2016 ANNUAL REPORT

MESSAGE FROM COUNTRY DIRECTOR Dear friends, Without progress there is no preservation. We must always be vigilant when fighting to preserve an endangered species.

2016 was a year of significant progress for Red Panda Network (RPN). We were able to extend our reach throughout the entire red panda range of Nepal. In July, we completed a national red panda population survey which assessed this species’ presence and distribution, habitat quality and the impacts of deforestation and climate change throughout Nepal’s red panda range. Surprisingly, we discovered the presence of red pandas in Lamjung, Bhojpur and Dolpa districts!

In eastern Nepal, we are providing access to improved technologies, such as transportable herder tents and efficient cooking stoves, which is easing the lives of local people and helping to reduce forest loss and degradation.

We published a Red Panda Field Survey and Community-Based Monitoring Protocol, an important resource for researchers and conservationists, and developed a mobile application which will enhance our red panda monitoring program.

RPN developed a red panda conservation manual and it will be integrated into the curriculums of schools in Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung.

We formed the Community-based Red Panda Conservation Network (CBRPCN) to better manage Community Forests in eastern Nepal. The CBRPCN is a major victory in our efforts to institutionalize red panda conservation initiatives among these communities.

RPN improved livelihoods in eastern Nepal through a seed distribution project in Ilam, a fiber-extraction training in Taplejung, and a nature guide training in the Thumke Village of Ilam. We are pleased to be able to continue to provide skill development and income generation opportunities for local marginalized families.

We are also excited to announce our first conservation project in Bhutan! This progress will continue into 2017. Our goal now is to replicate our community-based model to western Nepal’s Jumla, Kalikot and Jajarkot districts. Red Panda habitat in these areas are fragmented and our work will help to protect and connect these populations by educating communities, growing eco-tourism, and creating sustainable living opportunities for locals.

RPN will be collaborating with Nepal’s Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forest, National Park and Wildlife Reserve Offices, District Forest Offices, District Livestock Offices, District Education Offices and District Agriculture Offices in order to accomplish this expansion.

On behalf of RPN, I would like to extend my appreciation to all of you for supporting our mission to save the red panda.

Most Sincerely,

Mr. Ang Phuri Sherpa Country Director – Nepal Red Panda Network

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MISSION

Red Panda Network is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities.

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VISION

The Red Panda Network’s vision is to ensure the survival of wild red pandas and preserve their habitat for future generations to study, experience, and enjoy.

We are committed to protecting wild red pandas and preserving their habitat through the empowerment of local communities by adaptive community-based research, education, and sustainable development.

Our intention is to create country-specific programs that will become locally managed and self-sustaining by 5 years after operation has begun. We have initiated our programs in Nepal and will incrementally duplicate our efforts in India, China, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

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OBJECTIVES ● Minimizing conversion of eastern Himalayan broadleaf and conifer forests to pasture and

farmland; ● Identifying and preserving unprotected red panda “hotspots” (i.e. areas within red panda range

countries having intact red panda habitat housing viable populations of 100 individuals or more); ● Continuing to build an anti-poaching network made up of local stakeholders, including Forest

Guardians. Forest Guardians are RPN trained workers who patrol red panda habitat, remove traps and snares, and report poaching activity to enforcement agencies;

● Assisting communities in devising socially responsible alternatives that are culturally and environmentally sensitive (sustainable livestock management practices, organic farming, etc.); and

● Increasing environmental awareness and appreciation of the fragile eastern Himalayan broadleaf and conifer eco-region and its wildlife among local villagers, decision makers, and government officials.

CROSS CUTTING THEMES

● Research and Monitoring ● Education and Outreach ● Red Panda Habitat Management ● Sustainable Livelihood Promotion

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ACHIEVEMENTS

RESEARCH AND MONITORING National Red Panda Survey With the support from the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal and the Hariyo Ban Program/USAID/WWF-Nepal, the Himali Conservation Forum and Red Panda Network (RPN) jointly carried out a national red panda survey in June and July 2016. This survey covered the entire red panda range area of Nepal and included 35 districts. Forty seven field biologists participated in this project and traversed along 1,147km of transects, collected 625 red panda fecal samples and identified and catalogued 17 species of bamboo. Red pandas were confirmed for the first time in Lamjung, Bhojpur and Dolpa Districts.

