Workshop on Climate Change and Wildlife
Two days workshop – “Workshop on Climate Change and Wildlife” organized by Bat Friends Pokhara and Nature Conservation and Development Network on 28th February and1st March at Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry (IoF), Pokhara has been completed productively.
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
The theme of the workshop was ‘Shaping Conservationists for better future’. At present context, many of wildlife are in precarious situation due to various anthropogenic threats and unpredictable climatic patterns. From melting of glaciers in Himalayas to enormous increase in invasive species in Terai belt of Nepal; our wildlife is in high risk from changing climate. We lack appropriate research on these issues as well as practice of conservation interventions to drench its effect. In order to do so, we need young energetic minds to work dedicatedly on these issues. Therefore, this workshop was organized with aim to aware young students about climate change and wildlife conservation and motivate them to become future conservationist.
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
Altogether 40 undergrads studying B.Sc. Forestry under 1st and 2nd year from IoF Pokhara, IoF Hetauda, Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL) and Agriculture and Forestry University, Hetauda (AFU Hetauda) were selected as participants. Workshop was initiated by series of presentation session with keynote speakers and ended with interactive field visits. Presentations were focused on researches on wildlife and climate change which provided plethora of knowledge on global warming issues and their impact, bats, birds, butterflies, dragonflies and illegal wildlife trade. Likewise, as a part of field visit, Bird watching, Butterfly watching, Camera Trapping, and Mist netting were conducted at Banpale forest of IoF, Pokhara.
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
Twenty one species of birds, 11 species of butterflies were recorded while no mammal was caught in camera trap. Three individuals of greater short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterous sphinx, were captured in a mist net; of which, 2 were male and 1 female. Identification keys of all recorded wildlife species were demonstrated in the field. With aid of field visits, all participants became able to set up camera trap and mist net. They were also conscious about the consequences of climate change on wildlife, got motivated, and showed interests towards such issues.
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
Image credit: Manish Shrestha
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank presenters and volunteers who managed their time for the completion of the programme. We are also grateful to IoF Dean Office and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) for providing conference hall. We would like to thank every participant for their patience, discipline, and curiosities throughout the workshop.
Written by
Prabhat Kiran Bhattarai
Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry (IoF), Pokhara
Gmail: prabhatkiran79@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dharampureli
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