Kanchanjanga Conservation Area

An Overview on Kanchanjangha Conservation Area_Lila

Background of the study

In order to the brief background on overall aspects of KCA is that, as the introductory part is slightly focused a hotspot of Nepal. It was stated by Government of Nepal, Kangchenjunga south face from Nepal
DNPWC AND WWF Nepal on1997, named after The Kanchenjunga Mountain the world's third (second of Nepal) mountain with 8586 m. high altitude. This is located in the Himalayan range of far northeast corner of Nepal, bordered by Tibet autonomous (China) to the north and Sikkim (India) to the east. As we know that in our Nepal
118 ecosystem is found allover the country and 12 ecosystems are found within KCA though small than others CA and National park comparatively. It's cover only 1.4 percent area of land of entire Nepal and 56% of Taplejung districts. Its cover only four VDCs (Lelep, Tapethok, Olanchung gola and Yamphudin) of Taplejung Districts. It is known and conserving as rich habitants for many endemic and endangered flora and fauna species, like snow-leopard, red panda and several medicinal plants. To the perfect access for KCA takes one and half walking from southern boundary up to Lelep and Yamphudin base camp.
Kangchenjunga, Map by Garwood, 1903.

It was declared with the area of 1650 sq. km land and later on has been extended within 2035 sq. km. and even trans-boundary landscape among tri-countries (Nepal, China and India). In April 1997, Government of Nepal declared Kanchenjunga region as a Gift to the Earth as part of WWF’s Living Planet Campaign 2000.

Due to its remoteness more or less historically has been affected by external influences in a sense of political isolation, even either domestic or foreign. No roads services within KCA only a way of single service of helicopter in emergence rescue in a few places like Ghunsa and Lelep. So it is really far from the transportation access, even every trekkers should have enjoy with lots of rudimentary trails to see and drags natural amenities and essence trips of conservation area.
Socio-economic and cultural practices

KCA is residential area of diverse ethnicity like Sherpa, Limbu, Bhotiya, Chettri, Gurung, Rai, Tibetan, and Walangpa ethnicity. In KCA 35 villages are scattered within four VDCs with approximately 5,500 populations. Almost of area are covered by rock-land (41.2%) means that tiny portion of land (only o.5%) is better for tillage. So, huge number of people is being enforced for several occupations instead of agro- practices,
like eco-tourism activities, non-timber harvesting, animal husbandries and further more others trades . In recognition of the Kanchenjunga region's rich biological
diversity, the government of Nepal
A tourist on trekking trail Near Khujari
designated the region a conservation area in 1998. The region's lands and natural resources were gazzetteed by the national government, and management responsibility was bestowed upon an internationally funded non-governmental organization, WWF, with cooperation from Nepal's, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNP

Flora species T/N Fauna species T/N

Thingre shalla _ Snow leopard 39
Dhupi _ Red panda _
Himalayan lark _ Himalayan black dear _
Rhododendron _ Musk dear _
Orchids 48 Macaque _
NTFPs 137 Clouded leopard _
Endangered 24 Grey wolf _
endemic 13 Blue sheep 1680
T/N= types/numbers birds 253
Flora and Fauna in KCA Eight Types of Vegetation in KCA
s.n. Altitude (m.) Typef of vegetation
1 2101 Upper Alpine Meadow
2 2231 Moist Alpine Scrub
3 3211 Fir Forest
4 3212 Larch Forest
5 4136 Mixed Rhododendron-Alpine forest
6 4235 East Himalayan Oak- Laurel Forest
7 5053 Schema Castanopsis Forest
8 6131 Hill Sal Forest Meconopsis horridul,Jaljale,4500m,Taplejung
Twelve Types of Ecosystem

s.n. Altitude Types of Ecosystem
1 1000 Glaciers. Snow, Rocks
2 1201 Alpine meadows with Graminae and Cyperancae
3 2202 Meshohygrophile Rhododendrons(R. antopogen R. navale
4 2206 Shrublands with Rhododendrons

5 3121 Upper Sub-alpine, Rhododendrons Shrublands
6 3220 Lower, Sub-alkpine, abies Spectabilies Forest
7 3221 Larix Graffithiana Forest
8 4008 Hemlock Forest (Tsuga Dumosa)
9 4023 Hygrophytic Forest with Quercus Lamellosa
10 5052 Mixed Broadleafed Forest
11 6110 Hygrophylic Schema Wallichi
12 6220 Schema Wallichii, Castonopsis, Indica Hygrophytic
Challenges and issues related to anthropogenic activities and management policies

Kanchanjangha conservation area is running under the various legislative provisions which were introduced in course of time since 1973, And more respectively under the Kanchanjagha Conservation Area Management Regulation, (KCAMR- 2064 BS).

