Role of Women in Biodiversity Conservation (Security): Lesson Learnt from HIMAWANTI(THE HIMALAYAN GRASSROOTS WOMEN'S NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF NEPAL) Nepal

Author: Anita Shrestha, Gopi Paudel

Women has been contributing great role for conservation of biodiversity and protection of the community forest.  With the support from Asia- Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) , HIMWAWANTI Nepal has conducted the biodiversity study in Laglage Pakha CF of Chandragiri Municipility, Kathmandu. For this study two methods were applied  first one is technical method like direct and indirect method (camera trapping, sign survey) for mammals, transect survey for birds and  recorded all the butterfly and herpeto fauna and other was social method where study team interacted local people for  verify this technical data.

The result was found that there were found 12 species of mammals, 136 species of birds, 52 species of butterfly and eight species of herpeto fauna in entire field survey. Due to women participation for conservation of forest and not allow to poaching by women, more species have been found. Large Indian Civet and Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin were trapped in the camera.Burrows were found sufficiently. Most importantly, it was found that three globally, five nationally threatened and two protected mammal species of Nepal.  This area was found to be suitable habitat for the summer visitor birds, that were 10 species; e.g. Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerines), Drongo Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) etc. Two nationally threatened bird species, Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and Pied Thrush (Zoothera wardii) were found. This all species have been protected through high effort of women for conservation and management of biodiversity

Key word.

Biodiversity

Community forest

Fauna

Mammals