Conservation of Nepal’s endemic bird species: participatory conservation in Phulchoki forest
The Phulchowki mountain forests of Nepal support a rich endemic bird community and nearly 300 avian species. Lying close to the capital of Kathmandu with over 2 million people, the mid-hill forests are well known to foreign birdwatchers. Despite enjoying international recognition, the forests face deforestation for fodder and firewood to supply the needs of an ever expanding human population.
Dr Hem Sagar Baral, Director of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), has studied the Phulchowki forests for over a decade, and is working with leading conservation NGOs to engage local people. By involving the community in the monitoring of forest biodiversity and involving them in conservation activities, Hem is helping increase knowledge about the forest’s biological importance whilst also demonstrating how it can provide sustainable incomes through recreational ecotourism. As a result, the local community is showing new interest in the management of their natural resources through which they have the opportunity to alleviate poverty and develop income generating activities that will not further destroy the forests.
Utilising funds from the Whitley Award, Hem’s project is generating much excitement for improved bird conservation in Kathmandu Valley and is building on BCN’s position as the foremost authority on Nepalese birds and biodiversity. By bringing bird enthusiasts together, both local and international, momentum is building for the establishment of a small conservation training and information centre that will help improve use of the forest as an educational resource for local people.
Hem has long understood the forest’s unique potential for education and income generation. He hopes that by promoting Phulchoki as a site for educating the children of Katmandu and by helping locals see the value of the habitats being lost, a better future for both the mid-hill forests and Kathmandu’s human population will be secured.
PROJECT UPDATE
Hem has collaborated on and written a number of books including field guides about the birds of Nepal and conservation topics such as ‘Important Bird Areas in Nepal: Key Sites for Conservation‘.
In 2016, Hem had the opportunity to meet with Prince Harry on his visit to Nepal where they were able to discuss a number of conservation issues related to the area. Read about the visit here.
2025 Continuation FUNDING
Teaming up to take ethical snow leopard conservation to Nepal
Two Whitley Award winners are joining forces to protect snow leopards in Nepal. Charudutt, Executive Director of the International Snow Leopard Trust, is a leading expert with nearly 30 years in snow leopard conservation. He has worked with national conservationists to establish strong snow leopard programmes in India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Hem, the former Director of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), initially focused on participatory bird conservation before broadening his efforts to biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
Nepal is important for snow leopard conservation, estimated to be home to 400 snow leopards across about 30,500 km² of habitat. It also provides connectivity between snow leopard populations in the Eastern and Western Himalayas, and the Tibetan Plateau. However, with over 20% of its people living below the national poverty line and ranked among the UN’s Least Developed Countries, Nepal faces significant challenges for conservation. Loss of wild prey and retaliatory killing by livestock owners are significant threats, whilst poaching and wildlife trade are also common. There is a critical need for ongoing and sustainable snow leopard conservation efforts.
Working with Nepali conservationists, this project will first secure snow leopards over more than 1000 sq. km of unprotected habitat through participatory conservation before expanding further, and conduct field surveys in selected habitats to understand conservation priorities and build partnerships with Indigenous communities. By following the PARTNERS Principles approach, they will co-create conservation, conflict management, and income generation programs with Indigenous peoples and local communities. In collaboration with the Ethical Conservation Alliance, they will train 15 national conservationists in ethical nature conservation, and develop an effective snow leopard team with value-aligned local partner organisations. Lastly, the team will work with the Government and national conservationists to help update the country’s snow leopard conservation priorities, last set 12 years ago.