• National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973
• National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Regulations 1974
• Mountaineering Expedition Regulations 1979
• Conservation Area Government Regulations 1997
• Kanchanjangha Conservation Area Management Regulation, 2064 BS

Problems in KCA by anthropogenic activities
As I know so far that, KCA is tri-boundary hotspots according to Sacred Himalayan Landscape (SHL) Project, 2006. Due to the pro-poverty, most of the people enforcedly take part in illegal
activities beyond the KCA rules and regulation, for instance; poaching animal and NTFPs (several types of medicinal plants like shrubs and herbs) for the purpose of fulfilling basic needs. Its extreme challenges to cope the conservation goals of KCA, even it can be consider as the fact. It is why because if we seriously overview the recent data which is given by the several research study in course of along time. It is increasing the anthropogenic activities over there on KCA unknowingly. Due to deteriorating of wildlife habitats and hunting / poaching of natural pray species of snow-leopard, usually snow-leopard kills the domestic animals. As the result human wildlife conflict has been started since long back, people used to kill snow-leopard by using poisons in carcass as revenge. That’s the reason number of snow- leopard is being decreased.


And another main purpose of poaching the wild life is that, people used to sell the fur, bone and leather of snow-leopard broadly in Tibetan market, even every parts of it is equally important to use medicinal harvesting purpose. Similarly, red panda and musk dear are also under the poaching because navel of musk dear is used to render nice perfume and others medical products. Funding sustainability, capacity of local communities, ICDP related programme linkages with Government PA system, park people programme, poaching and illegal collection of NTFPs and ontrolling trans boundary activities with out gun these all are burning issues of KCA management.
Management policies of Government over KCA
So long far as the far cited vision the Government of Nepal formed KCAMC on 2006 and handed over the management responsibility to the local communities, then under the KCAMC has formed number of different bodies. For instance; 81 user groups at VDCs level and 32 mother groups and 22 community forest user groups at settlement level and three snow-leopard conservation sub-groups. Later on the snow-leopard conservation sub-bodies were authorized to run a project that is Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) as innovative notion to reduce the human wildlife conflict. Even, furthermore Government of Nepal made a Kanchanjangha Conservation Area management Regulation for the better management of KCA on 2064 BS, and since there KCA has been managing through that (KCAMR-2064).
A joint project of DNPWC, Government of Nepal and WWF Nepal has been implemented Kanchanjangha Conservation Area Project (KCAP) since starting phase. The KCAP with goal to conservation and management of biodiversity of KCA for uplifting the socio-economic status through different activities was started. Different Community based endowment fund for post project (SLCC for Snow leopard, Mother Groups Girl scholarship, CFUG IGA etc.), similarly, establishment of network with other partners such as PAF, DDC and others so more. Physical and financial constraints prevent networking and regular exchange of information and best practices among countries within the landscape.Conservation is still lagging behind infrastructure, inclusiveness in conservation and security on different corridor are also under the big question of KCA management.

It conducts lots of public participatory activities, like High Mountain Ecosystem Conservation and Management (HMWCM), Community Forest Management (CFM), Skill Development Training (SDT), NTFPs and medicinal plant harvesting and marketing (specially for the women),

Conservation education and workshop etc are contucted. These programs specially have focused to disadvantages groups, women, Dalit and youths. Later on the crucial role of KCAP has been decreasing gradually since introduced of KCAMC on 2006. It can be ensured that KCAMC can be a capable conservation organization.



From the KANTIPUR DAILY about KCA (Posted on: 2010-11-19 08:05)
TAPLEGUNJ, NOV 19 - The population of bharal—Himalayan blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), a caprid found in the high Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, Kashmir, Pakistan, Bhutan andIndia—is 1,500 in Kanchanjangha Conservation Area (KCA), according to a report of the World Wildlife Fund. WWF research officer Kamal Thapa and acting conservation officer of KCA Shiva Lal Gaire with the help of locals conducted a census to count the number of the endangered species in four areas. According to the report, there are 448 ewes and 275 and 185 adult ram and ewe, respectively. The number of male lambs and female lambs is 177 and 250, respectively. As many as 58 habitats of blue sheep were inspected during the census carried out in Yang, Olangchunggola, Khambachhen and Ramjel with the help of telescopes and binoculars. Officials involved in the head count say blue sheep are herd-oriented animals. Blue sheep migrate to mountain areas with the onset of summer while during winter they descend to lower altitudes. Hunters highly prize blue sheep for their meat.
Conservation policies of KCA
• Current checklists include 13 mammal, and 280 bird species is found
• Fifteen species of mammals found in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) are protected under CITES
• Seven species of mammals and one bird species are protected under Appendix I of NPWC Act 1973
• Mammal species symbolic of KCA include the Snow leopard, musk deer and Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
• Bird species symbolic of the area include the Golden-breasted fulvetta, snow cock, blood pheasant, and red-billed chough
• Declared as a ‘Gift to the Earth’ in April 1997 by HMG of Nepal in support of WWF’s Living Planet Campaign in recognition of the areas' rich natural and cultural resources (WWF 2003)

