Using community knowledge to identify potential hotspots of mammal diversity in southeastern Nepal

Abstract

Nepal has been relatively successful in conserving its wildlife by pioneering innovative approaches to conservation, such as benefit sharing in protected area buffer zones and landscape-level conservation approaches. However, compared to other areas of Nepal, the biodiversity of the southeast has received less attention, both in terms of research and conservation. The objective of this study was to use local knowledge as an indicator of wildlife presence and abundance across the forests of southeastern Nepal. Based on 114 focus group discussions with communities in eleven districts between March 2014 and January 2015, we identify potential wildlife hotspots, areas with more prey species to support tiger, areas of species loss, and areas with species of special interest (endangered and data deficient). Our results provide the contours for further study of the presence and distribution of wildlife across the eleven districts. For example, our results suggest that forests in the middle of the study area have higher levels of wildlife diversity, prey species for tiger, and species of interest, while the eastern side of the study area shows more species loss. We do not suggest that these results are an accurate or reliable representation of mammal diversity in southeastern Nepal. However, they can help to prioritize areas for conservation and for further research, as well as build a foundation for working with local communities to conserve wildlife of southeastern Nepal.