‘THE CHITWAN COLLABORATION’ OF NEPAL
In 2007 Andy Mydellton visited Nepal and set up 'The Chitwan Collaboration' of wildlife and environmental groups. One project site is the Mrigakunja Bufferzone in the Royal Chitwan Nature Park, and the other project is in the Siti Devi Community Forest, also in the Chitwan district. In both of these areas, the Foundation is partnering Nepali organizations to protect and promote the interests of the Tiger and One Horned Rhino. This is necessary as the Tiger is feared and is a valuable commodity in the world of trafficking and poaching. In the past the Rhino has had feeble support, but more recently things have began to change and the government wants local communities to be the caretakers of much of the environment and its wildlife. Both flagship species also lack good habitat to survive and thrive. The Collaboration's plans include surveying, monitoring and tracking animals. We will also be creating Tiger Swamps, Rhino Watering Holes and Observation Towers. This will help the flagship and umbrella species, prey species, other indicator species as well as much biodiversity. Whilst the Foundation insists that all flora and fauna are important, major local interests also include ornithology (especially with the Chitwan Bird Education Society. (B.S. 2053). The Nepalese embassy has recognized the Foundation's work in Nepal. In fact Mr J. Aryal formally closed the Foundation's Photographic Exhibition entitled 'The Land of the Tiger' at Slough recently. Future projects will now include our work in UNESCO where we are linking schools who use our 'Wildlife Gardening and Animal Feeding Station Programme' or WAFS. Secondly we are arranging Nature Reserves to be set up with our sister charity the Anglo-Nepalese Wildlife in Education Trust (ANWET).
Moreover, this Nepal Project will help local people support, work and engage with wildlife rather than being fearful and opposed to it. This is a major change of mind-set; as many local people to national parks are often opposed to wild animals that inconvenience their interests; especially life-threatening predators such as tigers. The mind-set is largely already in place, but will be actively supported in FES efforts to enforce UNESCO's programme of Sustainable Development, and the Earth Charter International's policy of Ecological Integrity. (See other pages on this website.)
The United Nations has declared that Nepal is a nation in need of international help, especially since its near civil war that started at the millennium. As the UK is their closest friend and ally, the Foundation felt that it was only right to become the Chitwan Collaboration's international representative. With just a relative small amount of western money and help, the local communities will achieve a huge amount of conservation and wildlife success. This is because the partnership communities and organisations will enhance their own wellbeing by becoming proud of their local wildlife and benefiting from eco-tourism. Many local people are also learning to respect the trees so that they can harvest the forest in a programme of Sustainable Living. In the long term it means that the core of the forest and habitat is unharmed. So by engaging the interests of people who live with rare, dangerous and exotic animals, wildlife perpetually benefits. In reality, Nepal needs to alleviate poverty as animal habitats cannot survive as isolated islands, devoid of human beings. Sustainable Development is about learning to accommodate nature into our own needs and desires.
This plan halts the past policy of deforestation, protects what is left, helps replant the forest glades and increases the quality of the habitat. The result is that even more animals could live in these areas than did before.
In the longer term, this collaboration will fit into the much larger 'Terai Arc Corridor' that will stretch from the Chitwan District to Bardia and Sukla Phanta Nature Parks of Nepal; and then continuing on into India and the Jim Corbett Nature Park. However the Foundation is all too aware that this corridor will need a huge amount of work to become manifest. All of the species protected in 'The Chitwan Collaboration' areas will hence become Source Species to colonise new areas and link up with other genetic groups.