TEAM:
Rajeev Goyal, Kumar Bishwakarma, Durga Kattel, Ganga Limbu
partner:
Reshu Aryal Dhungana, Habeli outdoor learning centre
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Field trip visit and case study of Habeli Outdoor Learning Center as a model for developing various interpretive points as well as Learning Grounds.
“I had only heard of outdoor education concepts in America where they took children to a pumpkin farm. Here, we’re starting to imagine ways in which we will integrate nature into our curriculum and take our students into nature. Although I don’t know much about this philosophy and also this way of teaching, I am really excited to start learning.” Basudev Paudel, Nepali Teacher Sabitri Secondary High School, Yangshla BELT Schools Partner KTK-BELT PROJECT
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‘After years of teaching, I finally feel like I’ve found my path. I never realized that as a teacher, I can teach math, science, physics in nature. I look forward to learning about ways in which I can bring nature into Yangshila’s classrooms and also kids into our Learning Grounds.’ Durga Kattel, 26 BELT Outdoor Education Fellow Durga Kattel leading a student group while explaining climate change issues in Kurule-Tenupa VDC.
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Kanchenjunga campus +4660 m
belt campuses The Vertical University will have six major campuses, each at a different elevation and focused on a different theme. Each campus of the BELT will have its own community resource center, serving as a multi-purpose community space for research, education, demonstration, conservation, design, and many other uses. These resource centers will serve as the ‘mainframes’ where monitoring data can be synthesized. Small satellite stations will be outfitted in each of the campuses to monitor temperature, humidity, and other physical parameters, assisting with climate change research. These bio-stations will also have a user interface allowing community members to provide observational data such as bird counts.
Thudam campus + 3666m
Khandbari campus + 866 m
This past year, we identified the locations of the 6 campuses, defined the themes and even embarked on designing the campuses themselves. Kurule-tenupa campus + 300- 1600 m Each campus will contain small footprint guest houses in the form of micro-pods designed by the BELT studio design team. Storing seeds, which is a traditional practice, is critical for protecting against natural disasters and loss of agricultural biodiversity, which is extremely rich in eastern Nepal. In Situ conservation within the campuses along with arboretums will provide another means of seed conservation within the BELT. Yangshila campus +190-1950 m
TEAM:
Priyanka Bista, Marco Cestarroli, Rajeev Goyal
Koshi-tappu campus + 67 m
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Map showing the diversity of the Vertical University and the six key anchor points KTK-BELT PROJECT
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learning grounds design and build Over the past year, most of our work concentrated on acquiring land for the local Learning Grounds, creating a concept for the Learning Grounds, and engaging local communities in the stewardship and design of the Learning Grounds. This year, our signature project was the Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds which will function as a youth training space, ICT lab for research and media work and a place where biodiversity data will be stored. We also began development of Rangcha Learning Grounds, where more than 11,000 compressed earth bricks, with extremely low embedded carbon, climatically adapted, were created. We also created fencing of our Learning Grounds using local bamboo and engaged local labor. All of these construction and design activities have engaged local youth and farmers in income generating activities, which has led to additional support and interest among communities in the project.
TEAM:
Priyanka Bista, Marco Cestarolli, Sunil Shakya, Anish Shakya, Karna Magar
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Design rendering of Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds
Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds construction
Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds construction
Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds construction
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Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds
Our Learning Grounds also operate as hubs for education where we will be training students, teachers, youth and farmers. Pragati Chowk Learning Grounds will become the first of such multi-purpuse hub that will function as a plant classroom, an ICT and media lab and a training centre. The architecture has been designed to embrace the landscape cues as a viewing platform for the Charkoshe jhari (an eight mile forest). We are also using the construction process as a teaching platform to teach local builders about construction techniques, spatial planning, architectural detailing and design. They’re taking additional architectural lessons to learn drawing, drafting and modeling techniques. All with the hope that one day, they are not just the builders but also the designers and creators of their Learning Grounds. These are the same migrant workers who would’ve worked in life-threatening and harsh conditions as anonymous low-level labour workers in Gulf countries. We want to instill in them the belief that, despite gender, caste or education level, if they are interested in participating in the design process, they can learn anything they put their heart and minds into. With every aspect of our project, we want to move away from the paternalistic view of development work where local Nepalis are portrayed as vulnerable subjects rather than co-creators and collaborators. 44
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educational plant trails development
LOWER BELT PLANT TRAIL YANGSHILA VDC PANGOLIN EXHIBIT AREAS
An ongoing tagging of plant species will help create three critical plant walks/corridors integrating monitoring stations, permaculture farms, community forests, and other conservation infrastructure. These walks will be developed in the lower, middle and upper regions of the BELT and showcase the unique landscape.
