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Kichloo, M. A., Sharma, K., Sharma, N. (2023). Climate casualties or human disturbance? Shrinking distribution of the three large carnivores in the Greater Himalaya. Springer – Climatic Change, 176(118), 1–17.
Abstract: Mammalian carnivores are key to our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, but most of them are threatened with extinction all over the world. Conservating large carnivores is often an arduous task considering the complex relationship between humans and carnivores, and the diverse range and reasons of threats they face. Climate change is exacerbating the situation further by interacting with most existing threats and amplifying their impacts. The Mountains of Central and South Asia are warming twice as rapidly as the rest of the northern hemisphere. There has been limited research on the effect of climate change and other variables on large carnivores. We studied the patterns in spatio-temporal distribution of three sympatric carnivores, common leopard, snow leopard, and Asiatic black bear in Kishtwar high altitude National Park, a protected area in the Great Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. We investigated the effects of key habitat characteristics as well as human disturbance and climatic factors to understand the spatio-temporal change in their distributions between the early 1990s and around the year 2016–2017. We found a marked contraction in the distribution of the three carnivores between the two time periods. While snow leopard shifted upwards and further away from human settlements, common leopard and Asiatic black bear suffered higher rates of local extinctions at higher altitudes and shifted to lower areas with more vegetation, even if that brought them closer to settlements. We also found some evidence that snow leopards were less likely to have faced range contraction in areas with permanent glaciers. Our study underscores the importance of climate adaptive conservation practices for long-term management in the Greater Himalaya, including the monitoring of changes in habitat, and space-use patterns by human communities and wildlife.
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Murali, R., Bijoor, A., Thinley, T., Gurmet, K., Chunit, K., Tobge, R., Thuktan, T., Suryawanshi, K., Nagendra, H., Mishra, C. (2022). Indigenous governance structures for maintaining an ecosystem service in an agro-pastoral community in the Indian Trans Himalaya. Ecosystems and People, 18(1), 303–314.
Abstract: The majority of the global terrestrial biodiversity occurs on indigenous lands, and biodiversity decline on these lands is relatively slower. Yet, robust understanding of indigenous governance systems for biodiversity and ecosystem services remains a key knowledge gap. We used the socio-ecological systems framework to study the governance of ecosystem services (ES) by an indigenous community in the Village of Kibber in the Trans-Himalayan Mountains of India. Focusing on plant-biomass removal from communal pastures, we identified the main factors shaping local governance using in-depth focal and deliberative group discussions with community members. Notwithstanding inequities of caste and gender, we found that Kibber had a well-functioning, complex, relatively democratic and inclusive system, with all households of the village involved in decision-making related to ES governance. Robust systems of information sharing, monitoring, conflict resolution, and self-organization played an important role. We found the role of institutional memory sustained by the oracle to be critical in maintaining governance structures. Our work underscores the potential resilience and importance of indigenous systems for the governance of ecosystem services.
Keywords: Commons; local governance; plant-harvest; rangelands; Spiti Valley
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Halemba, A., & Donahoe, B. (2009). Local perspectives on hunting and poaching: Research report for WWF Russia Altai-Saian Ecoregion. WWF Report, , 1–34. |
Zahler, P., & Graham, P. (2001). War and wildlife: the Afghanistan conflict and its effects on the environment. Seattle: International Snow Leopard Trust.
Abstract: The International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT) is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the conservation of the endangered snow leopard and its mountain ecosystem through a balanced approach that considers the needs of the local people and the environment. As such, we wish to stress that the ISLT does not have a position regarding the present conflict in Afghanistan. However, this organization believes that there are important repercussions regarding this conflict that have yet to be addressed in the media, within government circles, or among the public. This report documents some of these repercussions so that they may be included in the present dialog.
