Technical Reports

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Assessing the impacts of Power-lines on avian species in the Arid plains of Western Gujarat : Final Technical Report
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Kumar, R.S.; Baroth, A.
The Kachchh landscape in western Gujarat has witnessed rapid industrial growth in the last few decades. Also, the landscape has a high potential for wind energy generation and as a result, a number of wind farms have been established and continue to expand. Rapid industrialization and wind energy production has resulted in extensive power-line network crisscrossing the landscape. These energy infrastructures are known to pose potential risks to birds primarily those that are large-bodied in the form of collision and electrocution mortality. In lieu of this, a -four study was carried out in the Kachchh landscape to assess the impact of power-lines on large avian species in the arid plains of western Gujarat. In order to assess the power-line collision risk, data were collected at multiple levels, which includes (1) mapping the network of transmission lines in the Kachchh district, (2) GPS telemetry of six flamingos (two Greater and four Lesser Flamingo) (3) flight behavior of cranes around power-line, and (4) mortality surveys. The distribution and abundance of migratory Raptors were studied on three selected sites across Kachchh to know the electrocution risk to raptors. Also, surveys were carried out to collect data on space use by Common Crane with respect to wind farms to study the impacts of windmills on large birds. Finally, the data were analyzed using GIS modelling and various R packages to understand the space-use by large birds and identify risky power-line stretches that could pose threats to large birds. The analysis of Flamingo distribution surveys revealed that greater flamingos are widely distributed and occur in a much larger area than Lesser Flamingo. The analysis of tracking data showed that Flamingos make a greater number of flights during the breeding season. Further, it was documented that Lesser Flamingo use saltpans and mudflats primarily while Greater Flamingo used inland wetlands and coastal areas more often. The comparison of flight time showed that flamingos make most of the flights during night time. In the case of Cranes, Common cranes occurred in both agricultural and grassland habitats, while Demoiselle cranes were more localized and used only agricultural fields and feeding stations where local people practice food provisioning. Flamingos tracking data helped identify two main flight corridors, one at Nanda Bet and one at Surajbari, through which they made flights. These two corridors are also the only entry points from mainland Gujarat to Kachchh and hence are the corridor for transmission lines. As a result, these transmission lines are suggested to be a potential threat to Flamingos. The overlaying of transmission lines on the suitable habitat of Flamingos and Cranes revealed that 6% and 39% of the total power-line length is falling in Flamingo and Crane suitable habitats, respectively. It was found that 84.4% and 70% of total occasions, Lesser Flamingo and Greater Flamingo crossed power-lines during night times while making long-distance flights. The flight behavior observations of Common Crane around power-lines showed that 81% of total flocks observed altered either their flight path or their flight height.The data on raptor distribution with respect to distribution lines revealed that the Banni area has a high encounter rate (0.6 sightings/km) of raptor species and is home to several large raptors. The distribution lines in the Kachchh district do not have bird-safe spacing between conducting parts and hence can pose a potential risk to large raptors. The study investigating the impact of windmills on the space-use by Common Crane revealed that the encounter rate of Common Crane flocks in the areas dominated by windmills is six times less than in the areas with no windmills, suggesting possible functional habitat loss for the large birds due to windmills. This study is the first detailed landscape-scale effort to assess risks by energy infrastructure on avian species that forms a baseline for any future site-specific impact assessment studies in the region. This project identified the areas where powerlines likely pose a threat to large birds such as Flamingo and Crane. This study also suggests different strategies to minimize the impacts of existing and future energy infrastructure in different habitats in the Kachchh region
Assessing the physiological stress in gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) during translocation: Final Project Report.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Farooqui, H.N.; Rajput, N.,; Jawre, S.; Vishwakarma, R.; Bhandari, B.; Habib, B,; Krishnamoorthy, L.; Dubey, A.; Om, H.; Sengar, A.; Nigam, Parag
To assess the impact of capture and translocation on animals, it becomes imperative to study the associated risks and possible negative effects, if any. These effects can be determined by evaluating physical, physiological and behavioural effects on animals at the time of capture,
Assessment of amphibians and reptilian diversity along Ganga river : progress report
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Das, Abhijit; Hussain, S.A.; Johnson, J.A.; Boruah, Bitupan
In the present study an attempt has been made to survey the herpetofaunal diversity along Ganga River. The objectives of the study are to determine the species richness and diversity of herpetofauna along Ganga and Alaknanda river ii. To map the distribution of herpetofaunal species along Ganga and Alaknanda river iii. To study the reproductive biology of threatened amphibian species of the Ganga River Basin
Assessment of capacity and training needs of key government staff and community members/institutions for a long term effective biodiversity conservation and development of a framework for implementaton in SECURE Himalaya project landscape in selected districts of Himachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Lyngdoh, Salvador; Sathyakumar, S.; Bhatnagar, Y.V.; Pandev, B.
