Conservation issues and WWF-India interventions
Conservation issues
Among the many challenges faced by WAL are:
- Commercial collection of firewood.
- Uncontrolled grazing.
- Hunting and fishing by local communities.
- Collection of medicinal plants by herders during summer.
- Illegal collection of small local flora and fauna by foreign tourists.
- Rise in road building and other developmental activities coupled with the rise in Army activity in the region.
- Erosion of traditional resource management systems.
Wood being cut from the forest
WWF-India interventions
WWF-India, is working with the state forest department and local monasteries as well as people to reduce the impact of human activity on the forests and high altitude wetlands.
Different activities have been carried out by WWF-India in this landscape including baseline surveys that have listed rare and threatened flora and fauna. Some of the activities are:
Red Panda Conservation
There has been very limited research work on the Red Panda in Arunachal Pradesh. The studies conducted on it have mostly focused on its distributional ranges in the state of the Sikkim and West Bengal. On the other hand, not even baseline information on its presence and distribution was collected from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, WWF-India’s project to look into the status, distribution and threats to the Red Panda population in the Western Arunachal Landscape is ground-breaking. Since 2008, surveys and questionnaires are being used to find out the current status of these elusive animals in the West Kameng and Tawang district of the state. Of the six study sites where initial surveys have been conducted, two have now been identified as the priority sites to conduct further surveys. These are the Pangchen valley and the Mandla area. Both can be concluded to have an appreciable Red Panda distribution as direct and indirect evidences have been found here.
Community Conserved Areas (CCAs)
WWF-India is working with the villagers of Tawang and West Kameng districts in Western Arunachal for the conservation of forests and wildlife. The forest areas here are owned by the Monpas, an indigenous community. Encouraged by WWF-India, the village panchayats have adopted resolution and issued notification declaring parts of the forest area under their ownership as Community Conserved Area (CCA). Two such CCAs – Thembang Bapu CCA and Pangchen Lumpo Muchat CCA have been demarcated by the communities. While the former is about 312 sq km large, the later is about 98 sq km. WWF-India is helping build capacity for the management of these CCAs by offering basic office infrastructure like motorcycles and computers. Various training workshops have been organised by WWF-India and other organisations for the local youth. Also, field training for local villagers on biodiversity survey technique has been organized.
Different activities have been carried out by WWF-India in this landscape including baseline surveys that have listed rare and threatened flora and fauna. Some of the activities are:
Red Panda Conservation
There has been very limited research work on the Red Panda in Arunachal Pradesh. The studies conducted on it have mostly focused on its distributional ranges in the state of the Sikkim and West Bengal. On the other hand, not even baseline information on its presence and distribution was collected from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, WWF-India’s project to look into the status, distribution and threats to the Red Panda population in the Western Arunachal Landscape is ground-breaking. Since 2008, surveys and questionnaires are being used to find out the current status of these elusive animals in the West Kameng and Tawang district of the state. Of the six study sites where initial surveys have been conducted, two have now been identified as the priority sites to conduct further surveys. These are the Pangchen valley and the Mandla area. Both can be concluded to have an appreciable Red Panda distribution as direct and indirect evidences have been found here.
Community Conserved Areas (CCAs)
WWF-India is working with the villagers of Tawang and West Kameng districts in Western Arunachal for the conservation of forests and wildlife. The forest areas here are owned by the Monpas, an indigenous community. Encouraged by WWF-India, the village panchayats have adopted resolution and issued notification declaring parts of the forest area under their ownership as Community Conserved Area (CCA). Two such CCAs – Thembang Bapu CCA and Pangchen Lumpo Muchat CCA have been demarcated by the communities. While the former is about 312 sq km large, the later is about 98 sq km. WWF-India is helping build capacity for the management of these CCAs by offering basic office infrastructure like motorcycles and computers. Various training workshops have been organised by WWF-India and other organisations for the local youth. Also, field training for local villagers on biodiversity survey technique has been organized.