Keywords: war; wildlife; Afghanistan; conflict; effects; environment; International; international snow leopard trust; International-Snow-Leopard-Trust; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; trust; Islt; environmental; Organization; conservation; endangered; mountain; mountain ecosystem; mountain-ecosystem; ecosystem; approach; local; local people; people; Media; government; public; Report
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2001). Visitor Attitude and Market Survey for Planning Community-based Tourism Initiatives in Rural Ladakh (Vol. SLC Field Series Document No. 2.). Los Gatos, California.
Abstract: Bounded by two of the world's highest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram, Ladakh is a land of exhilarating mountain landscapes, rocky gorges and a unique cultural heritage. It is also home to distinctive wildlife such as the snow leopard, blue sheep and Tibetan wild ass, all living in a unique high altitude desert ecosystem. Not surprisingly, Ladakh is becoming a sought after tourist destination for international and domestic visitors alike. Over the past two decades tourism has grown substantially, although erratically, with both positive and less positive results for Ladakh's environment and people. People are recognizing that it is important to act now and engage in an informed dialogue in order to conserve the natural and cultural resources on which the future of tourism and related incomes depend. The Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) is working in collaboration with local communities and nongovernmental organizations to foster co-existence between people and predators like the endangered snow leopard by reducing livestock depredation losses and improving household incomes in environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable ways. Well-balanced tourism is one income generating option.
Keywords: attitude; survey; planning; community-based; tourism; rural; Ladakh; mountain; range; Himalaya; Karakoram; land; landscapes; landscape; gorge; home; wildlife; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; blue; blue sheep; blue-sheep; sheep; tibetan; Tibetan wild ass; wild; wild ass; wild-ass; High; desert; ecosystem; International; domestic; environment; people; conserve; resource; income; Snow Leopard Conservancy; local; community; Organization; co-existence; predators; predator; endangered; reducing; livestock; livestock depredation; livestock-depredation; depredation; loss
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2002). A Survey of Kathmandu-based Trekking Agencies: Market Opportunities for Linking Community-Based Ecotourism with the Conservation of Snow Leopard in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Report prepared for WWF-Nepal Programme (Vol. SLC Field Series Document No. 4). Los Gatos, California.
Abstract: In 2001 the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) and WWF-Nepal initiated a collaborative project aimed at enhancing ecotourism in the Manang area, in ways that strengthen benefits to local communities while also protecting the environment and the local culture. Manang is known for its relatively dense snow leopard population, along with supporting good numbers of blue sheep, the endangered cat's principal prey through much of the Himalaya. However, snow leopards periodically kill many livestock, leading to retributive killing by herders along with other associated people-wildlife conflict. In order to encourage the local people to better co-exist with snow leopards and other wildlife, SLC, WWF-Nepal and ACAP agreed to explore ways of providing tourism benefits to local communities as an incentive to protect this rare predator and conserve its alpine habitat. Key in this regard is the possibility of developing locally guided nature treks, and accordingly, this survey was conducted in order to assess existing market opportunities and constraints to such ecotourism enterprise.
Keywords: survey; trekking; linking; community-based; ecotourism; conservation; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; annapurna; annapurna conservation area; Annapurna-Conservation-Area; area; Report; trust; nature; nature conservation; Acap; Snow Leopard Conservancy; project; Manang; local; community; environment; Culture; population; number; blue; blue sheep; blue-sheep; sheep; endangered; cat; prey; Himalaya; snow leopards; snow-leopards; leopards; kill; livestock; killing; herders; herder; conflict; local people; people; wildlife; tourism; incentive; protect; predator; conserve; alpine; habitat
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2002). A Learning Tour of the CBN (Corbett, Nainital and Binsar) Eco-tourism Initiative Sites by Villagers from Hemis National Park and the Surrounding Area (18-28th November 2002) (R. Wangchuk, & J. Dadul, Eds.) (Vol. SLC Field Document Series No 5). Leh, Ladakh, India.
Abstract: Ladakh lies between the Great Himalayas and the formidable Karakoram mountains.