Aapdanda forest monitoring station
In 2017, a 10-KM plant trail will be developed once the initial 2.6 KM lower BELT trail is finished. Upon that, we will link Yangshila to Kurule-Tenupa by defining a trail, which will help give connectivity across the lower BELT. The Plant Trail will also be used in 2017 for ecotrips to help generate revenue to further the KTKBELT project’s objectives, and make the project more self-sustaining in the longterm.
TEAM:
Priyanka Bista, Rajeev Goyal, Anish Shakya, Sanam Pradhan, Pabitra Magar
Lower BELT plant trail map
Learning Ground
Pangolin Exhibit Area
Plant app that can be used as a guide to walk in the trail. 46
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First point in Salghari Forest
Aaptar LG Dhuskute LG Salghari Forest Viewpoint
Campground Outdoor classroom Swimming hole Simalgahiri Food forest Budhikhola viewpoint Nighure BELT campus
Asarefedi Rock LG
Pragati Chowk LG
Rangcha LG
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SECTION 04 livelihoods Impact We believe in rural livelihood strategies that fortify the protection of nature and arrest rural outmigration of young people, by employing locally and providing training opportunities. Whether people realize it or not, their livelihood, regardless of if they work on a computer or a farm, depends fundamentally on biodiversity and the cohesion of ecological habitats. Our aim therefore is to demonstrate and tighten this connection between the conservation of nature and local economies. We see upstream and downstream linkages as critical towards building this interconnected economy, and diversifying opportunities. Pursuant to our ‘place-based’ strategy and adhering to our core principle of eschewing ‘mono-culture’ and building value out of diversity, KTK-BELT is focusing on the development of several products including a soap bar that would have many essential oils in it and use Himalayan Soap Nut or ‘ritha.’ Other products may include local paper, fiber and creams, which would have local, regional and international trade opportunities and would aid in conservation of endangered flora of the region. In terms of services, the low hanging fruit is eco-tourism. Our Learning Grounds, plant trails and forests all lend themselves to a unique brand of tourism focused on educating people about native plants. In 2016, we laid the foundation for this by starting construction of our first eco-guesthouse structure and plant trail. In 2017, we hope to hold our first eco-trips and generate revenue to reduce grant dependence of the Learning Grounds. To arrest rural outmigration, perhaps the greatest social issue of modern Nepal and other countries in South Asia, KTK-BELT is building an initial cadre of 60 Youth Fellows ages 18-35 who we identify as having potential to be tomorrow’s conservation and design leaders. They will run the Vertical University and their pooled talent and skills will sustain and enrich it for decades. So far, we have identified and trained the first 4 out of 60 BELT Youth Fellows, given them a stipend and trained them at every opportunity we have had. Ganga Limbu was trained in film and editing, software, and design. Sanam Pradhan was trained in rammed earth and compressed stabilized earth brick (CSEB) competencies working with Conscious Impact. Durga Kattel is being trained in environmental education working with Habeli Outdoor Learning Center. Pabitra Magar has been trained in carpentry and compressed earth brick construction.
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Our belief is that conservation can be a job-creator for youth and can help arrest rural outmigration and reduce unemployment and under-employment of youth by providing socially and environmentally valuable livelihood opportunities where none previously existed. Our approach to livelihood is therefore to build a system that can be expanded and replicated which will create natural incentives to protect endangered biodiversity and habitats. In addition to the fellows program, we are also recruiting and training BELT farmers, farmers committed to a sustainable approach to farming and conservation. As farmers receive little to no support from the government, we are trying to add to the support system to allow farmers to stay in their villages as well as to move towards an organic and sustainable direction.
livelihoods: $ 7,918 (6%) 42 families enrolled in the BELT farmers program and trained in permaculture design
Registration and activation of the Vertical Biodiversity Fund as the long term sustainability mechanism
Employed 38 local people including 32 builders and agriculture technicians, 4 BELT fellows and 2 land plot managers
Created a business plan for the first BELT product, a soap bar using himalayan soap nut
Registration of Four Learning Grounds Chapters
Started construction of one eco-guest house for future eco-tourism
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learning grounds registration and expansion Learning Grounds chapters across the eastern region have been established to own, design and manage the Learning Grounds across the region. Each Learning Grounds chapter represents the communities from the region with equal gender representation. KTK-BELT has helped register four such Learning Grounds over the course of the past year.