Community Conserved Area Management Committe Meeting
Community Based Tourism
The CCA committees, cognizant that conservation benefits alone may not be enough an incentive for the community to protect the CCA, have worked to identify sustainable livelihoods for the communities that are linked to conservation. Based on an analysis of potential livelihood options, community-based tourism (CBT) has recently been initiated. It focuses on giving tourists a cultural and ecological experience drawing from the village and it’s CCA. This is proving to be a highly inclusive initiative, providing high economic returns as well as strong incentives for the locals to conserve the CCA. WWF-India provided all the necessary Camping Materials to both the CCA managing committees. Support to villagers to set up nine Home Stays and four home-based restaurants through these committees have been provided. A management committee office cum Tourism information center with contribution from villagers has been constructed.
Livelihood Development
Apart from Community Based Tourism, a pilot scale work to promote preparation of Rhododendron squash was initiated in March 2009. This model of mobilization of local communities for the conservation and management of their forest area along with ensuring economic development of villagers has been widely appreciated. In 2009, villagers from Assam, Meghalaya and other parts of Arunachal Pradesh started visiting the sites to try and replicate these processes in their villages. WWF-India aims for the success of this model in a long run and is working to elicit policy level support from Government for such initiatives.
Conservation of high-altitude wetlands of Western Arunachal Pradesh
There are more than 300 lakes in WAL that are above 3000m above sea level. WWF-India organised meeting with senior forest officials to jointly develop a Wetland Directory, Fact Sheets and a management plan. In the process, four wetland complexes have been identified as priority areas for conservation. WWF-India is also working with Tawang Monastery for the management of one of the Wetland Complex - Bhagajang Wetland Complex.
A new wintering habitat of Black necked Crane was reported from Panghchen Valley, when three were sighted in the catchments area of Nyamjangchu River and Nagula Wetland Complexes. The former has its major water source from WWF-India supported Pangchen Lumpo Muchat Community Conserved Area (CCA).
In order to expose partners to similar conservation efforts else where, officials of the State Forest Department and Tawang Monastery were taken to Ladakh on a tour.
The CCA committees, cognizant that conservation benefits alone may not be enough an incentive for the community to protect the CCA, have worked to identify sustainable livelihoods for the communities that are linked to conservation. Based on an analysis of potential livelihood options, community-based tourism (CBT) has recently been initiated. It focuses on giving tourists a cultural and ecological experience drawing from the village and it’s CCA. This is proving to be a highly inclusive initiative, providing high economic returns as well as strong incentives for the locals to conserve the CCA. WWF-India provided all the necessary Camping Materials to both the CCA managing committees. Support to villagers to set up nine Home Stays and four home-based restaurants through these committees have been provided. A management committee office cum Tourism information center with contribution from villagers has been constructed.
Livelihood Development
Apart from Community Based Tourism, a pilot scale work to promote preparation of Rhododendron squash was initiated in March 2009. This model of mobilization of local communities for the conservation and management of their forest area along with ensuring economic development of villagers has been widely appreciated. In 2009, villagers from Assam, Meghalaya and other parts of Arunachal Pradesh started visiting the sites to try and replicate these processes in their villages. WWF-India aims for the success of this model in a long run and is working to elicit policy level support from Government for such initiatives.
Conservation of high-altitude wetlands of Western Arunachal Pradesh
There are more than 300 lakes in WAL that are above 3000m above sea level. WWF-India organised meeting with senior forest officials to jointly develop a Wetland Directory, Fact Sheets and a management plan. In the process, four wetland complexes have been identified as priority areas for conservation. WWF-India is also working with Tawang Monastery for the management of one of the Wetland Complex - Bhagajang Wetland Complex.
A new wintering habitat of Black necked Crane was reported from Panghchen Valley, when three were sighted in the catchments area of Nyamjangchu River and Nagula Wetland Complexes. The former has its major water source from WWF-India supported Pangchen Lumpo Muchat Community Conserved Area (CCA).
In order to expose partners to similar conservation efforts else where, officials of the State Forest Department and Tawang Monastery were taken to Ladakh on a tour.