Its unique landscape and rich cultural heritage have been a great attraction to tourists all over the world. Apart from its uniqueness it has a rich Trans-Himalayan bio-diversity and is home to the rare and elusive snow leopard. It opened to tourism in 1974 with a handful of tourists and has gone up to the present number of about 18,000 visitors annually. Ecotourism started in Ladakh in mid 80s in the form of conservation of traditional architecture when local communities realized the importance of their rich culture and traditions being valued by the visiting tourists. However, while tourism became a major source of income to people in Leh, most of the benefits stayed with outside (Delhi) based travel agents thus leaving out the rural masses. During the last three years Snow Leopard Conservancy and The Mountain Institute have been initiating ecotourism activities with local communities in the Hemis National Park as an alternate livelihood and an indirect way to compensate losses of livestock from predatory animals. However, local people while venturing into such new initiatives have tended to be like blind men that are being led by NGO's so that they do not stumble along their paths. Keywords: Ladakh; Himalayas; Himalaya; Karakoram; mountains; mountain; landscape; tourists; trans-himalayan; transhimalayan; biodiversity; home; snow; snow leopard; snow-leopard; leopard; tourism; number; ecotourism; 80; conservation; traditional; local; community; Culture; income; people; leh; travel; rural; Snow Leopard Conservancy; ecotourism activities; ecotourism-activities; activities; activity; Hemis; national; national park; National-park; park; livelihood; loss; livestock; Animals; Animal; local people; NGO's; eco-tourism; villagers; area
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The Snow Leopard Conservancy. (2003). Local People's Attitudes toward Wildlife Conservation in the Hemis National Park, with Special Reference to the Conservation of Large Predators (Vol. 7). Sonoma, California. |
Mongolian Biosphere & Ecology Association. (2010). Mongolian Biosphere & Ecology Association Report March 2010.
Abstract: In accordance with order of the Ministry of Nature and Tourism,
zoologists of our association have made surveys in three ways such as reasons why snow leopards attack domestic animals, “Snow leopard” trial operation to count them and illegal hunting in territories of Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Uvurkhangai and Umnugobi provinces from September 2009 to January 2010. As result of these surveys it has made the following conclusions in the followings: Reason to hunt them illegally: the principal reason is that administrative units have been increased and territories of administrative units have been diminished. There have been four provinces in 1924 to 1926, 18 since 1965, 21 since 1990. Such situation limits movements of herdsmen completely and pastures digressed much than ever before. As result of such situation, 70% of pastures become desert. Such digression caused not only heads of animals and also number of species. Guarantee is that birds such as owls, cuckoo, willow grouse in banks of Uyert river, Burkhanbuudai mountain, located in Biger soum, Gobi-Altai province, which are not hunted by hunters, are disappearing in the recent two decades. For that reason we consider it is urgently necessary for the government to convert administrative unit structures into four provinces. This would influence herdsmen moving across hundreds km and pastures could depart from digression. Second reason: cooperative movement won. The issues related to management and strengthening of national cooperatives, considered by Central Committee of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party in the meeting in March 1953 was the start of cooperatives' movement. Consideration by Yu. Tsedenbal, chairman of Ministers Council, chairman of the MPRP, on report "Result of to unify popular units and some important issues to maintain entity management of agricultural cooperatives" in the fourth meeting by the Central Committee of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party /MPRP/ on December 16-17, 1959, proclaimed complete victory of cooperative. At the end of 1959, it could unify 767 small cooperative into 389 ones, unify 99.3 % of herdsmen and socialize 73.3 % of animals. The remaining of animals amount 6 million 163 thousands animals, and equals to 26.7% of total animals. This concerned number of animals related to the article mentioned that every family should have not more that 50 animals in Khangai zone and not more 75 animals in Gobi desert. It shows that such number could not satisfy needs of family if such number is divided into five main animals in separating with reproduction animals and adult animals. So herdsmen started hunt hoofed animals secretly and