The SECURE Himalaya project pertaining to the high-altitude Trans-Himalayan region for the improved demand management of high range Himalayan landscapes for the conservation of Snow Leopard, other endangered species, their habitats, and sustaining ecosystem services in a novel initiative aimed at achieving conservation goals through a holistic approach. A major component of the project, titled “Assessment of capacity and training needs of key government staff and community members/institutions for long-term effective biodiversityconser vation, and development of a framework for implementation in SECURE Himalaya Project landscapes (Lahaul, Pangi and Kinnaur) of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII, Dehradun). This component aims to assess the capacities and training needs of key stakeholders and develop a framework and specific training modules for the targeted stakeholders' capacity development. This report conceptualizes the approach of capacity development through training need assessment of identified stakeholders. It outlines the methods adopted based on consultations with various stakeholders, experts, managers and policy makers. Major gaps documented in the landscape with respect to various stakeholders were identified. Modules and capacity development schedules have been suggested to meet the needs for awareness on biodiversity conservation, enhanced training on wildlife monitoring techniques, interventions for reducing human wildlife conflict and strengthening enforcement. We mapped and categorized each stakeholders and their roles in the landscape. A training Need Assessment (TNA) of the target stakeholder through local meetings, workshops and focal as well as instead with the stakeholders documented opportunities for national and state training and research institutions to contribute to the capacity development of the landscape. We prepared detailed and specific training modules for multi-stakeholders through the TNA exercise. Training have been designed to meet the needs concerning their role in long-term biodiversity awareness, conservation, monitoring and enforcement. Hitherto, training modules were categorized into three themes: Biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity monitoring and Sustainable management and livelihood. Pilot training of trainer’s workshop on one of the modules, “Human-wildlife conflict mitigation,” for relevant stakeholders from the forest and different line departments was undertaken to further refine a capacity development framework, timeline and module development. The capacity development framework suggested in this report has been aligned with the indicators and outcomes of the SECURE Himalaya objectives. It is hoped that the exercise undertaken in this assignment will yield significant results with respect to enhancing the capacities of various stakeholders.
Assessment of mammalian diversity in Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) Lyngdoh, Salvador; Parab, Tushar
Mammalian fauna of Himachal Pradesh is an admixture of Palearctic and Oriental elements since the state encompasses two bio-geographic zones i.e. 1 and 2, which are further subdivided into A &B (Roberts 1977); and the mountainous regions form a remarkable habitat for many animals, herbivores, and carnivores alike. They constitute a significant proportion of vertebrate diversity (Chakraborty et al. 2005, Saikia et al. 2004), and the state harbours about 27 percent of total mammalian species in India (Sharma and Saikia 2009). However, the State has come under a strong threshold of development, thereby inviting over exploitation and rapid destruction on natural resources but also has been open to many innovative steps to combat loss of biodiversity. Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance and has a wide variety of biodiversity. Due to the wide variation of altitudinal zoning, it hosts a wide range of wild animals viz. Common Leopard (Panthera pardus), Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia), Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), Goral (Naemorhedus goral), Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Himalayan Ibex (Capra ibex), Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) along with Small carnivore species like Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). These mammals acted as an excellent model for determining the state of landscape biodiversity. The information reported here would help to identify and further prioritize biodiversity rich areas within the landscape. This Landscape was a pilot site with no established methodological framework. Hence, different sets of methodologies were adopted for sampling. Camera trapping was conducted to gather evidences of animal presence and further analyze the diversity, abundance, probability of occurrence of species and activity patterns. Presence points of 8 potential indicator species were analyzed for generating habitat suitability maps. Locations of direct sightings, indirect evidences (scats, pellet, pugmark, hoof mark), animal attack sites and indigenous knowledge were accounted for. The species are selected by their ecological trends viz population, distribution range, food habits and activity patterns which gave a brief idea about the surrounding habitats. Biologically significant areas were surveyed intensively with camera traps for the first time, which revealed the presence of rare species like Himalayan Musk Deer. The baseline inventory of 22 species of mammals found in the landscape has been generated with the help of direct observations and indirect evidences. Our findings highlights the potential of Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary as a stronghold for conservation of several mammalian species.