Team: YPLG: Kumar Bishwakarma Tamur Learning Grounds: Lokendra Yakkha SLG: Karma Bhutia
Photo of Tinjure Milke Jhaljhale Learning Grounds
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Kurule-Tenupa
SANKHUWASABHA LEARNING GROUNDS Khandbari, Sankhuwasabha District Eastern Region of Nepal
chauki LEARNING GROUNDS Nepal office Chauki, Eastern Region of Nepal
koshi-tappu LEARNING GROUNDS Nepal office Koshi-Tappu, Nepal
KANCHENJUNGA LEARNING GROUNDS Nepal office Khandbari, Sankhuwasabha District Eastern Region of Nepal
Tamur permaculture LEARNING GROUNDS Bhaisetaar village, Kurule-Tenupa VDC Eastern Region of Nepal
YANGSHILA PERMACULTURE LEARNING GROUNDS
House #2, Satishale Village Yangshila VDC, Morang District, Nepal
Thudam, Chepuwa VDC
Koshi-Tappu
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BELT FARMER PROGRAM KTK-BELT created this program in 2016 to target local farmers and build their capacity for conservation, obtaining in exchange commitments to mitigate poaching, land grabbing and habitat loss. We adopt a two-way approach of investing in training, capacity building and other “software� so as to build the talent and capacity of individuals and institutions, while also obtaining certain commitments or promises from the farmer which help advance larger conservation goals and expand our team on the ground. Each BELT Farmer received a special BELT farmer card which contains a QR code allowing KTK-BELT to track their volunteer activities and conservation contributions. Farmers can receive points which entitle them to special benefits and opportunities, making the BELT farmer program a merit-based system. They have signed a contract committing to not selling their land holdings for a period of seven years, committing to conservation of endangered fauna and flora of their geographic regions, monitoring their local Learning Grounds, providing one day a month volunteer work for their local Learning Grounds, moving towards organic farming, creating their own learning grounds within their farmsteads. In return, KTK-BELT and YPLG supports them with on-site trainings in permaculture, organic farming, bio-intensive farming, exposure visits to national and international farms. We will also support them with plant materials and small seed funding relating to sustainable farming techniques. They have unrestricted access to all Learning Grounds facilities such as eco-libraries, meeting halls, reading spaces and other community infrastructure. We provide technical expertise and assist with finding suitable markets under the KTK-BELT label.
Team: Kumar Bishwakarma, Rajeev Goyal, Wangchu Bhutia
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Photos of all BELT farmers from Yangshila VDC
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BELT FELLOWS PROGRAM The BELT fellows program was developed to recruit, train and build capacity of 60 youth fellows to lead in various areas of the project. Arresting rural out-migration is one of the core objectives of the project. A total of sixty youth will be supported to gain skills in different competences under the rubric of conservation and sustainable entrepreneurship. These skills will include design, eco-agriculture, media, IT, environmental policy, eco-tourism and hospitality, among other skills that will create youthful capacity across the BELT. So far the first 5 youth fellows have been trained in construction/ design, hospitality, outdoor education and conservation/GIS. The BELT youth fellows program adopts the philosophy of not overspecializing youth, while still outlining directions and focal areas.
Team: Priyanka Bista, Pema Bhutia, Ganga Limbu
partner: Conscious Impact, Photo.circle
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Training in Rangcha Learning Grounds about compressed earth brick production
Trainings in architectural drawing to the design-build team KTK-BELT PROJECT
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Training of Pabitra Magar in Compressed earth brick production in Sindhupalchowk with Conscious Impact Photo: Johnathan Lee, Conscious Impact 56
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‘Ever since I was a child, I’ve been interested in building things. Unlike my sisters, I was always attracted to building tools. It was odd for a girl to be interested in construction in my village but I just couldn’t help myself. All I wanted to do, was build. It’s exciting to be a part of this project, because each day I’m learning more construction techniques from earth brick construction to carpentry to stone masonry. Although I only have second grade education, I am also forcing myself these days to learn how to use a measuring tape, scale, calculator in order to draw proper architectural drawings. I can’t deny that I feel like giving up on learning this everyday but I have continued with the hope that if I keep trying, maybe one day I will learn to read construction drawings and perhaps even make my own. ‘ Pabitra Magar, 26 Thumki village, Yangshila BELT Construction Fellow
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Board of directors: Priyanka Bista, Rajeev Goyal, Ganga Limbu, Wangchu Bhutia, Durga Kattel, Karma Bhutia, Lokendra Yakkha
Accounting, Admin + Legal team Tula Kandel, Shankar Bhusal, Pema Bhutia
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EXTERNAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE
DONORS Karuna Foundation UIAA Atkinson Centre Saraf Foundation Prince Bernhard Nature Fund Living Earth Institute
TECHNICAL ADV Masha Etkind Bill Dowell Dr. Greg Greenwo Jay Halfon esq Sanjeev Shercha Nayantara Kaksh
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Scott Skinner Dr. Jules White Priyanka Bista Rajeev K Goyal Varun Saraf
CO-DIRECTORS Rajeev K Goyal Priyanka Bista
BELT FELLOWS
KTK-BELT 501(C)(3)
In 2016, we also launched the Vertical Biodiversity Fund (VBF), to ensure longterm financial selfsustainability and self governance of the Vertical University. The mission of the Vertical Biodiversity Fund is to provide a sustainable flow of resources to support activities that contribute substantially to the conservation, protection and maintenance of biodiversity in eastern Nepal, by financially supporting the ongoing administrative operations, specific projects and activities, expansion of the Learning Grounds, youth training, to reduce donor dependence and make the BELT project 100% self-sufficient. It also aims to support higher level conservation initiatives of significance to all the Learning Grounds and people living in the KTK-BELT landscape. The Fund’s philosophy is that preserving wild nature is fundamental to human wellbeing. It posits that we must halt global and regional extinctions that are occurring by creating a place-based economy. The Fund believes that commodification of nature and shifting from forestry to mono-culture, chemical-based agriculture as having caused huge damage and deepened poverty and dependency. We believe in local and regional trade with limited carbon footprint. At the same time, irrespective of commerce or usefulness to people, the Fund believes in the innate, inherent value of all biodiversity and habitats. It focuses on the conservation of ecosystems, not just prioritized species. It sees the compatibility of human flourishing and conservation of nature as being rooted in creating systems, frameworks and incentives that are led by local people.
