Key Achievements

Collaborative Management for Wetland Resources

Baseline Survey and Livelihood Need Assessment (LNA) study conducted and Livelihood Improvement Plan (LIP) of both field sites prepared and implemented.

• Institutional strengthening
  
  a. Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), for inter-sectoral coordination and collaborative management of wetland resources at the local level, has been established at GLA. It is an eleven member body representing district government line agencies, VDC chairperson, teachers' network, CFUGs, and wetland clubs. MSF is chaired by the Local Development Officer (LDO); and the member secretary is the District Forest Officer (DFO).
  
  b. Seeing the good impacts of MSF at GLA, Multi-Stakeholder Forum (an apex body that has taken the responsibility for the management of the reservoir) has been replicated at Jagadihpur Reservoir to take stewardship of the Reservoir under the guidance of LDO, Kapilvastu. A 17 member committee comprising of local CBOs, teachers and other actors has been formed under the leadership of LDO, Kapilvastu. DFO serves as the Member Secretary of the forum.
  
  c. Buffer Zone reformation at KTWR after a period of 5 years took place in 2010 where 506 User groups federated into 9 User Committees and 1 BZMC. Four key decision-making positions, two secretarial positions and two vice chair positions are occupied by women.
  
  d. Fifteen out of 38 (40%) chairperson positions in CFs (Community Forests)are occupied by women at GLA. d. Mallah- Majhi Network established at KTWR to empower and uplift the livelihood status of wetland dependent community


• KTWR and Buffer Zone (BZ) Management Plan has been approved and rolled out that entitles the flow-back of 30-50% of the reserve revenue to communities in the Buffer Zone for development and conservation activities.


• GLA Catchment Level Management Plan (2011-2015) covering an area of 9650ha has been prepared to address the current and contemporary issues related to wetland conservation, its ecological integrity and wise use of its resources.


• Habitat management
  
  a. Mapping of 7 critical wetland sites - 5 in GLA (Ghodaghodi Lake, Nakrodh Lake, Tinchatiya Lake, Tendy Lake, Tendwha Lake) and 2 in KTWR (Kamal Daha and Gohiman Tal)
  
  b. Restoration of the 7 critical wetland sites by weeding and cleaning of invasive species; maintenance of floating island for water birds and basking sites for crocodile; construction and maintenance of sluice gate to augment water level and; installation of Limnological gears to measure DO, PH and other chemical parameters
  
  c. In order to restore degraded forest areas, particularly in Saptari and Tapeshwori, over 10 ha of the Reserve area has been fenced and afforested with 10,000 seedlings
  
  d. Water quality monitoring undertaken regularly at GLA by locals. The parameters checked are water level, pH, temperature, phosphate and nitrate levels and Dissolved Oxygen (DO).


• Biological monitoring
  
  a. GLA recorded as the breeding site for Cotton Pygmy Goose (CPG) since 2010. Prior to this, breeding sites of CPG was restricted to Pokhara valley in Nepal. GLA was, also, recorded as the first breeding site in Nepal for Common Moorhen in 2011; formerly, this species used to breed only in Kashmir valley in India
  
  b. Indicator Species were established, on the basis of their threatened status at global level, importance and uniqueness of the wetlands they are associated with, and representativeness of the ecosystem, for regular monitoring. Baseline information of all the Indicator Species was recorded in 2009 and bi-annual monitoring is carried out. Gradual increase in number of these species may be attributed to the various habitat management interventions carried out by the project in partnership with local communities.



Table 1. List of indicator species and their status over the past three years.

Project Site	Indicator Species	2009	2010	2011	2012
GLA	Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)	139	188	243	290
	Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)	3	12	12	13
	Wild Rice (Oryzarufipogon Griff)	3.6ha	12.42ha	15.27ha	14.7ha
KTWR	Swamp Francolin (Francolinusularis Temminck)	33 breeding pairs	36 breeding pairs	57 breeding pair	-
	Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalusarnee Kerr)	219	-	-	259

(*Please note: all are individuals unless specified otherwise)



• Livelihood Improvement programs
  
  a. 308 and 155 households (HHs) at KTWR and GLA, respectively, were tagged as wetland dependent and provided with alternative livelihood interventions to increase their HH income by 15% until the end of the project. These HHs have been provided with various livelihood interventions such as fishery, goattery, piggery, poultry, duna-tapari (leaf plates) making and vegetable farming, trainings on carpentry and radio/TV maintenance and others and currently, their income has increased by Nrs. 1200-6000/month.
  
  b. Over 1300 HHs have benefitted from Alternative Energy programs (Biogas plants, Improved Cooking Stoves and Bio Briquette). This has decreased the extraction of firewood from adjoining forests at both sites and has contributed to a total carbon off-set of more than 3800 ton/year.
  
  c. Wetland based enterprises, Pater Processing Enterprise at KTWR and Munj based Enterprise at GLA, have been established. These have improved the quality of traditional products (i.e. mats, and baskets) and been able to provide a more stable and sustainable source of local livelihoods.
  
  d. Joint Venture Company (JVC) in partnership with Nepal Knot Craft Center and Organic Valley for the marketing of wetland based products involving 25 Bantar women at KTWR has been established to promote and sustain the local Pater Processing Enterprise.


• Conservation Awareness and Outreach
  
  a. Thirty School Wetland clubs and 2 Teachers' Network established as a vehicle for spreading conservation awareness and outreach activities
  
  b. Two Community Based Anti-Poaching Networks have been established to combat poaching activities in these areas


• Human-wildlife conflict resolution
  
  a. A total of 14.7 km of solar fence has now been erected from Prakashpur to Haripur VDC at KTWR. Solar fence has decreased the number of casualties and crop damage, increased harvest and improved relations between the reserve and the locals.
  
  b. Joint monitoring and multiple sweep operations were held to evacuate the feral buffalo populations from KTWR to prevent the genetic erosion of wild buffalos, reducing competition for food and avoid transmission of disease from the feral buffalo population to the wild.


• Eco-tourism promotion
  
  a. Hotel Management & Nature Guide Training was provided to 15 local youth at KTWR
  
  b. A Watch Tower was built close to Ghodaghodi Lake for the purpose of bird watching
  
  c. A 1300 meter long foot trail has been constructed around GLA to connect vantage points with various purposes such as nature walk, bird watching and sightseeing


• Cultural heritage
  
  a. Provide regular support to indigenous Tharu community to organize and manage Lwangi Puja, celebrated on Agan Panchami, in GLA
  
  b. In order to preserve the traditional culture of Jhangad community at KTWR, project provided musical instruments and cultural attire as an alternative source of income.