Publication of Red Panda Field Survey and Community-Based Monitoring Protocol. RPN worked with Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation in the publication of a Red Panda Field Survey for Community-Based Monitoring Protocol. This publication will provide a sound and uniform scientific method for researchers, students and local forest users to assist with the red panda field survey techniques and long-term monitoring of red pandas. The methodologies of this protocol are based on past field studies and have been tested and refined through our community-based red panda monitoring program in Eastern Nepal.

Consultation Workshop with CFUGs RPN has extended its project area to five new VDCs (Village Development Committees) in Eastern Nepal:

Sanwa, Mehele, Khewang and Olangchung Gola in Taplejung district and Gorkhe VDC in Ilam district.

During the workshop, CFUG (Community Forest User Group) members were educated on the importance

of red panda conservation and our work to save them. RPN also asked CFUG members to recommend

Forest Guardians (FGs) for their VDCs. We also discussed the location of potential monitoring blocks.

Figure 1. Field biologist collecting red panda droppings

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Establishing and Re-marking of Monitoring Transects

There are currently 52 red panda monitoring blocks in the Panchthar, Ilam and Taplejung districts, with 3

to 4 transects in each block. Transects have been re-marked (as instructed in the recently published Red

Panda Field Survey and Community-Based Monitoring Protocol) and established in 28 Community Forests.

RPN has been conducting monthly red panda monitoring in all of these monitoring blocks.

Figure 2 Consultation meeting with CFUGs

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Figure 3. Establishing and re-marking of monitoring transects

Mobile Red Panda Monitoring Program Forest Guardians (FGs) have been recording data manually on datasheets since we initiated our red panda monitoring program in 2009. This has been a highly effective program, but errors have been occurring during the data gathering and tabulation process. To reduce errors and increase the overall efficiency of our monitoring program, RPN developed and integrated a mobile red panda monitoring application. RPN organized three two-day red panda monitoring and capacity-building trainings in the PIT corridor. The first day focused on application use and monitoring techniques, and the second was a field workshop where FGs practiced monitoring in the forest. We then provided a mobile phone with the monitoring application to two FGs from each VDC as a trial. The results were positive, and we are planning to provide one mobile phone with monitoring app to each FG.

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Anti-Poaching Training and Community Forest Monitoring FGs and local forest users participated in

a two-day training on community-based

anti-poaching in Ilam and Taplejung

districts. The training focused on

detecting and dismantling snares, and

poaching investigation. During the

training, policing groups were formed in

order to effectively patrol the target

Community Forests and VDCs. Anti-

poaching monitoring was conducted by

FGs in collaboration with the District

Forests Offices (DFOs), Nepal Police, and

CFUGs.

Neutering of Feral Dogs Feral dogs are a major threat to wildlife within red panda range area in Ilam. As a result, the District Livestock Service Office has supported the neutering of 150 dogs in Jogmai, Mabu and Jamuna VDCs.

Figure 4. Capacity-building and monitoring technique training

Figure 5. Parts of red panda carcasses seized during anti-poaching monitoring

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Figure 6. Students participating in red panda awareness campaign in Kathmandu

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Red Panda Awareness-Building

A red panda awareness-building campaign was

held in Kathmandu on November 18th and 19th

along with other organizations, including WWF

Nepal, Wildlife Conservation Nepal, National

Trust for Nature Conservation, Bird Conservation

Nepal, and the Nepal Army. RPN showcased its

award-winning documentary, distributed more

than 1,000 brochures, and offered free red

panda face paintings. More than 1,500 people

were educated about red pandas during this

event.

Mini Eco-Trips for Students

Mini eco-trips were organized for members of

Roots & Shoots groups from 29 schools. 2,298

students participated in these trips to red panda

habitat where they learned about local

biodiversity and red panda conservation.

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Bulletin Publication in Schools

Students of Roots and Shoots groups published a red panda bulletin every three months. They collected stories, poems, songs, and artworks related to red pandas and other wildlife from other students (under the supervision of a teacher) and published them in the bulletin. The goal of this activity was to educate and engage students in wildlife conservation.

Figure 7. Mini Eco-trips for Roots and Shoots members

Figure 8. Red Panda bulletin board

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Figure 9. International Red Panda Day celebration in PIT Corridor

International Red Panda Day Celebration Throughout the month of September, International Red Panda Day (IRPD) was celebrated in twenty-five schools in Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) corridor of Eastern Nepal. The theme was "Save the Red Panda" and local youth participated in sports, artwork, and quiz contest activities. Over 70 zoos and institutions from around the world participated in IRPD this year. They helped us recruit Red Panda Rangers and raise awareness about red pandas and the need for their conservation. They also organized fundraisers, and proceeds supported our anti-poaching initiatives.

