Download Statement of Work for Survey on Local Distribution, Population

STATEMENT OF WORK
for
SURVEY ON LOCAL DISTRIBUTION, POPULATION STATUS, AND CONSERVATION OF
HIMALAYAN MUSK DEER IN THE KANGCHENJUNGA CONSERVATION AREA AND LANGTANG
NATIONAL PARK AND BUFFER ZONE IN SACRED HIMALAYAN LANDSCAPE (SHL)
I.
Background
Himalayan musk deer Moschus chrysogaster is a primitive deer belonging to the order
Artiodactyla and family Moschidae. It is widely but patchily distributed mainly in the forested
mountains of eastern Asia, from the Arctic Circle in Siberia in the north, to the north-eastern
edge of Mongolia and Korea and further southward across China, away from the Gobi Desert, to
Vietnam, and Myanmar continuing as far as the southern Himalaya in Afghanistan, Pakistan,
India and Nepal (Corbet and Hill 1992, Wemmer 1998). In Nepal, the occurrence of musk deer
have been reported from the altitudinal range of 2200 m to 4400 m in and around the
Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA), Arun Valley, Makalu-Barun National Park and
Buffer Zone (MBNPBZ), Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ), Langtang
National Park and Buffer Zone (LNPBZ), Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) in the east and
Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), Shey-Phoksundo National Park and Buffer Zone
(SPNPBZ) in the west (Jamwal 1972, IUCN 1993, Kattel 1992, Green, 1985, 1986).
The global population of musk deer is estimated between 400 000 and 800 000 individuals
(Wemmer 1998). In Nepal, musk deer population is commonly believed to be increasing within
protected areas. The studies undertaken so far have revealed that Sagarmatha National Park has
an estimated 600 – 800 animals (Kattel 1992) and over 1000 animals are estimated in the SheyPhoksundo National Park (Green 1986)
The primary threat for the conservation of musk deer has been the rampant poaching apart from
the habitat fragmentation, loss and degradation. This is because the musk produced by males is
highly valued for its cosmetic and alleged pharmaceutical properties and can fetch up to US$
45000 pounds per kilogram (Green 1986). As an effort to protect musk deer from local
extinction, the Government of Nepal has enlisted it as an endangered species (NPWC Act 1973).
In addition, some community – based musk deer conservation programs have been initiated in
ACA, KCA, SNP, SPNP, and LNP in recent times.
Sacred Himalayan Landscape:
The SHL is a trans-boundary conservation area covering 39,021 square kilometers, of which
about 73.5% falls in Nepal, 24.4% falls in Sikkim and Darjeeling of India and the remaining
2.1% falls in Bhutan. The SHL extends from Langtang National Park in central Nepal through
the Kangchenjunga region in India to Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve in western Bhutan.
The SHL is a microcosm representing the unique identity of the Eastern Himalayan Ecoregion
Complex. The landscape’s environmental and cultural characteristics blended with social,
political and economic variance, give it extra diversity and distinctive features. In terms of the
topography, SHL represents elevations ranging from 139m in India to 8,848m in Mount Everest,
the highest point on Earth. The high topographic complexity and related climatic variability give
rise to significant ecological gradients, and thus, high ecosystem diversity over a relatively small
area. Many of the habitats forming this complex mosaic are unique to this mountain system,
being adapted to the harsh and rapidly changing climatic conditions. The landscape includes and
retains two globally important contiguous ecoregions in the Eastern Himalayan Alpine Scrub and
Meadows and the Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf and Conifer Forests that harbour numerous
important flora such as oaks (Qurecus spp.), rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) and
Himalayan larch (Larix spp.) as well as the globally threatened fauna, including the charismatic
snow leopard (Uncia uncia), takin (Budorcis taxicolor), musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Red
panda (Ailurus fulgens), and several pheasants.
The poverty is widespread among total populace of about 5 million in the SHL and the
connections between poverty and environment are many and complex. Therefore the sciencebased conservation and management of biodiversity would be prerequisite in order to address the
prevailing issues. The Himalayan musk deer – the high valued species - is considered to be
endangered species and as such can play an instrumental role in the link between poverty and
environment. Realizing the crucial lack of information on the status of this species, WWF Nepal
envisaged undertaking this study.
II.
Objectives
The main objective of the proposed study is to establish base line data on the status and
distribution Himalayan musk deer using standardized methodology in the Kanchanjunga
Conservation Area and the Langtang National Park and its buffer zone areas. This study is
expected to undertake following specific tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
III.
Desk review of existing data
Assess current population status and habitat utilization pattern
Consultation with major governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders at all levels
Map local distribution and identify the conservation hotspots
Determine the major threats and recommend the possible solutions
Establish permanent monitoring plots in KCA and LNP
Deliverables
1. A proposal with work plan and budget including a conceptual framework detailing
methodologies by April 11, 2008.
2. Digital and hard copy of the draft report by 15 June 2008
3. Digital and hard copy of the final report by 30 June 2008
Others include:
1. Presentation in various project consultations as and when necessary
2. Photographs, negatives and other relevant documents and other relevant documents
procured under this contract
3. Digital and hard copy of data collected and analyzed, model, diagrams as appropriate
IV.
Expected Outputs
1. Synthesis report on Musk deer status and distribution
2. Establishment of sufficient permanent plots in different transects in KCA and LNP
3. GPS data on Musk deer distribution
V.
Field/Study Sites
Field works will be conducted in the potential habitats of Musk deer in Langtang National
Park and Buffer Zone and Kangchenjunga Conservation Area.