Assessment of medicinal and aromatic plant species on their collection, usage, demand, markets, price trends and life cycle in Lahaul and Pangi landscape, Himachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Kumar, Amit; Sathyakumar, S.; Goraya, G.S.; Gupta, A.K.; Adhikari, B.S.; Rawat, G.S.
Nested in the Western Himalaya, the state of Himachal Pradesh (30° to 33°N and 75° to 79° E) is known for its rich biological diversity. It covers an area of 55,673 km2 with >3,300 distinct plants species. Interestingly, the alpine areas of Lahaul and Spiti are one of the major hot spots of wild MAPs in the Western Himalaya. Unfortunately, the remote valleys such as Lahaul, Pangi, Spiti, Kinnaur including micro-watersheds lying in the cold-arid regions of Himachal Pradesh are relatively less studied in terms of available growing stock and population status of MAPs. Notably, there is a general lack of literature on medicinal plants at the catchment, watershed and valley levels. Further, the information on recent levels of trade of MAPs are available only from a few localities of the Western Himalaya. Like other areas, these areas have also been facing additional stress due to over-exploitation of forest resources, including the unscientific and premature harvesting of MAPs from the wild, which functions parallel to the illegal and hidden markets thus, putting tremendous pressure on the wild resource base resulting in the dwindling populations and precarious livelihoods of local communities. The rising demand of herbal products has caused excessive harvesting of many of the important MAPs from these regions, putting their wild population at the risk of extinction. Keeping aforementioned aspects in view, the current study was proposed which aims to study selected Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAP) species in Lahaul and Pangi landscape of Himachal Pradesh with focus to ensure sustainable harvesting and cultivation by (i) identifying usage patterns of MAPs, and (ii) studying existing value chains. In order to address the project objectives, the present study has been categorized into 12 key tasks. The current study revealed that the major issues adversely impacting the MAP species in the Lahaul and Pangi landscape include illegal/ over/ premature/ unorganized harvesting of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), high demand and non-transparent operations in the markets of MAPs. Besides these issues, few gaps such as knowledge on available stock of MAPs, lack of information on cultivation and harvesting methods of key MAP species specific to Lahaul and Pangi landscape, lack of information on end users and middlemen and inadequate information on quantity of raw material traded have been reported. In order to optimize the benefits to the local communities and adopt the concepts of sustainable harvesting and benefit sharing, it is important to assess the availability, market trends and methods for collection of MAPs including gathering information on population of selected MAPs. This will help in identifying High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs) and delineating MPCAs for in-situ conservation in the landscape. Assessment of medicinal and aromatic plant species on their collection, usage, demand, markets, price trends and life cycle in Lahaul and Pangi landscape, Himachal Pradesh Additionally, identification of large traders and industries that acquire their raw materials from Lahaul and Pangi will strengthen the implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing model on pilot basis. Furthermore, identification of hidden markets viz., local, regional and national, price trends, value addition and strengthening BMCs will help in sustainable management of MAPs in the landscape. The first step towards conservation is identifying the existing population base, and information on the species distribution and abundance. Identification of the best cultivation practices, R&D to reduce long-gestation periods, cost effective technology, organic-farming, buy-back mechanisms, policy-revision in the interest of stakeholders, protocols for post-cultivation management, quality-control and awareness training are some measures in this direction. It can be concluded that in order to optimize the benefits to the local communities, and to adopt the concepts of sustainable harvesting and benefit-sharing, it is important to assess the availability, market trends and methods for collection of MAPs, including gathering information on population of selected MAPs. A major step towards species conservation can be spreading awareness on the dwindling populations amongst the stakeholders. It is also important to identify alternative sources of income for the locals to create in them confidence that wild harvest of MAPs was not the only source of cash income and, thus to dissuade them from ruthless wild harvest and to make them participate in conservation programs. Identifying and building the capacities of stakeholders including the forest officials, locals, school children, traditional healers and plant traders can help in community based natural resource management. These issues need to be addressed to ensure long-term conservation of the MAP resources of the landscape in a way that livelihood needs of the local communities depending on this resource are not compromised. The following key recommendations have emerged after this study:  Documentation of the Conservation Status of Key MAPs i Setting aside Conservation Areas around Viable Populations of Priority MAPs ii Strengthening of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) iii Value addition by adopting best Post-Harvest Management Techniques iv Developing Farm-scale Agro-Techniques for Priority MAP Species v Developing Germplasm Banks of the Priority MAP Species vi Study and Monitor Impacts of Climate Change