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Awareness Building Workshops Twelve awareness-building workshops were organized in the PIT corridor. 280 people, including local stakeholders and Forest Guardians, were sensitized on red panda conservation. Information Board Installation Three information boards displaying red panda conservation messages and content were produced and installed in Lelep VDC, Tapethok VDC and Papung VDC of Taplejung district.

Red Panda Conservation Manual In collaboration with the District Education Offices, RPN produced a red panda conservation manual. The manual content, which includes local biodiversity, climate change, and red panda conservation, was developed during a red panda conservation manual production workshop. RPN facilitated this event where local stakeholders, teachers and experts successfully drafted ten chapters for the manual. RPN is working on integrating the red panda conservation manual into the curriculums of schools in Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung. Teachers of these schools are receiving training on how to prepare and teach lessons from the manual. This initiative will cultivate red panda stewardship among students of Eastern Nepal.

Figure 10. Conservation awareness workshop

Figure 11. Information board located in Lelep inside of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area

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Figure 12. Red Panda conservation manual and curriculum meeting

Figure 13. CFUG Nursery

Figure 14. Identifying and tagging red panda food and shelter trees

Nursery Establishment Nine CFUGs were supported in maintaining nurseries that were established in 2014 and 2015. High-value Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) are being cultivated in these nurseries, which are providing local forest users with income generation opportunities. The four major species of MAPs being grown in these nurseries are Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana), Chiraito (Swertia chirayita), Sughandawal (Valeriana jatamansii) and Satuwa (Paris polyphylla). CFUGs are also growing red panda food species in these nurseries. These nurseries will help reduce forest dependency and contribute to habitat restoration and livelihood improvement efforts. Survey of Red Panda Food and Shelter Trees RPN conducted a pilot baseline survey where we identified individual trees that provide food and shelter for red pandas. 1,600 trees were identified and tagged in the Dobate area in Mabu of Ilam and 650 in the Phawakhola area in Taplejung. We recorded information on the GPS location, dBH, height and canopy cover of each shelter or food tree we tagged.

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Figure 15. Plantation site in Jaubari

Plantation in degraded red panda habitat Since 2015, RPN has been improving red panda habitat quality through a plantation program in the Jaubari area. Nearly 16ha of degraded habitat in this region has been afforested with more than 18,000 seedlings of Malingo and Ningalo (bamboo), Bhalu chinde (Schefflera spp.), Kurlingo (Rhododendron), Kapse (Maple), and Tenga (Sorbus spp). We installed fencing around the plantation site to protect it from grazing. This site has been identified as an important location for red panda habitat contiguity in the PIT corridor. Restoration of degraded pond RPN worked with the local community in restoring a small degraded pond in the Jaubari Kopche plantation site in Ilam district. This pond is the only the reliable water source for all the wildlife living in the region during the dry period (November to April). Garbage was removed and a mud wall was built around the pond to retain the water inside.

Figure 16. Restored water source in Jaubari plantation site

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SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT

Homestays in Dobato, Ilam

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Nettle Fiber Extraction Fourteen local people participated in a two-day fiber extraction training in Phurumbu VDC of Taplejung. Participants learned how to extract and weave fiber from Allo (Girardinia diversifolia). A major objective of the training was to provide skill development and income generation opportunities for local marginalized families.

Seed Distribution and Poly House Construction Based on the needs of local people, the seeds of different vegetables like cabbage, tomato, chilies, broccoli, bhedi Khursane, Akbare Khursane and bitter gourd were distributed to 11 families of Dobate village in Ilam.

Alternative Energy Promotion Fuelwood is the major source of energy for families of the PIT corridor. They use it for cooking, boiling, space heating, and cheese production. The traditional stone stoves they typically use are very inefficient, and each family consumes nearly 33 kg of fuelwood a day. These stoves also produce a lot of smoke, and continuous smoke inhalation can cause serious illnesses, including respiratory infections, pneumonia, and lung cancer. In consultation with these local families, RPN identified their needs and designed metal Improved Cooking Stoves (ICS) that are more efficient and produce fewer harmful emissions. These ICSs were finally installed in the homes of each of these families in Dobato village of Ilam.

