Empowering community, planning ahead to avoid human-wildlife conflict
Supported by:
Project Overview:
Our project, supported by Community Conservation Inc., aims to address the conservation challenges faced by the Trijuga forest, an important wildlife habitat located on the border of Udayapur and Saptari districts in the southeast region of Nepal.
The Trijuga forest, covering an area of 430 sq. km, is a semi-isolated forest patch within the Churia region. Despite its significance as an important wildlife habitat outside of protected areas, this forest has received little conservation attention, which poses a threat to its conservation importance.
The region is home to various threatened wildlife species, including the Asiatic elephant, sloth bear, common leopard, gaur, and Chinese pangolin. However, the forest is surrounded by extensive agricultural lands and human settlements, leading to frequent conflicts between local communities and wildlife. Crop raiding by elephants, wild boars, and rhesus macaques, livestock depredation by common leopards, and human-wildlife conflicts are major issues in the Trijuga forest periphery.
To address these challenges, our project focuses on
- Promoting sustainable use and management of forest resources while considering wildlife ecology and implementing conflict mitigation measures.
- Generating baseline information on wildlife diversity, ecology, and conflict scenarios through community-assisted camera trapping, we aim to enhance the understanding of Trijuga forest’s wildlife.
- Building the capacity of local community forest user groups. We will provide training and resources to six community forest user groups in wildlife monitoring and research techniques.
Our project will empower the local stakeholders to actively participate in wildlife conservation efforts and contribute to the development of appropriate wildlife-friendly forest management practices.
Through our camera trap survey, we will collect valuable data on wildlife species present in the Trijuga forest. These survey results will be disseminated among the local communities, forest user groups, and relevant stakeholders. By sharing reliable scientific information, we aim to increase awareness and promote the adoption of improved wildlife-friendly forest management practices.
Our project hopes to promote harmonious coexistence between local communities and the rich wildlife that calls this forest their home.
Project Update 1: Introductory meeting with local CFUGs and FECOFUN Udayapur
The team behind the “Initiating Community Conservation in the Unprotected Trijuga Forest, Udayapur, Nepal” project recently held a successful introductory meeting with crucial stakeholders in Udayapur. This meeting, held on December 6th at the FECOFUN Udayapur office, served as a platform to introduce the project, discuss its objectives and activities, and gauge local interest in collaborative conservation efforts.
Bidhan explains our objectives and activities to the CFUGs and FECOFUN representatives 
CFUGs were really curious about the camera trapping and learning about their wildlife. 
A lively discussion of possibilities and collaboration for community conservation. 
Camera trap is going to be our primary tool for wildlife monitoring. CFUGs will lead the trapping and data collection.
The project team met with representatives from Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) and the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) Udayapur. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with CFUG members expressing their excitement about the project and its potential to protect the Trijuga Forest, a vital haven for biodiversity.
Key Highlights from the Meeting:
- Camera trap training: CFUG members were particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of camera trap training, recognizing it as a valuable tool for monitoring wildlife populations and identifying threats within their forest area. They eagerly expressed their desire to participate in training and deploy camera traps in their forest to gather valuable data.
- Collaborative spirit: A strong sense of collaboration permeated the meeting. CFUGs and FECOFUN Udayapur representatives pledged their support for the project and demonstrated their willingness to work hand-in-hand with the project team to achieve its objectives.
- Formalizing collaboration: Recognizing the importance of a strong partnership, the project team is actively working to formalize a collaborative agreement with FECOFUN Udayapur. This agreement will pave the way for coordinated efforts and ensure the long-term success of the project.
Moving Forward:
Camera trap training workshops: Building on the CFUGs’ enthusiasm, the project team will prioritize conducting camera trap training sessions in the near future. This training will empower CFUG members to collect valuable data on wildlife populations and contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts.
Community engagement: The project team will continue engaging with local communities through workshops, awareness campaigns, and other initiatives to build a strong foundation of support for conservation activities.
Data analysis and action: Data collected through camera traps and other monitoring methods will be carefully analyzed to identify key conservation priorities and inform future actions.
The “Initiating Community Conservation in Trijuga Forest” project is off to a promising start, with the enthusiastic participation of local stakeholders and a clear commitment to collaboration. By working together, the project team and the community can ensure the sustainable conservation of the Trijuga Forest and its diverse wildlife.