Biodiversity impact assessment report of mandal Thang field firing range Leh, UT Ladakh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) WII
The Shyok valley forms the north-eastern edge of KWS, comprises of Galwan valley and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) plains situated between Siachen and Karakorum mountain ranges. The cold arid landscape of the Shyok valley is characterised by high intensity of solar radiations, tremendous ruggedness of terrain, seasonality in resources, and low productivity. The entire area is steep semi-arid habitat, long riverine habitat, glaciers and towards the north the plains habitat. The remoteness and tough terrain support a unique arid flora and fauna found in this region. Due to the its harsh and cold climatic and topographic conditions, vegetation cover is sparse, along the river the vegetation cover is sometimes dense. This riverine habitat along the Shyok river provide crucial habitats for small mammals and birds. The vegetation in the valley comprises of mixed scrub steppe, sparse vegetation cover, plantation in the lower part of the valley, herbaceous, sedge meadows and grasslands in the north, and riverine vegetation. The dominant plant species in this area were, Myricaria spp, Artemisia spp. Eurotia spp, Lonicera spp, Kobresia spp, Nepeta spp, and, Ephedra spp. The valley is home to endangered faunal species, such as the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) which is endemic to this region in the entire landscape, snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Himalayan/Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco), and other important species. The valley is also home to many bird species (Bhatnagar and Wangchuk, 2001). Military and para-military presence has been predominant since the 1960s. Due to the strategic importance of the area the defence forces have deployed infrastructure, training camps, roads and firing ranges within this valley. The purpose of this study for Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) was to identify, evaluate and report the potential wildlife effects of Military activities in the MTFFR. This process included identification of mitigative measures that may be undertaken to reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects, where appropriate
Bringing Back Cheetah to India
(Wildlife Institute of India, 2024) Qureshi, Qamar; Tiwari, Virendra R; Bipin, C M
Bringing Back Cheetah to India
Camera trapping protocol Phase III
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2018) NTCA-WII
This manual highlight some important guidelines for design and deployment of camera traps, archiving images and collating data in an easily analyzable format by GIS analysts, park managers and research biologists.
Cheetah landscape in India
(NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Cheetah landscape in India : Atlas of Kuno-Gandhi Sagar Landscape for Metapopulation management of Cheetah in India; Qureshi, Qamar; Bipin, C.M.; Rautela, Nupor; Jain, Dhruv; Habib, Bilal; Sharma, Uttam K.; Bhardwaj, G.S.; Mallick, Amit; Yadav, S.P.; Gopal, Rajesh; Shrivastav, Aseem; Sen, Subharanjan; Krishnamoorthy, L.; Gupta, Rajesh; Upadhyay, Pawan K.; Tiwari, Virendra R.
Based on data collected during the All India Tiger estimation conducted in 2022 information on human disturbances and the presence of invasive species in the forest divisions and protected areas were collated for the landscape along with the human footprint index and mapped to identify the areas that require management as well as planning for prioritizing actions.
City Biodiversity Index - Bhopal
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Talukdar, Gautam; Ansari, Nasim Ahmed; Adhruj, Avantika; Vashishtha, Gitanjali; Pandey, Sneha
Considering the importance of the CBI, Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (MPSBB) initiated a project in 2021 to prepare the City Biodiversity Index for the cities of Bhopal and Indore, Madhya Pradesh with technical support from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun and ICLEI South Asia, New Delhi. The CBI of Bhopal has been prepared as per the guidelines and methodology provided in the User’s Manual on the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity, endorsed by the CBD in 2014. It comprises the following sections, a ‘Profile of the City’, which provides background information on the city; and the 23 indicators that make up the index. The 23 indicators are grouped across three main components viz. Native Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services provided by biodiversity and Governance and Management of biodiversity. The overall exercise collated and documented information on 488 species of plants, 274 species of birds, 85 species of butterflies, 36 species of herpetofauna, 44 species of fishes from various studies conducted within the city limits. A Natural Asset Map was also prepared which highlighted 12 land classes. Van Vihar National Park, 14 City Forests, Bhoj Wetland, Barkatullah University Campus and IIFM Campus are important biodiversity repositories in Bhopal.