Figure 17. Nettle fiber extraction training

Figure 18. Seed distribution and poly house construction Figure 119. 46 families are supported by poly houses

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After the installation of ICSs, RPN observed the following positive results:

More than 50% reduction in fuelwood consumption. The average daily consumption

rate was reduced from 33kg to 15kg, which will reduce local deforestation rates (caused

by firewood collection) by 50%.

Indoor air pollution and smoke inhalation have been drastically reduced. All smoke

escapes outside the kitchen, which will result in improved health for the local people.

Space heating – the temperature inside the homes has been reported to feel warmer

and more comfortable.

Water boiling systems have been installed in these ICSs, which reduces the demand for

extra firewood to boil water.

Food cooking time reduced by 29%. It used to take 17 minutes to boil 1.5lt of water.

Now it can be done in 12 minutes.

It now takes half the time to collect firewood.

Our objective is to provide ICSs to more families in the PIT corridor.

Traditional Stove

Improved Stove

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Herder Shed Improvement Livestock herding is one of the major drivers of red panda habitat loss and degradation in Eastern Nepal. Each herder has between two and four herding stations which they rotate seasonally with their livestock throughout the year. These stations require consistent maintenance, which results in an increased demand for timber. Each herding station also requires nearly 40 kg of fuelwood every day for cooking, boiling, space heating, and cheese production. These practices have resulted in deforestation and increased pressure on red panda habitat. RPN designed a herder’s tent to replace the existing wooden sheds and had a local herder test it at a herding station. The herder was Mr. Raj Kumar Rai from Panchthar district who has been in this profession for the last twenty years. He has more than 40 goats and 23 yaks, which he moves twice a year (in April he moves them to high altitude, and six months later he moves them to lower altitude to escape the winter). RPN has also designed ICSs for these sheds, which can easily be dismantled and transported to a

new location. Use of this ICSs has already revealed many of the same positive outcomes as the

family homes, including a 50% reduction in fuelwood consumption and local deforestation,

reduced indoor air pollution, and increased space heating. These tents will be tested for one

year, and we will then make improvements and modifications based on recommendations by

local herders.

Figure 20. Traditional herding station used during winter season

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Figure 21. Improved tent interior with cooking stove

Figure 22. Improved herder's tent installed at herding station

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Organic Farming Training An organic farming training was conducted in Dobate village in Mabu VDC of Ilam. 25 people from Mabu and Jamuna VDCs participated in this event where they learned the importance of organic farming and techniques such as how to make nurseries and poly houses and collect soil samples. Nature Guide Training 17 local people participated in a five-day nature guide training in Thumke Village of Ilam district. Ten of these participants were already trained nature guides and seven were new to the field. Naturalist and nature guide Mr. Hathan Chaudhary, and RPN’s Conservation Co-coordinator, Ms. Peema Sherpa, facilitated the training, which included topics such as bird identifying and mammal tracking, communication skills, and health and safety protocols. Trainees were fortunate enough to spot a red panda during the training. Community-Based Red Panda Conservation Network Formation RPN is establishing a network of CFUGs throughout the PIT corridor called the Community-Based Red Panda Conservation Network (CBRPCN). This network will be made up of three committees (one for each district) and will be responsible for managing all Community Forests in the region. The CBRPCN is a major milestone in our efforts to institutionalize red panda conservation initiatives among these communities. Protecting Red Pandas and Herder Livelihoods in Bhutan In collaboration with Charles Sturt University in Australia, the Government of Bhutan, World Wildlife Fund, and Australian Landcare International, RPN has initiated its first conservation project in Bhutan. Eastern Bhutan is home to the Brokpa, an indigenous semi-nomadic group of yak- and cattle-herders. Their traditional winter rangelands overlap with Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, a richly biodiverse preserve containing red panda habitat. This project will help the Brokpa manage their land more effectively and sustainably by introducing them to community land care techniques developed in Australia. Better-managed land use will mean that the Brokpa will be able to maintain their way of life more easily and safely, while also improving their livelihoods and reducing human pressure on nearby red panda habitat.