LEARNING GROUNDS NON-PROFIT COOPERATIVES
VERTICAL BIODIVERSITY FUND
YANGSHILA PERMACULTURE LEARNING GROUNDS Kumar Bishwakarma Kamal Bishwakarma Prem Karki Jesina Tamang
Ganga Limbu Dhanmaya Rai Sanam Pradhan
KURULE-TENUPA GROUNDS Lokendra Yakhha Ram Maya Majhi
VISORS
ood
Organogram of KTK-BELT project showing the linkage of the Vertical Biodiversity Fund with the rest of the system UNIVERSITY PARTNERS Cornell University Ryerson University Kathmandu University
NGO PARTNERS Photo.Circle Srijanalaya Everything Organic Nepal Permaculture Group Metal Shapers Conscious Impact
GOV MINISTRIES Nepal Planning Commission Ministry of Forestry & Soil Conservation NARC Ministry of Agriculture Department of Agriculture and Wildlife
LEGAL, ADMIN & ACCOUNTING Tula Kandel Pema Bhutia Shankar Bhusal
PLANT TEAM (1) Rajeev Goyal Wangchu Bhutia
DESIGN TEAM (3) Priyanka Bista Marco Cestarolli
an hyapati
n
A LEARNING
Durga Kattel Pabitra Magar Anila Rai
SANKHUWASABHA LEARNING GROUNDS Karma Bhutia Jyabo Bhutia Pala Bhutia Temba Bhutia
FUTURE BELT FELLOWS
CHAUKI LEARNING GROUNDS Uday Kumar Lo
FUTURE LEARNING GROUNDS
VERTICAL FUND $$$
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SECTION 05 financial breakdown
CONSERVATION 48.2%
EDUCATION 32.8%
livelihoods 6% admin + operations: 13%
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conservation-mapping+Research 1% Administrative & Operation Expenses 13% Livelihood-program coordination 2% capacity Building & Training place Based Education & Outdoor School program
4% 2% conservation-Land Trust 47%
Learning Grounds & plant Trails 31%
Programmatic Budget Breakdown
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Fund Accountability Statement For the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 Particular Sources of Fund Opening Fund Balance Total Opening Fund Balance (A) Fund Received during the year Fund Received from Donor Local Contributions Total Fund Received (B) Total Fund Available (C=A+B) Application of Fund Program Expenses Administration Expenses Total Application of Fund (D) Fund Balance (E=C-D) Other Income (F) Loan Received (G) Exchange Gain / (Loss) (H) Net Fund Balance (I=E+F+G+H)
Sch
Transaction Currency (NRs.)
1
4 5
-
Reporting Currency (USD) -
NPR NPR NPR NPR
13,708,186.00 1,200,000.00 14,908,186.00 14,908,186.00
128,114.00$ 11,215.00$ 139,329.00$ 139,329.00$
NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR
12,594,362.00 1,890,236.00 14,484,598.00 423,588.00 1,000.00 1,200,000.00 1,624,588.00
117,704.00$ 17,666.00$ 135,370.00$ 3,959.00$ 9.00$ 11,215.00$ - $ 15,183.00$
Closing Fund Balance Represented by: Cash Bank Receivables/Advances Fixed Assets Payables Total
2
* For Reporting Currency, USD 1 equivalents NRs. 107.
