"To promote, conserve and manage nature in all its diversity balancing human needs with the environment on a sustainable basis for posterity - ensuring maximum community participation with due cognizance of the linkages between economics, environment and ethics through a process in which people are both the principal actors and beneficiaries."
BCC (Biodiversity Conservation Center)
Project Update
Natural Resource Conservation Programme
Fencing of Community Forest
To reduce grazing pressure inside the forest area and to allow regeneration, the Project continued fencing at Nawajagriti Community Forest and Thankhola Jaldevi Community Forest at Padampur VDC in October-December 2005. Distribution of Fruit, Fodder Tree Saplings
To encourage users towards income generation activities and to promote greenery within the project area, seedlings of fruit tree and fodder tree were provided to Panchakanya Community Forest User’s Group, Shiva Temple, Padampur Women Community Forest and Dakchhinkali Buffer Zone Community Forest User’s Group (BZCFUG). The fruit trees saplings provided were of mangoes, litchis, bamboos and jackfruits. Distribution of Asparagus (Asparagus recimosa) To promote herbal farming about 2,500 seedlings of asparagus was provided to various women groups and individuals. Beneficiaries were Shree Sashaktikaran Women Group (Bachhauli -3), Shree Shrijana Women Group (Bachhauli - 4), Mr. Surendra Tamang (Padampur – 1), Mr. Padam Pd. Khatiwada (Bachhauli - 8), Mr. Dill Man Pariyar and Mr. Devi Dutta Dhakal of Kumrose BZCFUG. Support to Mushroom Depot
Mushroom farming remains as a major income-generating programme in Padampur VDC since the beginning of the project. In order to provide sustainability in marketing and management of Button and Kanya species, the project supported three units of solar dryer and one unit of freezing machine for the establishment of mushroom depot at Tandi bazaar area. A committee for marketing and promotion of the mushroom was formed from among the group members. Seedling Distribution
As part of the livestock development programme, seedlings of various fodder species Amrisoo, Badahar, Tanki, Bakainoo, Dabdabe and Jai was provided to 13 different milk cooperatives in the project area . Husk Stove Distribution
In order to reduce the pressure on forests, and as part of the alternative energy programme, a total of 250 husk stoves was distributed to the respective buffer zone community forest users of Navajyoti, Dakchhinkali, Ujwol, Belsar and Bandevi BZCFs.
Wildlife Research Monitoring
The monsoon rhino count at Barandabahar Corridor Forest (BCF) revealed a total of 29 rhinos in the BCF. Among the recorded individuals, 6 were recorded from north and 23 were recorded south of the highway. Most of the sightings were at Devnagar. Rhino count showed that the animals used different habitats like grassland, riverine forest, wetlands, and Sal forest with grass patches.To find out the status, distribution and habitat use of the ungulates (Deer family and wild boars), during October – December a total of 426 individuals of the spotted deer, barking deer, sambar deer and wild boars were recorded. Ungulates count carried out in July had resulted 299 ungulates and on August 660 ungulates were recorded. In September, 287 spotted deer, 2 barking deer, 3 sambar deer and 10 wild boars were recorded. The sightings of the ungulates were more in the Southern part of the BCF. The sighting frequency of the ungulates has increased by 46.5% in comparison to the result of 2004. A total of 117 species of the birds were recorded at Icharni Island, Kumrose BZCF and RCNP during July to September 2005. Among the recorded species, Bristled grassbird (Chaetornis striatus) falls under globally threatened catagory. Of the total bird species 85 were forest birds, 8 grass birds, 15 water birds, 6 partly aquatic, 3 open field birds and 1 was a bush bird.
Training / Workshops
Rhino Conservation Trainings
Mirgakunja User Group organised a two-day training on Rhino conservation in October for forest guards of 5 buffer zone community forests (Baghmara, Chitrasen, Khorsor, Tikauli and Milijuli) and to the members of youth anti-poaching unit. Similar training was conducted in June for forest guards and the members of community forest of Piple, Kuchkuche, Budhi Rapti and Kumrose community forest. Anti-Poaching Awareness Campaign
One-day awareness programme was organised at two different locations of BCF. The programme disseminated the message of wildlife conservation and highlighted on the roles and responsibilities of the local community in conserving biodiversity. Altogether, 60 members of respective CFUG participated in the programme. Skill Development Training
To provide alternative livelihood options for the people living in the periphery of BCF, the project in coordination of various institutions at Bharatpur Municipality, provided skill enhancement training on house wiring, cooking, plumbing, driving and auto-mechanical skills. A total of 35 candidates took part in the training. Health and Sanitation Workshop In collaboration with Women Development and Environment Preservation Society, the Project organised a one-day interaction workshop on August 2005 where 50 local women participated. Facilitators’ Training
Two days facilitator’s training was held on August 2005 for the second curriculum “Mero Byapar” at BCC premise. Trained facilitators will conduct 13 classes at different locations of the Project area for about 3 months. A set of stationary items (copy, pencil, eraser and sharpener) and a curriculum book “Mero Byapar” was distributed to about 200 local women. 10th Local Working Committee Meeting
The 10th Local Working Committee (LWC) meeting was held on 15th August 2005. In the meeting, issues such as Anti-Poaching activities, Tharu Cultural Museum and Rural Electrification were discussed. LWC members were also briefed on project’s 2nd quarter progress report by the concerned officials. Chairman of the Buffer-Zone Development Council chaired the meeting.
Conservation Education and Awareness
Scholarship Distribution
For the empowerment of poor and Disadvantage Group (DAG) school children of the Project area, the Project has established a school endowment fund in 2001. The total fund had further divided into two parts (Child education development programme - Barandabhar ‘KA’ and Barandabhar ‘KHA’). Barandabhar ‘KA’ distributed scholarships to 60 poor students from 15 schools. Conservation Song Competition
On the ocassion of Teej festival the Project assisted conservation song competition organised by Padampur Saving and Credit Cooperative in Padmapur VDC. About 8 women from the saving credit groups participated in the competition. School Premises Fencing
Under school greenery programme, two government schools Shree Panchatej Jyoti Higher Secondary School of Ratnanagar and Shree Siddi-Binayak Lower Secondary School of Bharatpur were supported for barbed wire fencing. Project contributed for cement poles, barbed wire, GI wire and skilled labors.