Project Update 2: First Wildlife Monitoring Training in Gaighat, Udayapur
We are excited to share a recent development in our “Initiating Community Conservation in the Unprotected Trijuga Forest, Udayapur, Nepal” project: a successful Wildlife Monitoring training held for community forest user groups (CFUGs) in Gaighat, Udayapur in 28 January, 2024.
Reaching out to the community:
The one-day training, organized by Saraswati CFUG and led by their president, Dipak Bantawa, gathered 31 participants from 11 different CFUGs. Joining them was the esteemed vice-president of the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) Udayapur, demonstrating the strong regional support for this initiative.
Knowledge & Skills for Effective Monitoring:
The training program provided participants with valuable knowledge and practical skills in wildlife monitoring, focusing on camera trapping:
- Global Perspective: Dr. Teri Allendorf, Executive Director of Community Conservation Inc., shared insights from successful community conservation projects worldwide, inspiring local efforts.
- Local Focus: Birendra Mahato, President of Community Conservation Nepal, presented the ongoing work of both organizations in eastern Nepal, highlighting the relevance to the Trijuga region.
- Wildlife Expertise: Nischal Kunwar from NCSC introduced the diverse wildlife inhabiting Nepal’s lowlands, raising awareness of the species participants might encounter.
- Hands-on Learning: The core of the training involved a practical session in the Saraswati Community Forest. Participants were divided into small groups, received hands-on experience with camera traps, and learned about their deployment strategies and considerations.
Community-Led Action:
The training concluded with a collaborative discussion on scheduling camera trap deployments in each participating community forest. Excitingly, the trained participants, along with their fellow CFUG members, will take the lead in conducting camera trapping activities, supported by our team.
Impact & Significance:
This training empowers local communities to actively participate in wildlife monitoring within their own forests. By collecting data and gaining insights into local wildlife populations, communities can make informed decisions regarding conservation efforts and contribute significantly to the project’s goals.
Project Update 3: Documenting Wildlife and Empowering Communities
We’re excited to share an update on our camera trapping project in Trijuga Forest! This project, conducted in collaboration with local communities, has yielded valuable data on wildlife diversity and empowered local communities in wildlife monitoring.
Key Achievements:
- Documented Rich Biodiversity: We captured images of 21 wildlife species, including 18 mammals, across 44 camera trap sites within 13 community forests. This data includes 2 globally Vulnerable, 1 nationally Endangered, and 5 nationally Vulnerable mammal species.
- Building Local Capacity: We conducted two wildlife monitoring trainings with a total of 57 participants from 18 different Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). This training engaged 13 CFUGs directly in the camera trapping process within their respective forests.
- Challenges and Learning: While some CFUG members had limited prior experience, the training sessions successfully equipped them with practical skills in setting up and monitoring camera traps. We encountered challenges in scheduling a second training session and camera trap theft/damage highlights a need for improved security measures.
Moving Forward:
Building on the success and feedback received, we are exploring options for:
- Improved Camera Security: Responding to concerns about camera loss, we’re investigating solutions like cloud backup systems for future camera trapping initiatives.
- Continued Collaboration: We’re committed to working with the Saraswati CFUG and other local partners to support their wildlife conservation efforts through potential camera trap installation with cloud backup.
This project demonstrates the importance of community-based conservation. By working together, we can gain valuable insights into local biodiversity while empowering communities to become stewards of their natural resources.
Project Update 4: Community Symposium Showcases Biodiversity Findings From Camera Trapping
A symposium was held on October 4th to unveil the captivating results of a camera trapping initiative in Deuri, Gaighat. The event, organized by the Saraswoti Community Forest User Group (CFUG), showcased the diverse wildlife captured in 46 camera trap sites across 13 CFUGs.
The symposium featured presentations by Dipak Bantawa, chairperson of the Saraswoti CFUG, and representatives from various organizations, including the Trijuga Municipality, FECOFUN Udayapur, FNCSI Udayapur, and the Division Forest Udayapur Gaighat. Journalists and community forest users also attended the event.
The camera trapping project documented an impressive 21 wildlife species, including 18 mammals. The data collected provides valuable insights into the biodiversity of the region and highlights the importance of community-based conservation efforts.
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