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NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR NPR
68,803.00 1,206,298.00 263,507.00 201,194.00 (115,214.00) 1,624,588.00
643.00$ 11,274.00$ 2,463.00$ 1,880.00$ 1,077.00$15,183.00$
Balance Sheet As on 31 December 2016
Sources of Funds
Sch
Contributory Capital Surplus Fund Loan Total Source of Funds
Transaction Currency (NRs.) NPR 424,588.00 NPR 1,200,000.00 NPR 1,624,588.00
Reporting Currency (USD) 3,968.00$ 11,215.00$ 15,183.00$
Application of Funds Fixed Assets (a) Gross Block Less: Accumulated Depreciation Net Block
3
NPR NPR NPR
226,455.00 25,261.00 201,194.00
Investments (b) Current Assets Advances and Receivables Cash Balance Bank Balance
Less: Current Liabilities & Provisions Outstanding Expenses Other Payables
-
2
NPR 263,507.00 NPR 68,803.00 NPR 1,206,298.00 NPR 1,538,608.00
2,116.00$ 236.00$ 1,880.00$ 2,463.00$ 643.00$ 11,274.00$ 14,380.00$
NPR NPR NPR
(115,214.00) 23,165.00 92,049.00
Net Current Assets (c)
NPR
1,423,394.00
13,303.00$
Total Application of Funds (a+b+c)
NPR 1,624,588.00
15,183.00$
2
1,077.00$216.00$ 860.00$
* For Reporting Currency, USD 1 equivalents NRs. 107.
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Income Statement For the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 Particulars
Sch
Transaction Currency (NRs.)
Reporting Currency (USD)
% Wise
Income Grant Income -Received by KTK-BELT Inc. Nepal -Received by YPLG Local Contribution Other Income Total Income
NPR 13,708,186.40 NPR 11,242,244.80 NPR 2,465,941.60 NPR 1,200,000.00 NPR 1,000.00 NPR 14,909,186.40
128,114.00$ 105,068.00$ 23,046.00$ 11,215.00$ 9.00$ 139,338.00$
91.94% 75.40% 16.54% 8.05% 0.01% 192%
Expenditure Program Expenses
NPR 12,594,362.00
117,704.00$
86.95%
1.Conservation Mapping + Research Land Trust
NPR NPR NPR
6,990,274.00 143,994.00 6,846,280.00
65,330.00$ 1,346.00$ 63,984.00$
48.26% 0.99% 47.27%
2. Education Learning Grounds & Plant Trail Place Based Education & Outdoor Schools program
NPR NPR NPR
4,756,893.50 4,436,128.50 320,765.00
44,457.00$ 41,459.00$ 2,998.00$
32.84% 30.63% 2.21%
3. Livelihoods Capacity Building + Training Program Coordination
NPR NPR NPR
847,194.00 543,894.00 303,300.00
7,918.00$ 5,083.00$ 2,835.00$
5.85% 3.75% 2.09%
Administrative Expenses
NPR
1,890,236.00
17,666.00$
13.05%
Staff Costs Operational Costs Total Expenditure
NPR NPR NPR NPR
460,260.00 1,429,976.00 14,484,598.00 424,588.40
4,301.00$ 13,364.00$ 135,370.00$ 3,968.00$
3.18% 9.87% 100.00% -
Excess of Income over Expenditure
*For Reporting Currency, USD 1 equivalents NRs. 107.
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KTK-BELT team at Taragaon Museum Office
SECTION 06 PROJECT TEAM & PARTNERS 66
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KTK BELT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rajeev K Goyal Co-Founder / Environmental Director Rajeev is the Co-Founder/ Environmental Director of KTK-BELT project. He is a graduate of Brown University, the New York University School of Law and has recently received a Masters in Agriculture at Cornell University. He is a lawyer, activist, rural-development worker, and former Peace Corps volunteer. Between 2008 to 2011, he was the national coordinator of the Push for Peace Corps Campaign. He is the author of ‘The Springs of Namje’ .
Priyanka Bista Co-Founder / Design Director Priyanka is the Design Director of KTK-BELT Project overseeing the architecture and planning arm of the project. She has post-graduate degrees in Architectural Regeneration and Shelter after Disaster along with a Bachelors in Architectural Science. She has worked for over three years at Diamond and Schmitt Architects in Toronto, most notably, her contributions were made towards the design of the Centre for Green Cities in the Don Valley Brickworks Revitalization project, National Arts Centre, Ottawa and the Regent Park Redevelopment project in Toronto. Her extended research and architectural experiences include Spain, Haiti, Israel and India. As a design and planning associate, she worked with Collaborative Media Advocacy Platform (CMAP) on the Human City Project (HCP) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Dr. Jules White Technical Director Dr. Jules White is the Technical Director of KTK-BELT. He is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Vanderbilt University and the Art Editor of the American Center for Artists. He has been volunteering on the Bhedetar project since 2003 as a donor and strategic advisor. He is supporting KTK-BELT with innovative integration of GIS and Android technology into village knowledge management systems.
