Baseline survey for Pilot Program completed

Hangetham : the historic area for biodiveristy and religeious ponds (Left)

The Kal Pokhari of Hangetham which is being dried (Right)









As a part of project activities (SCBS/CEPF), baseline survey of Hangetham forest of Jamuna VDC (the religeous forest area) was completed in the beginning of November, 2007. The survey has been conducted to carry out the potential project activities as pilot activities for biodiversity conservation through religious point of view. The project activiities will include restoration of traditional ponds, conservation of key floral and faunal species which are threatened, intorduction of eco friendly livelihood activities, and institutinal strengthening 0f local communiites for biodiversity conservation in Hangetham area. NOw, the survey report is compiling. Mr. Rajeshwor Rijal Field Facilitator of ICC for the area has been visited the area for a week to explore the key information about the area.

For more details:

Bishnu Prasad Kafle

Project Manager

Ilam Cooperation Council (ICC), Ilam

iccilam.biodiversity@gmail.com

Resource Inventory Training in Maimajhuwa

Three days Resource Inventory and BIodiversity Monitoring training in Maimajhuwa VDC was organized in the month of October under CEPF preoject SCBS. 17 participants were participated the workshop from 4 CFUGs. Altogether, 12 sessions including 8 theory and 4 practical were delivered. Bishnu Kafle, project manager and Bhim Ekten, Field Facilitator facilited the training.

Field Session of Training

AWARENESS WORKSHOP FOR LIVESTOCK HERDERS

Two awareness rising workshop for livestock herders in two key sites of Jogmai and Maimajhuwa on grazing land management and biodiversity conservation were organized as a part of activiites of CEPF funded project SCBS in the month of October and November. In the workshop, the present situation of livestock herds, their distribution, impact on biodiversity, probems and challentges, grazing land manangment measures and strategies as well ans alternative actin to be taken to conserve biodiversity in the area. ABout 60 livestock herders and CF users were participated. InMaimajhuwa, the program was jointly organized with Shandakpur Livestock herders group. Ram Rimal, Keshav Thapa, Rajeshwor Rijal, and Lal Bahadur of DLSO facilitated the workshop. In the beginning of 2008, grazing management plan will be prepared in these areas.

For more details

Bishnu Prasad Kafle

Project Mananger

Ilam Cooperation Council (ICC), Ilam

iccilam.biodiversity@gmail.com

Field Facilitator Newly Appointed

Mr. Bhim Bahadur Ekten, 24 of Siddhithumka-6, Ilam has been appointed as field facilitator of implementing project 'Strenghtening civil society for biodiversity conservation support project (SCBS)/CEPF from 15 september, 2007 for 1.5 years. He has passed certificate level in science and his study of bachelor is going on. Previously, he had worked as volunteer in various organizations of Ilam in social mobilization sector. He has been replaced the previus facilitator Mr. Prem Gurung of Mabu, as he resigned from the position. Congratulations and wish him all the best.

Orientation and annual workplan of ECO CLUB in Jogmai

One day orientation on role of students through ECO CLUB (Biodiversity COnservation Committee) and preparation of annual workplan has been completed in Gyanodaya Secondary School of Jogmai Village Development Committee (VDC). The members of Gyanodaya ECO CLUB and some other students of the school were participated in the program.

Mr. Bishnu Prasad Kafle and focal teacher Punya Prasad Khatiwada oriented the members of Ecoclub on biodiversity conservation, its value and need, role of students, working areas of Eco Club and work plan preparation.

The program prepared annual workplan for Gyanodaya ECO CLUB incorporating various biodiversity and environment related issues like painting competitin, eassay compettion, wall magezine (montly) publication, plantation, sanitation, general knowledge competition etc on varius occasion thorugh out the year.

The program was chaired by the vice chair of the ecoclub. Mr. Kafle made his commitment to support in biodiversity related programs of Eco club by the project.

Training on Inventory and monitoring of Biodiversity Resources in Jogmai

Field sessions for Resource Inventory (Left) and Theory sessions (Right)

Source: Bishnu Prasad Kafle/ICC

ICC Ilam organized three days 'Resource Inventory and Biodiversity Monitoring in Community Forests of Jogmai VDC, Ilam from 23-25 August, 2007 to orient community forests users in resource inventory, forest operation plan preparation, incorporation of biodiversity conservation issues and monitoring of key species at field level. 12 participants from 3 community forests of Jogmai VDC were successfully participated the training. 8 theory and 4 practical field sessions were included in the training. Mr. Bishnu Prasad Kafle, Project Manager of ICC, Ilam, Mr. Rajendra Yadav, Ranger, District FOrest Office, Ilam and Mr. Rajeshwor Rijal, field facilitator of ICC for the area facilitated the training workshop. The program was organized in financial support from Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) as a part of project activiities entitled " strengthening Civil Society For Biodiversity COnservation Suppport Project of Ilam Coopearation Council (ICC), Ilam.

Workshop on Resource Inventory and biodiversity monitoring in community forests

Two training workshops on Resource Inventory preparation and biodiversity monitoring in community forests were organized to orient community forests users in resource inventory preparation and biodiversity monitoring in Jamuna and Mabu VDCs by Ilam Cooperation Council (ICC), Ilam with support from Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (FUND) from 12-14 August, 2007. This was a part of activity of ongoing project Strengthening Ciivl Society for Biodiversity Conservation Support Project/ICC/CEPF.

31 Participants from 3 community forests (2 from Jamuna and 1 from Mabu) were participated in the training workshop. 8 theoretical and 4 field practical sessions were included in the program. Bishnu Prasad Kafle, Project Manager, Ram Rimal, Team leader, Devendra Upreti, Ranger of District Forests office, Ilam, Yadav Ghimire, Program officer of BCN (as independent resource person, and Rajeswor Rijal Field facilitator of ICC facilitated the workshop in both trainings.

The participants of workshop will work as local level resource person cum local guide during inventory preparation of particular community forests, which will be initiated by next month.