Aabha Pokharel
Bengal Florican is a Critically Endangered species, which is facing rapid decline in the protected areas of Nepal. The grassland of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is one of the important remaining habitats however, the continuous habitat loss, degradation, and high dependency of local people in grassland is further increasing the risk of local extinction. In this dire scenario, this project seeks to combine the field research with conservation awareness to generate the science-based knowledge about Bengal Florican ecology and its habitat.
Winter grassland landscape of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, eastern Nepal, photographed in December, representing seasonal habitat conditions of the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican. (c) Aabha Pokharel
Through habitat mapping, this project will generate high resolution habitat quality map and identify the degraded areas and priority zones for restoration. The identified threats based on their severity and urgency will inform adaptive management plans for both reserve and local authorities.
Conservation camps dedicated to school will educate younger generations on Bengal Florican conservation status and border importance of species conservation. This activity will nurture positive attitude towards species conservation and inspire future stewardship. The Bengal Florican Conservation Booklet generated in the local language and with community generated message will continue to spread through peer learning, ensuring sustained awareness without needing external input. Distribution of this conservation booklet in school library will serve as an educational tool to inspire continued learning for the younger generation.
Through culturally grounded conservation education this initiative will address existing knowledge gaps on Bengal Florican conservation and communicate the ecological importance of grassland and sustainable grazing. Overall, this project aims to understand the threat pressure, create local awareness and generate the knowledge of detailed habitat suitability for the long-term conservation of Bengal Florican in grassland habitat.