Scott Skinner, Esq. Treasurer Scott is the Treasurer of KTK-BELT and also a co-founder of Phul Maya Foundation, the 501(c) (3) non-profit which is the fiscal agent of TLG. He is the founding partner and an attorney in Biggam, Fox & Skinner law firm for over 20 years. Before becoming a lawyer, Scott served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal from 1964-1966 and has continuously engaged on charitable projects in the country since that time. Within the model VDC project, Scott and his law partner Pat Biggam have fundraised and helped build five new primary schools in Bhedetar, numerous libraries, and water infrastructure projects.
VARUN SARAF BOARD MEMBER Varun Saraf is the Chairman of the Saraf Foundation for Himalayan Traditions and Culture and founder of numerous social impact and business ventures.
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ADVISORY BOARD Honorable Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay
Dr. Kamal Bawa Advisory Council Co-Chair Kamal Bawa is Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Founder-President of ATREE. Professor Bawa has published more than 200 scientific papers and 11 authored or edited books and monographs. Among the many awards he has received include the Giorgio Ruffolo Fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (2009), Charles Bullard (twice 1972, 2010) and Maria Moore Cabot Fellowships (1973) at Harvard University, Guggenheim Fellowship (1987), Pew Scholar in Conservation and the Environment (1992), the world’s first prize in sustainability--the Gunnerus Award in Sustainability Science from the Royal Norwegian Society of Letters and Sciences (2012), and the international MIDORI Prize in Biodiversity (2014) from the Aeon Foundation in Japan at the United Nations Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Dr. Bawa is an elected fellow of several science academies, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2012), the Royal Norwegian Society of Letters and Sciences (2012), and Royal Society of London (2015). He has headed or served on a number scientific panels, and he currently serves on the governing boards of several national and international organizations. His second coffee-table book, Himalaya: Mountains of Life, a sequel to Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats was published in January 2013.
Dr. Greg Greenwood Dr. Gregory B. Greenwood, a natural resources specialist trained in agricultural ecology, population ecology, and ruminant nutrition, is Executive Director of the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) in Berne, Switzerland. His mandate is to develop a strategy to increase and focus global change research in mountain regions throughout the world as part of IHDP and IGBP programs, and as a policy objective of the Swiss National Science Foundation. Greg Greenwood was previously Bioenergy and Climate Science Advisor for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resources/Science Advisor for the California Resources Agency, Sacramento. He has extensive experience with and publications on land use development and ecology, including global change in mountains.
Sanjeev M. Sherchan Sanjeev M. Sherchan is the Director for Global Leadership Initiatives at the Asia Society. In this capacity, Sherchan is primarily responsible for conceptualizing and overseeing all aspects of the Society’s global initiatives. He joined the Asia Society in the fall of 2000 as a Program Assistant in the policy department. Prior to that, before returning to the United States for graduate studies in 1998, Sherchan worked as a consultant for PLAN International in Nepal. In December 2008, he was one of the 60 National Democratic Institute (NDI) accredited foreign election monitors who observed voting and counting during Bangladesh’s Ninth Parliamentary Elections. He was deployed in the Jessore district in south western Bangladesh.
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William T. Dowell William Thatcher Dowell is a renowned author, journalist, translator and editor/producer. Between 1989 to 2001, Bill served as a correspondent with Time Magazine, where he was the Southeast Asia Bureau Chief from 1995 to 1997, based in Hong Kong. He spent 14 years in the Paris Bureau as a contract stringer, and prior to that was a TV correspondent for ABC News and NBC News, where he reported on and Associate Producer of NPR’s “All Things COnsidered.” Bill is the co-authored of In the Shadow of the Dragon, with Winter Nie at IMD. Most recently he was the co-editor of The Essential Edge.
NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati NayanTara is a photographer, curator and arts manager based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her work seeks to embrace themes such as change, identity, gender, and history within the context of ‘the New Nepal’. She enjoys working across platforms to connect visuals, sound, research, education, activism; using storytelling as an underlying approach. In 2007, she co-founded photo.circle, a photography platform that has fdacilitated learning, networking, publishing, marketing and other opportunities for Nepali photographers. In 2010, she co-founded the Nepal Picture Library; a digital photo archive that strives to document a ground-up history of the Nepali people.
Michael Leckman Born and educated in Montreal, Michael studied building science at Vanier College, and architecture at the University of Toronto. He joined Diamond Schmitt Architects in 1988, became associate in 1994, and Principal in 2003. In his more than 20 years with the firm, he has provided leadership on complex institutional projects, has helped shape a critical debate on design as Vice Chair of the City of Toronto Design Review Panel, contributed extensively to design education as a guest critic, lecturer and mentor at schools of architecture across Ontario. He is also an accomplished amateur photographer. Michael has been project principal for buildings in Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta, British Columbia and New Mexico. Currently, he is working on the new Law School for Thompson Rivers University, and the School of Fine and Performing Arts at Brock University.