City Biodiversity Index - Indore
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Talukdar, Gautam
The CBI of Indore has been prepared as per the guidelines and methodology provided in the User’s Manual on the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity, endorsed by the CBD in 2014. It comprises the following sections, a “Profile of the City”, which provides background information on the city; and the 23 indicators that make up the index. The indicators are grouped across three main components viz. Native Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services provided by biodiversity and Governance and Management of biodiversity. The overall exercise collated and documented information on 477 species of plants, 235 species of birds, 82 species of butterflies, 18 species of fishes, 35 species of spiders from various studies conducted within the city limits of lndore. A Natural Asset Map was also prepared which highlighted 11 dominant land classes within the city. Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirpur Lake, Fatan Khedi Lake, Bilawali Lake, Pipliyapala Regional Park, Lalbagh, Meghdoot Garden, Nehru Park and Holkar Science College Campus are important biodiversity areas in Indore.
Current population status, distribution and threats to Indian Pangolin (Manis crissicaudata) in Terai Arc Landscape, Uttarakhand: a pilot study
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2020) Lyngdoh, S.; Goyal, S.P.; Nigam, P.; Kumar, V.; Badola, S.; Rasailly, S.
This pilot study to provide information on the current distribution of Indian pangolin and major poaching hotspots throughout its ranges to suggest appropriate conservation strategies and protection measures for the species. The proposed objectives for this pilot study are the following: a. To review the current status, distribution and threats to the Indian pangolin population in the study area. b. To prepare a standard protocol for the survey and population estimation of Indian pangolin. c. To formulate effective anti-poaching strategies and devise conservation measures for Indian pangolin to help Uttarakhand Forest Department.
Ecology of clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in an East Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot - Carnivore Co-existence in Manas National Park, Assam, India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Lyngdoh, Salvador; Habib, Bilal; Bhatt, Urjit
Sympatric species occupying similar niche can result in competitive exclusion of subordinate species. However, species are able to avoid interspecific competition through morphological, physiological, or behavioural trade-offs, which in turn leads to differences in resource use. A guild of wild species of Felidae comprising various combinations of up to eight species is distributed across South-east Asia, with species ranging in size from the tiger (Panthera tigris) to the flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps). Little is known of the ecology of most of these species, and less of their guilds. Large felids such as tigers and leopards coexist in most of their ranges. The sympatric association of such large cats has been studied and debated in most tropical forests of India. The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), a potent ambassador species for conservation, is among the least known. The clouded leopard is the smallest of the large felids and is least studied due to its secretive nature and nocturnal behaviour. The species is an umbrella species for the Asian forest ecosystem and can be found along the foothills of the Himalayas through Nepal, Bhutan, and India to South China down to Peninsular Malaysia, and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The clouded leopard is vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and faces a global decline in population and contraction in its geographic range. The species occupies areas undergoing some of the most rapid deforestations and is threatened by poaching and wildlife trafficking. Clouded leopards are apex predators in many Southeast Asian rainforests, although they cooccur with larger predators such as tigers, leopards, dholes; their density, activity, and habitat use may vary. Although there have been discoveries regarding the felid guilds and habitat use of the Sunda clouded leopard, and the threat to the species from habitat loss, little is known for the mainland clouded leopard and the felids with which it is sympatric. Despite the fact that tropical rainforests are known for its high biodiversity and species richness, the scarcity and/or the cryptic behaviour of some of the species have resulted in the scarcity of information about these species. The tendency of many rainforest species to avoid humans on existing tracks (where most transect surveys are done) is well known. These conventional methods include surveys on the footprints, dung, calls, live-trapping, den counts and direct observation. All these surveys are usually performed along transects, and in the past, they were the preferred method in various countries. However, walking along transects to observe terrestrial mammals in tropical rainforests can be extremely challenging. The observers' different abilities to detect and recognize the species may lead to a bias during data collection, increasing the likelihood of animals fleeing unobserved. Presence-absence survey using transects lines or logging tracks may not yield substantial evidence of species diversity. Thus, if any survey were to be conducted without considering these factors, most wildlife surveys could expect a biased trend. In a dense tropical rainforest, camera-traps are useful to detect cryptic species, estimating species diversity, movement, interactions, habitat associations, abundances using individual recognition and, recently, without individual recognition in various countries. A good image from the camera trap is indisputable regarding a certain species' presence compared to an interview or conventional survey methods. The utilization of camera-traps has revealed the presence of secretive rainforest dwelling species, which have been overlooked by applying the traditional transect surveys. In India, this method has been used in estimating densities and abundances of various carnivore species in several protected areas, but few attempts have so far been made in the dense forests of tropical evergreen habitats of the north-eastern part. The use of camera trapping rate as an index of abundance is both promising and cost-effective for the rapid assessment of animal abundance in remote areas or where alternative methods are unfeasible.The study was conducted in tropical semi-evergreen forests of Manas National Park (MNP), Assam, India. The objectives of the study were to (1) estimate the status of clouded leopard and other carnivores, (2) assess prey status and feeding ecology of clouded leopard, and (3) determine the factors governing coexistence of carnivores.
