Clouded Leopard Conservation Honey, Nepal

by Ganga Ram Regmi, Clouded Leopard Working Group

In eastern Nepal, many farmers traditionally relied on conventional beekeeping methods with limited productivity.  To enhance their livelihoods and promote forest habitat conservation, communities residing near Clouded leopard habitats were provided with beekeeping training, improved beehives, honey bottles and a sealing machine to facilitate proper packaging and marketing of their honey.  Two years ago, the Clouded Leopard Working Group (CLWG) established Clouded Leopard Conservation Honey, a community-led enterprise promoting sustainable and profitable honey production.  Today, 300 households in Salakpur, Ilam have successfully engaged in beekeeping, contributing to their economic stability and environmental sustainability which has reduced not only the dependency of locals on forest resources and hunting, but also the retaliatory killings of predators like Clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, Marbled cat, and other wildlife.

The latest honey production data indicates a 40% increase over the previous year, showing greater interest from local farmers toward beekeeping.  The honey produced in this region is in high demand due to its organic nature and purity.  Encouraged by the success of this initiative, CLWG plans to expand the program to nearby villages.  Beyond its economic advantages, beekeeping has played a significant role in supporting the protection of all wildlife and their habitats.  Bees collect nectar from the forests where the Clouded leopard resides, making forest conservation essential for both species. This ensures the mutual benefits of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Our efforts highlight the difference between conservation and research.  The focus of research is on a particular species and results are limited to a species in a particular place.  Our efforts focus on reducing threats to wildlife and habitats by working with people to improve their living standard and their daily lives.   Because the benefits of honey production to people depend on healthy forests, and healthy forests depend on all wildlife, people change their behavior to protect the forest and its inhabitants.

Our projects address the root causes of wildlife issues and habitat loss with practical, pragmatic, sustainable and scalable solutions that permanently change people's attitudes for the better.  That's real conservation.  CLWG thanks all our financial partners for supporting our efforts to save the small wild cats that enrich our lives.

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Expanding conservation efforts in NE India

by Giri Malla, NE India, Eastern Himalayan Marbled Cat Project (part of CLWG)

Our team in Meghalaya, Northeast India has grown, and we have expanded our trail camera survey efforts across 20 community forests.   While we haven't yet recorded Clouded leopards or Marbled cats, Asiatic golden cats appear abundant throughout the landscape, with different morphs using the same trails daily.

One of the clan villages, which has a vast community forest spanning around 1,000 acres, has contacted our project for habitat restoration.  This forest has a history of logging for the coal industry, but the local community now recognizes the importance of preserving it, especially as their water sources have become scarce.  Last week, they approached our team, expressing willingness to restore the habitat using native trees.  Since Clouded leopards inhabit this forest, improving the habitat is a promising step for conservation.  To support this initiative, we are partnering with a local wine company to help communities raise native fruiting trees and purchase the harvested fruits.

Our team is now working across these villages to reduce the conflict and raise awareness. We have distributed seven hen houses to affected households.  We plan to reach more villages in the coming months to mitigate such conflicts.  Most of the disputes are with Asiatic golden cats and Leopard cats.

The Wildlife Board of Meghalaya has granted permission to establish a rescue center in one of the Biodiversity Monitoring Committee villages.  Just last month, we received reports of small wildcats being caught by villagers, and more recently, an Asiatic golden cat was trapped in a coal mining area.  Given these incidents, I strongly believe a rescue center supported by the local communities is essential.  None exist in this region.

In Nagaland, we have installed the trail cameras SWCCF helped purchase a few weeks ago.  I have trained the local youth, and now they are monitoring the small wild cats.  We haven't checked the images yet; the locations are very remote.  Khonoma Village Council permitted my project and extended their support.  And there is more good news.  Next week, Community Conversation Area - Network- Nagaland (CCA) has expressed interest in my project.  Around 20 CCA (spanning across Nagaland) will gather in Khonoma village next month, where hunting is prevalent.  Our team in Nagaland will introduce them to small wildcat monitoring protocols, and we are officially launching small wildcat monitoring committees to address local threats, hunting and mitigation measures.

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Treehouses: Bridging local livelihoods and conservation of Rusty-spotted cat, Nepal

by Ramjan Chaudhary Rusty-Spotted Cat Working Group

Just as we have written many times before, community, conservation and livelihood are deeply interconnected.  In the Bindrapuri Community Forest and Khata Bio-corridor area of Bardiya, southwestern Nepal, a sustainable initiative is helping both people and wildlife.  As part of the alternative livelihood initiative, three treehouses were constructed and renovated, providing eco-tourism opportunities that support local communities while protecting the habitat of the Rusty-spotted cat.

Through this initiative, 23 families have gained a sustainable source of income. According to Ramjan Chaudhary, a local resident and also a member of the Rusty-spotted Cat Working Group, each treehouse generates an average annual income of 300,000 Nepalese Rupees. One of the local women, Kakari Tharu from Bardiya, shared that the treehouse has been a main source of income for her family, which relies almost entirely on its earnings for their livelihood. More importantly, communities have reduced their dependence on forest resources by 70%, choosing sustainable tourism over the exploitation of resources from the Rusty-spotted cat's habitat.

Under our leadership, we created tree nurseries and are replanting the forest with native trees.  I have observed a marked change in local people's attitudes and behavior toward the forest.   Instead of consuming the forest, they are now caring for the forest.   The realization has come that an intact forest and the wildlife it holds is far more valuable alive than dead.

Tourists visit the area, stay in the treehouses and pay for their accommodation. This initiative allows visitors to enjoy their stay while ensuring nature remains undisturbed.

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