Jay R. Halfon, Esq. Jay R. Halfon is a practicing attorney and public policy strategist. He represents tax-exempt organizations, including public charities,private foundations, advocacy groups and political entities. He has a broad range of experience influencing public policy in both Congress and state legislatures. Mr. Halfon served as executive director and general counsel of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association from May 1998 to December 2001. Previously he was executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) for a decade ending in 1997. He serves on the Board of numerous foundations including 350.org.
Masha Etkind Since 1989, Masha Etkind has been a professor in the Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University where she teaches Design, History and Theory of Architecture. Masha’s focus and area of expertise within the Department is Heritage Conservation: Theory and Practice. Before teaching at Ryerson, Masha worked with D. Malik Architects and Planners, and J. Michael Kirkl and Architects; she also worked in France, Russia and the USA. She is also an Adjunct Professor and a leading partner in the joint annual design studio at Azrieli School of Architecture, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
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KTK-BELT TECHNICAL TEAM MARCO CESTAROLLI, ARCHITECT Marco Cestarolli is young architect with a strong interest in alternative ways of conceiving architecture integrating sustainable technologies, vernacular forms, local knowledges and community imputs. After graduating with a master degree in Sustainable Architecture at the University IUAV of Venice, he worked for few years at the Dutch/Nigerian architetural firm NLÉ. During his studies and early work he developed a particular interest in the architectural possibilities offerd by developing countries and cities, different way of living such as costal communities and adaptation strategies to the changing climate.
Wangchu Bhutia Medicinal Plants Specialist Wangchu Bhutia, originally from Sankhuwasabha District, has joined our small team as a Medicinal Plants Specialist. With a Bachelors degree in Science, he has over seven years of experience in biodiversity conservation, NTFP cultivation, nursery management and ecotourism. He has worked with TMI, Red Panda network and other conservation agencies throughout remote regions of Nepal. Since his arrival, Wangchu has already documented and mapped over 400 different plant species within Yangshila. Currently he’s building an extensive database of scientific information of each plant to serve as a foundation for a GIS map, educational plant trails and a plant compendium. He will be critical member in expanding the BELT campaign beyond Yangshila VDC.
KARLA SOLIS GRANTS AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Ms Karla Solis has over four and a half years of experience in national trade strategy design, specialized on topics of youth, skills and gender. Prior to ITC, Karla worked for four years as a research assistant at the Social Sciences Faculty of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in topics such as international economics, international integration, bio-trade and sustainable development. Additionally, Ms Solis worked for two years as a Fellow on the Master of Biotrade and Sustainable Development at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Karla has also collaborated in the organization of international conferences (UNCTAD, WTO, Ministries, private sector, among others). Through this time she has helped execute activities with the Virtual Institute of UNCTAD and Red LATN (Latin American network about trade). She holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Economics from the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern. Ms Solis speaks Spanish, English and French.
Tula b kandel Legal Advisor, Nepal Tula Bahadur Kandel is a practicing attorney in Nepal Since 2000, he has served as an advocate of the court. Mr. Kandel completed his LLM from Kathmandu School of Law. Beside his legal practice Mr. Kandel has worked as consultant to various national and international organisations and also worked as a project director on a project of Nepal Bar Association and Canadian Bar Association in support of the First Constitutional Assembly of Nepal. Mr. Kandel specializes in establishing businesses for foreigner entities and immigration law. He has worked for numerous NGOs and INGOs on human rights and other issues.
Pema Lamu Bhutia Administrator and HR Coordinator Pema Lamu Bhutia, originally from Chepuwa VDC, Sankhuwasabha District, holds a Bachelors in English from Bundelkhand University in Jhansi. She has worked as an assistant teacher at Clifton Hall Boarding School and Kamalodaya Academy School. As KTK-BELT’s Administrator and HR Coordinator, she brings rigor and professionalism to the workplace.
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SHANKAR BHUSAL ACCOUNTANT Shankar is a qualified member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, UK). He also possesses a Bachelors degree in Business studies from Tribhuwan University and currently is pursuing his Masters. He has over three years of experience in an Audit firm, R.K. Associates, Chartered Accountants, as a Senior Auditor handling the accounting assignments & conducting the internal/external audits of various organization having diverse goals including some NGOs/ INGO/Projects such as Shanti Med Nepal Switzerland, Nepal Soka Gakkai International, Kiran Namaste Nepal & project audits carried out by Kathmandu University with collaboration with different consortium partners and audit of “Revenue Administration Support� (RAS) Project carried out by GIZ.