Elephant reserves of India: an Atlas (Version - 2/2023)
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) WII-PE_MoEFCC
This document aimed at carrying out Management Evaluation and Effectiveness (MEE) of the Elephant Reserves. Formulation of MEE was a major step towards institutionalizing management of the Elephant Reserves in the country. Thus, the Project Elephant is keen to keep the database pertaining to the Elephant Reserves up to date. During the period 2022 – 2023, two new Elephant Reserves were notified. This includes the (i) Agasthiyarmalai Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu, which was notified in the biodiversity rich southern Western Ghats, and (ii) the Terai Elephant Reserve in Uttar Pradesh in the Dudhwa landscape along the Terai flood plains, which is a renowned as a large mammal paradise acting as a stronghold for tigers, swamp deer, one-horned rhinoceros and the transboundary population of elephants ranging between India and Nepal. With these two additions, India currently has 33 Elephant Reserves spread at 80,777 km2 of mosaic habitats.
Identifying delineating and mapping areas with high conservation values and developing management recommendatons/plans for SECURE Himalaya landscapes in Himachal Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2021) Lyngdoh, Salvador; Sathyakumar, S.; Bhatnagar, Y.V.; Singh, N.; Yadav, S.N.
High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs) is an emerging concept used to identify important areas based on a variety of parameters including biodiversity, landscape context, threatened or endangered ecosystems, provisioning of basic ecosystem services, and dependence of local communities. The assignment aims to Identify High Conservation Value (HCV) categories of areas in the project landscape of Himachal Pradesh, delineate their boundaries and map them, and suggest relevant recommendations with respect to the potential threats prevalent in the areas, specific for each HCV category. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India along with UNDP has implemented a GEF funded project: SECURE Himalaya (Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems). The project aims to promote sustainable land management in alpine pastures and forests in Indian Himalayan ecosystems for conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats and sustaining ecosystem services. The project SECURE Himalayas would be implemented over a period of six years in the high-altitude trans-Himalayan region, which covers an area of about 184,823 km2 representing 5.62 percent of the total geographic area of the country. The selected landscape for the project is Lahaul-Pangi & Kinnaur Landscape in Himachal Pradesh. The Himalayan ecosystem in India is of critical importance for its immense biological, sociocultural, and hydrological values. The biodiversity and ecosystems that it harbours form an important life-support system for a large number of agro-pastoral communities that depend on it. However, these natural ecosystems are under severe threat from high dependence of local communities on natural resources. The major threats as identified in the landscape are intensive grazing of the pasturelands by domestic livestock, inter-specific competition between wild ungulates and domestic livestock, human-wildlife conflict resulting in crop destruction and depredation of livestock, over-harvesting and illegal extraction of medicinal and aromatic plants by intruders, over-exploitation of natural resources and uncontrolled conventional tourism interfering with the fragile ecosystems and the wildlife of the area. The current assignment identifies and delineate the potential high conservation value areas in the landscape through a knowledge-based approach i.e. data compilation, remote sensing & GIS approach, and ground truthing. The information is presented through the appreciation and understanding of