illegally in order to satisfy their meat needs. Those animals included main food of snow leopard such as ibex, wild sheep, and marmot. Third reason is that the state used to hunt ibex, which are main nutrition of snow leopards, every year. The administrative unit of the soum pursued policy to hunt ibex in order to provide meat needs of secondary schools and hospitals. That's why this affected decrease of ibex population. Preciously from 1986 to 1990 the permissions to hunt one thousands of wild sheep and two thousands of ibexes were hunt for domestic alimentary use every year. Not less than 10 local hunters of every soum used to take part in big game of ibexes. Also they hunted many ibexes, chose 3-10 best ibexes and hid them in the mountains for their consummation during hunting. Fourth reason: hunting of wolves. Until 1990 the state used to give prizes to hunter, who killed a wolf in any seasons of the year. Firstly it offered a sheep for the wolf hunter and later it gave 25 tugrugs /15 USD/. Every year, wolf hunting was organized several times especially picking wolf-cubs influenced spread and population of wolves. So snow leopard came to the places where wolves survived before and attack domestic animals. Such situation continued until 1990. Now population of ibexes has decreased than before 1990 since the state stopped hunting wolves, population of wolves increased in mountainous zones. We didn't consider it had been right since it was natural event. However population of ibexes decreased. Fifth reason: Global warming. In recent five years it has had a drought and natural disaster from excessive snow in the places where it has never had such natural disasters before. But Mongolia has 40 million heads of domestic animals it has never increased like such quantity in its history before. We consider it is not incorrect that decrease of domestic animals could give opportunities to raise population of wild animals. Our next survey is to make attempt to fix heads of snow leopards correctly with low costs. Keywords: nature; tourism; surveys; survey; snow; snow leopards; snow leopard; snow-leopards; snow-leopard; leopards; leopard; attack; domestic; Animals; Animal; illegal; illegal hunting; hunting; territory; province; 2010; hunt; 1990; movements; movement; pasture; desert; number; species; birds; river; mountain; hunters; hunter; recent; government; structure; management; national; central; people; Report; gobi; Gobi Desert; reproduction; Adult; meat; food; ibex; wild; wild sheep; sheep; marmot; nutrition; schools; population; use; local; big; big game; big-game; game; 310; mountains; wolves; wolf; Seasons; times; zones; global; Mongolia; 40; history; ecology
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Mehta, J., & Heinen, J. T. (2001). Does community-based conservation shape favorable attitudes among locals? An empirical study from Nepal. Environmental Management, 28(2), 165–177.
Abstract: Like many developing countries, Nepal has adopted a community-based conservation (CBC) approach in recent years to manage its protected areas mainly in response to poor park-people relations. Among other things, under this approach the government has created new “people-oriented” conservation areas, formed and devolved legal authority to grassroots-level institutions to manage local resources, fostered infrastructure development, promoted tourism, and provided income-generating trainings to local people. Of interest to policy-makers and resource managers in Nepal and worldwide is whether this approach to conservation leads to improved attitudes on the part of local people. It is also important to know if personal costs and benefits associated with various intervention programs, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics influence these attitudes. We explore these questions by looking at the experiences in Annapurna and Makalu-Baran Conservation Areas, Nepal, which have largely adopted a CBC approach in policy formulation, planning, and management. The research was conducted during 1996 and 1997; the data collection methods included random household questionnaire surveys, informal interviews, and review of official records and published literature. The results indicated that the majority of local people held favorable attitudes toward these conservation areas. Logistic regression results revealed that participation in training, benefit from tourism, wildlife depredation issue, ethnicity, gender, and education level were the significant predictors of local attitudes in one of the other conservation area. We conclude that the CBC approach has potential to shape favorable local attitudes and that these attitudes will be mediated by some personal attributes.
Keywords: community-based; conservation; attitudes; attitude; local; study; Nepal
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