Achievements

• The major achievements of Kangchenjunga Conservation Area are as follows;
• Research endeavors conducted in and around KCA have studied ecotourism, transhumance grazing, and the red panda
• Government of Nepal has declared and lunched a very crucial project over there as SHL tri-boundary Plan on September 22th 2006,

Development of the Kanchenjunga Management Plan is currently underway

• Successful development of user committee operational plan like community forest
• Successful development and monitoring of the Snow Leopard Action Plan as livestock insurance scheme, completion of Red Panda status survey
• Development of a Tourism Plan by the DNPWC designed to introduce and regulate efficient tourism management practices surrounding KCA
• Effective formation of Conservation Area Management Council in different levels
• Extension of KCA areas from 1,650 sq. km. to 2,035 sq. km.
• WWF is promoting a long-term concept of a ‘Tri-Nation Peace Park’ in collaboration with several international organizations to connect KCA to neighboring protected areas in India and China (WWF,2003)

Overall Critics on KCA
Still 66% people are under the poverty line due to various causes. One of the major causes might be less fertile land lagging behind other tributary causes around main factors. On the date of September 22th 2006, Government of Nepal has declared and lunched a very crucial project over there as SHL tri-boundary Plan. Through the Kanchanjangha Conservation Area Project (KCAP), it has given focusing to reduce the poverty with several income generation activities. Focusing to the reduction of poverty as much rather than conservation, automatically can be raised a big question if the challenges has been created over ride to conservation policy and what about conservation sustainability? More over it doesn't mean that, has been taken poverty reduction under the less priority but had better to think about conservation and poverty reduction in a proper manner, simultaneously.
Through the integration of community infrastructure and socio- economic development needs into conservation, and working towards sustainable financing and institution building to increase local self-reliance (Gurung,2006). A poor area like KCA can achieve conservation goals more effectively than the protected areas with regulatory mechanisms. For the purpose of sustainability would have struggled hard to seek out the necessary local support.
The provision to compensate for livestock degradation through the livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) plan is yet a new innovative seen KCA. This model is considered advanced because the government has committed to make entire transfer of management responsibility through the council to the local community. Here a big question rises that if the transfer has been so quick on the part of government what about the capacity of KCAMC and even council does not seems strong for efficiency managerial capacity to manage such a board protected area.
It provides a good model for the rest of Protected Areas in the Kanchanjangha Landscape. The major massage would be that participation of public is more critical to effective Protected Areas management, even good governance. It can be reduce a great financial load to the government and deployment burden.
So respectively, can be said that lots of issues are over there on KCA, and likewise
 Sustainability of livestock insurance scheme is likely not easy
 Human-wildlife conflicts are very much serious or challenging issues for KCA
 NTFPs are threatened from over-harvesting and from the illegal activities
 Decreasing of snow leopard, Red panda, musk dear and others wildlife is very serious incident to sustain and conservation of biodiversity in KCA
 Priority has given to the livelihoods rather than conservation
 Conservation is still lagging behind infrastructure so most of physical infrastructure should be developed in rapid ratio as much as possible.
Recommendation
For the further betterment of KCA as the recommendation I would suggest should have given focused over the following matter.
• Regular technical and financial support is necessary until its full establishment
• Other financial source must be explored, capacity building of local community representatives and council staffs
• Promote Eco-tourism related activities and strengthen insurance scheme to all KCA with covering all WL similarly should be updated major data and information for better management and policies and strategies for biodiversity conservation as well.

• Better to promote the alternatives sources of fuel wood energy
• Better to think to be sustain itself if pull out hand by donor agency and eco- tourism activities and capacity building training for youths, DAGs and entire communities
• Better to increase the bamboo harvesting to built houses and should reduce the livelihood priorities
• Focused to enhance the interlinks among other INGOs and NGOs and common commitment is necessary among relevant countries