the study sites by short-listing of areas of high conservation value and their management regimes. We reviewed 101 documents (74 peer reviewed and 27 unpublished) pertaining to the subject, and concept of high conservation value forests. Remote sensing and GIS data was used to generate various layers like digital elevation model (DEM), land-use land cover (LULC), drainage network, road network, protected areas network, distribution, occupancy maps of species, forest cover, slope and maps of villages in the landscape in concern. With the help of the secondary data and various GIS layers, potential high conservation value areas were identified and mapped in the remote sensing and GIS environment. Through ‘ground truthing’ of the available data and stakeholder consultations followed by field visits to the potential areas, 28 villages were visited, 13 in Lahaul and 15 in Pangi valley. Village level meetings were organized and data were collected using semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, for validation of potential high conservation value areas (HCVAs). Key informants were identified and interviewed for further validation and verification for HCVAs. A presence survey was conducted in the landscape to understand mammalian species distribution by using a combination of direct and indirect methods. Direct methods were based on visualencounters of animals whereas indirect methods relied on quantification of indirect evidences such as animal feces (pellet groups, scats, droppings), tracks (pug marks, hoof marks, scrapes) and other signs (feeding/ digging). Since all the areas surveyed were located at higher altitudes on steep and uneven terrain, the trails in the forests and alpine regions were surveyed. A total of 79 trails (1 km each), were surveyed, 25 in Lahaul, and 54 in Pangi. A total of 17 areas with high potential for conservation were identified in the entire landscape, 11 in Lahaul valley, namely, Miar valley, Naingar & Neelkanth lake, Billing-Istingri, Darcha-Jispa, Koksar, Kuruched, Hadsar, Chandratal lake, Mrikula Mata temple, Trilokinath temple, Kardang monastery; and 6 areas in Pangi, Sural Bhatori & Sural Gompa, Hudan bhatori, Kadu nallah, Sechu Tuan, Luj and Mindhal. Consequent upon these consultations and ground verification, biodiversity values and associated threats to these biodiversity values have been identified for each of the short-listed area of high conservation value and relevant recommendations prepared. It is proposed that in order to conserve the integrity of each HCVA type the status of the land in concern needs to be ascertained. The key recommendations towards this end include- 1) Demarcation of critical areas within the short-listed areas of high conservation values to serve as important livelihood source for herder communities; 2) Integrated pastureland management regimes to reduce the pressure on the pastures, and provide some time for restoration; 3) Anti-predatory livestock management through fences and other barriers, human-accompanied herding of livestock to reduce livestock losses is recommended; also, the strategies suggested by the SECURE-HWC (human-wildlife conflict) project in Lahaul-Pangi landscape, shall be followed. 4) Enhanced training to the key stakeholders concerning the extraction, harvesting and sustainable use of medicinal and aromatic plants; 5) Enhanced collaboration between the enforcement agencies (like the forest department and security forces) for improved surveillance to identify, monitor and prevent illegal activities. 6) Policy harmonization for potential HCVAs in the form of recognizing such areas as Community Conservation Reserve, Biodiversity Heritage Sites or Medicinal Plant Conservation and Development Areas.
Implementing artificial canopy bridges to connect fragmented population of Hoolock gibbon in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Jha, R.R.S; Zangmo, S.; Gopi, G.V.
Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are two principal threats to most terrestrial biodiversity across ecosystems and geographies. Gibbons are a particularly vulnerable group of primates inhabiting the forests of South and Southeast Asia. Of the 20 gibbon species – all threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN – the endangered Western Hoolock gibbon Hoolock hoolock is the only one found in India inhabiting the forests in the southern bank of the Brahmaputra-Dibang river system. The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (HGS) is a small ~21 sq.km Protected Area (PA) in Jorhat, Assam and is one of the species’ stronghold supporting around 125 individuals living in more than two dozen family groups. It is also the only PA in India named after a primate species. Apart from the W. Hoolock gibbon, the Sanctuary also harbours six other primate species – capped langur Trachypithecus pileatus, stump-tailed macaque Macaca arctoides, northern pig-tailed macaque M. leonina, Assamese macaque M. assamensis, rhesus macaque M. mulatta, and Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis, thereby having the distinction of harbouring the highest primate species diversity for any Indian PA. However, a single track ~1.65 route-km long railway line (currently broad-gauge, but un-electrified as yet) has fragmented the Sanctuary since 1887 into two unequal parts. Over time, the Sanctuary has become a ‘forest island’ having lost connectivity with surrounding forest patches. Since gibbons are exclusively arboreal animals inhabiting the forest upper canopy, they are particularly sensitive to canopy gaps. Gibbon families on both sides of the railway track have, thus, been effectively isolated from each other, thereby compromising their population genetic variability and further endangering their already threatened survival in the HGS. Worldwide, and even in India, several conservation initiatives have attempted bridging such canopy gaps in forests through artificial canopy bridge (ACB) structures to facilitate arboreal species’ movements. The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun was approached by the Divisional Forest Officer, Jorhat (Territorial) Division of the Assam State Forest Department (ASFD) to provide specific design inputs towards the installation of such canopy bridges at the HGS. In this context, this report provides design guidelines and considerations as well as specific location-wise details of seven (07) potential sites within HGS for such canopy bridges installation, following thorough literature survey, field data collection and interaction with stakeholders such as ASFD officials and field staff, railway officials and consultants, and local conservationists. We recognise and emphasise that the design, successful installation and post-installation monitoring of canopy bridges require the involvement of several individuals with professional expertise in fields such as forestry, ecology/primatology, engineering and mountaineering/climbing. Post-installation monitoring of the canopy bridge structures – both behavioural observations of animals around canopy gaps and installed structures as well as through arboreal camera traps to assess bridges’ use – is one of the most important aspect of this project. As is clear, the present un-electrified single-track ~1.65 route-km railway line passing through the HGS has caused distress and posed significant conservation issues to arboreal animals. Hence, a future doubling of the line (if planned) will increase the canopy gap to a large extent and render any conservation interventions (such as ACB installations) futile. Over the longer period of time, it will be best if the status quo is maintained, although electrification of the existing single track may be permitted subject to necessary statutory approvals with appropriate mitigation and compensation measures implemented after detailed investigation of its ecological impacts. Forest regeneration on both sides of the existing track through afforestation activities to gradually enable natural canopy connectivity, adherence of trains to speed limits when passing through HGS and its Eco-Sensitive Zone/wildlife corridors, ensuring landscape connectivity of the isolated ‘forest island’ HGS with neighbouring patches of forests, and rerouting of the existing railway line outside Sanctuary limits, and establishing and supporting low-impact home-stay based ecotourism facilities are some of the longer-term interventions necessary to ensure that W. Hoolock gibbons and other canopy-dwelling species persist and thrive within HGS and in the immediate larger landscape.
Introduction of Cheetah in India: annual report 2022-23
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) NTCA
The introduction of cheetahs in India is a complex and multi-stage process that involves careful planning, preparation, and coordination among various stakeholders. The general stages for the introduction of cheetahs in India is discussed
Knowledge support to development of guidelines, Specialized field studies and training on Human wildlife conflict mitigation in India, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) WII
The primary aim of the project was knowledge support to development of guidelines, specialized field studies and training on Human Wildlife Conflict mitigation in India. In order to achieve this aim, the following measures were planned: (a) Supporting the development of national strategy and action plan & SOPs, leading the state-level HWC mitigation guidelines for Uttarakhand, and supporting in Karnataka and West Bengal, in a participatory manner engaging all key stakeholders. (b) Support to MoEFCC on database on human wildlife conflict in India. (c) Specialized field studies and pilot measures at the project pilot sites in Karnataka, West Bengal and Uttarakhand. (d) Implementation of training and other capacity development measures engaging key stakeholders
Land-Use and Land-Cover Classification of the Elephant Reserves of India
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2022) WII-PE-MoEFCC
In this report, the present status of the LULC of the ERs in India classified based on the BHUVAN LULC layer of NRSC for the year 2018 is provided. Only five major LULC classes have been provided for the ERs, which include forests, agriculture, water, fallow and human built-up areas. Further sub-classification of forests into different forest types and tree density, and agriculture Kharifharif and rabi crops was not done. Further, using geospatial layers for the years 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2018 broad comparisons between the years were made for all the five major LULC categories of the ERs to assess any major potential disparity between the years. Additionally, the linear infrastructure comprising major roads (National and State Highways) and the Indian Railway network were mapped based on 2018