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YANGSHILA LEARNING GROUNDS TEAM MEMBERS KUMAR BISHWAKARMA, DIRECTOR A community member of Yangshila VDC, Kumar Bishwakarma is a dedicated fourth grade teacher, medicinal plants expert, and a passionate environmentalist. In 2013, under his leadership KTK-BELT’s local partner, YPLG was formed as a non-profit company. He has been voluntarily working for the cause for 2 years to mobilize the community, build the land assets for the project, and tirelessly work towards bridging the gap between conservation and education. He is a trained permaculture designer and an advocate for children and science education.
GANGA LIMBU ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME OFFICER / YOUTH FELLOW Ganga Limbu, a 21 year old girl, is the first youth fellow of KTK-BELT working in the areas of participatory mapping, social research and environmental education. She’s currently enrolled in her Bachelors degree in Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan. She was born in a large family in Mukten village of Bhedetar VDC. Since she was young, she has received scholarships from Phulmaya Foundation and most recently received a scholarship for her Bachelors degree. She’s currently living in Satisale village, Yangshila. Along with doing research in the existing education curriculum, she’s interested in learning different softwares including ArcGIS, AutoCAD and Sketchup. .
SANAM PRADHAN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME OFFICER / YOUTH FELLOW Sanam Pradhan, a 28 year old married youth with two young girls is from Yangshila VDC and will be working as the alternative energy and construction fellow. He has his SLC certification and technical trainings as electrician from Alliance for Social Mobilisation, a certification in computer course and driving. He will be operating the community building workshop which will house laser cutters, power tools and building materials. He will be working with us to design and build the Sikti Plant trail and Pragati Chowk plant workshop.
DURGA KATTEL ACCOUNTING + ADMIN OFFICER / YOUTH FELLOW Durga Kattel, a 25 year old male from Satishale village, has been volunteering with KTK-BELT for the past few weeks. He is a full-time teacher in Jansewa Primary School and a steering committee member of YPLG. He has a bachelors degree in Education. His current work is focused on designing, developing and conducting household surveys in communities where YPLG and KTK-BELT are currently working in. As a social research fellow, he will be working on developing a participatory research and design programme to employ various tools to enable community participation in the design of the different learning grounds.
DHANMAYA RAI HOSPITALITY + TOURISM OFFICER / YOUTH FELLOW Dhanmaya Rai, 33 years old single mother with two kids, originally from Yangshila Satishale ward no.5. She did not complete her studies due to economic condition of her family but she is very enthusiasm to learn different skills and knowledge, she is a good learner and got 6 years of experience in screen printing, got little knowledge of cutting and sewing cloths. She is very hardworking and reliable. Currently working with YPLG as Middle BELT Land Manager, along with her work she is learning driving as well and also enrolled her name for SLC examination.
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SANKHUWASABHA LEARNING GROUNDS KARMA BHUTIA, DIRECTOR Karma Bhutia is an advisor to KTK-BELT and the founder of Sankhuwasabha Learning Grounds. He is currently a Program Director at The Mountain Institute. He holds a Bachelor degree in Social Science and has over 15 years experience in community development and natural resource management. For the last 5 years, Mr Bhutia has been working on the MAPs cultivation techniques and has empowered 2000 individual farmers to double their income through this technique in Illam district. He will be closely working with our agriculture team, in particular Wangchu Bhutia, to train local farmers in medicinal plants cultivation. He will be working directly on the BELT campaign by expanding the project to Sankhuwasabha VDC.
KURULE-TENUPA LEARNING GROUNDS LOKENDRA YAKHA, DIRECTOR Lokendra Bahadur Yakha, a highly skilled farmer and local leader, is the Chairman of Tamur Learning Grounds. In 2015, he became a spokesperson for Climate + Change, raising awareness globally about devastating localized impacts of climate change on spring systems in the middle hills of Nepal. Mr. Yakha is also an indigenous leader of the vanishing Yakha ethnic group of Nepal, and is trained in permaculture design.
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Nighure exhibit 2016 with over 800 participants from the community of Yangshila VDC 74
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We are grateful to the following advisors and contributors: Dr. Karim-Aly Kassam, Cornell University Nayantara Kakshapati and Bhushan Shilpakar, Photo Circle Lynsey Addario, Photographer Priyash Bista, Mount Royal University Raghav Goyal Shanti Kumar, Janasewa Foundation Sujan Chitrakar, Kathmandu University Sheila Chellgren & Family Mingyuan Song, Yale University Asha and Sajjan Agrawal Yesha Gurung Subba
Institutions Sidley-Austin Africa-Asia Agricultural Enterprise Probono Program ATREE Photo Circle Cornell University Living Earth Institute Habeli Outdoor Learning Center Friends of Nepal Karuna Foundation Saraf Foundation for Himalayan Traditions and Culture
Copyright 2016 KTK-BELT inc. For more information visit www.belt-project.org KTK-BELT PROJECT
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