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CONSERVATION PARTNERS

Aachener Tierpark AG Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation

Ahtari Zoo Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes

Akron Zoo Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden

American Association of Zoos and Aquariums Milwaukee County Zoo

Assiniboine Park Zoo Miyazaki Municipal Zoo

Auckland Zoo Monde Sauvage Safari

Benevity Community Impact Fund Münchener Tierpark Hellabrunn

Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park Nashville Zoo

Birmingham Zoo Naturschutz-Tierpak Goerlitz

Blank Park Zoo Nordens Ark

Boras Djurpark Zoo North of England Zoological Society

Brandywine Zoo Norristown Zoological Society

Brookfield Zoo Ogrod Zoologiczny Opole

Cape May County Zoo Omuta Zoo

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Osaka Municipal (Tennoji) Zoo

Chiba Municipal Zoo Ouwehands Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo Paradise Park – Cornwall

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Paradise Wildlife Park

Colchester Zoo Parc Animaliar

Cologne Zoo Parco Natura Viva – Garda Zoological Park

Columbus Zoo Parc Zoologic de Barcelona

Connaitre et Proteger le Panda Roux Parc Zoologique de Champrépus

Copenhage Zoo Parc Zoologique de la Barben

Creations 4 Wildlife Parc Zoologique de La Fleche

Detroit Zoological Society Parco Faunistico La Torbiera

DieranPark Amersfort Parken Zoo i Eskilstuna

Disney Conservation Fund Potawatomi Zoo

Dudley Zoo Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

East Angle Zoological Society Port Lympne Reserve

Edinburgh Zoo - Scottisch National Zoo Potter Park Zoo

Edmonton Valley Zoo Pueblo Zoo

Elmwood Park Zoo Rain Forest Trust

Erie Zoological Society Rotterdam Zoo

European Association of Zoos and Aquarium Sacramento Zoo

Flamingo Land Saitama Children’s Zoo

Fort Wayne Zoological Society Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn

Franklin Park Zoo San Diego Zoo

Fuutaas San Francisco Zoo

GaiaZoo Saskatoon Zoo Society

Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia Scoville Zoo

Givskud Zoo Sendai Yagiyama Zoological Park

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Greenville Zoo Sequoia Park Zoo

Groupe Banque Populaire Shepreth Wildlife Park

Hamamatsu Zoo Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund

Hamura Zoo Tiergarten der Stadt Nürnberg

Helsinki Zoo Tierpark Berlin

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Tierpark Hellabrunn

Henry Vilas Zoo Tobe Zoological Park

Hirakawa (Kagoshima) Zoo Toronto Zoo

Hiroshima Asa Zoo Touroparc Zoo

Hitachi Kamine Zoo Triangle Community Foundation

Houston Zoo Vogelpark Avifauna

Ikeda (Okayama) Zoo Wellington Zoo

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Welsh Mountain Zoo

International Conservation Fund of Canada Woodland Park Zoo

Itozu (Kitakyushu) Zoo WWF Nepal

Jardin Zoologique de la Ville de Lyon Yahoo Employment Fund

Kittenberger Kálmán Yokohama Zoo (Zoorasia)

Knoxville Zoo Zivalski vrt Ljubljana

Kolmardens Djurpark Zoo Atlanta

L’espace zoologique de Saint Martin la Plaine Zoo de la Barben

La Passerelle Zoo de Granby

Lake District Wildlife Park Zoo di Pistoia

Le bioparc de doué-la-Fontaine Zoo Dortmund

Le Pal Zoo Dresden

Le parc animalier de Sainte-Croix Zoo du Bassin d'Arcachon

Le parc de Clères Zoo Hannover

Le parc zoologique et botanique de Mulhous Zoo Liberec

Le zoo de Bordeaux-Pessac Zoo Miami

Le zoo de Champrépus Zoo New England

Le zoo de Jurques Zoo Parc de Beauval

Le zoo de la Boissiere-du-Dore Zoo Parc de Reynou

Le zoo de La Fleche Zoo Vienna

Le zoo de Pont-Scorff Zoological Society of Ireland-Dublin

Le zoo de Tregomeur Zoologischer Garten Karlsruhe

Lee Richardson Zoo Zoologischer Garten Leipzig

Longleat Safari Park Zoom Torino

Medway Charitable Trust Zooparc de Trégomeur

Thank you to our individual supporters, or Red Panda stewards and Guardians, for your ongoing support and commitment to preserving this beloved species.

Red Panda Network

1859 Powell St. Suite 100

San Francisco, CA 94133

(541)228-1902

info@redpandanetwork.org

www.redpandanetwork.org