Species and habitat conservation through small locally recognised and community managed Special Conservation Sites

Species extinction rate is accelerating at an alarming rate all over the world. Conservation organizations are working day and night to halt this process by mapping areas for important biodiversity and highlighting these as priority areas for conservation. Most priority sites for conservation so far have been very large in area. Although some biodiversity is already lost, there is still much to conserve in the Himalayan region. Special Conservation Site (SCS) is an innovative concept for the conservation of small but important biodiversity congregation sites through a people participatory approach. Various guidelines and criteria are set as standard towards making this initiative readily accepted by all conservationists. By initiating this concept, we argue that SCS become a centre for education and awareness on the significance of biodiversity, mentor community-based conservation leaders, provide some income and ultimately add value to the larger landscape level initiatives and protected areas. SCS conservation should be an agenda for all

In vitro gas production profiles and fermentation end-products in processed barley, maize and milo

BACKGROUND: An experiment was carried out to establish whether using a pre-compacting device (expander) changes the contribution of dry matter (DM) and degradative behaviour of grains of barley, maize and milo pre-processed by grinding over the different DM fractions (non-washable (NWF), insoluble washable (ISWF) and soluble washable (SWF) fractions). Samples of the entire concentrate ingredients (WHO ingredients) and their different fractions (NWF, ISWF and SWF) were subjected to three processes (Retsch-milled (R), expander-treated (E) and expander-pelleted (EP) samples) and their fermentation characteristics were evaluated using an in vitro gas production technique. RESULTS: The E process increased the size of the NWF and decreased that of the SWF compared with the R process. The ISWF of R samples was very rich in starch. The maximum fractional rate of substrate degradation and maximum rate of gas production were higher in EP samples than in R samples (P <0.05). In maize and milo the E and EP processes shifted the pattern of fermentation towards a more glucogenic fermentation, as represented by a lower non-glucogenic/glucogenic ratio (NGR). In all grains the ammonia concentration (NH3-N) and branched chain ratio (BCR) of E and EP samples were significantly (P <0.05) lower than those of R samples. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the E and EP processes have the potential to synchronise the fermentation of dietary proteins and carbohydrates and shift the pattern of fermentation towards a more glucogenic fermentatio

In vitro gas production profiles and fermentation end-products in processed barley, maize and milo

BACKGROUND: An experiment was carried out to establish whether using a pre-compacting device (expander) changes the contribution of dry matter (DM) and degradative behaviour of grains of barley, maize and milo pre-processed by grinding over the different DM fractions (non-washable (NWF), insoluble washable (ISWF) and soluble washable (SWF) fractions). Samples of the entire concentrate ingredients (WHO ingredients) and their different fractions (NWF, ISWF and SWF) were subjected to three processes (Retsch-milled (R), expander-treated (E) and expander-pelleted (EP) samples) and their fermentation characteristics were evaluated using an in vitro gas production technique. RESULTS: The E process increased the size of the NWF and decreased that of the SWF compared with the R process. The ISWF of R samples was very rich in starch. The maximum fractional rate of substrate degradation and maximum rate of gas production were higher in EP samples than in R samples (P <0.05). In maize and milo the E and EP processes shifted the pattern of fermentation towards a more glucogenic fermentation, as represented by a lower non-glucogenic/glucogenic ratio (NGR). In all grains the ammonia concentration (NH3-N) and branched chain ratio (BCR) of E and EP samples were significantly (P <0.05) lower than those of R samples. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the E and EP processes have the potential to synchronise the fermentation of dietary proteins and carbohydrates and shift the pattern of fermentation towards a more glucogenic fermentatio

Preliminary Report on Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) Winter Sleep Sites

Golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) in Bhutan have received little research attention in the anthropic environments where most of the population lives. We recorded group sizes and compositions and documented sleep sites for 24 golden langur groups living in a biological corridor (N = 9) and near a human settlement (N = 15) in central Bhutan. We used scan sampling to document behaviors and direct observation and camera traps to record potential predators, and we recorded occurrences of mortality, including two cases of electrocution, one case of roadkill, and one langur skull recovered from a possible leopard prey cache. Golden langur groups were on average significantly larger near human settlements (13.73 individuals) than in the biological corridor (9.55 individuals), and the adult sex ratio was greater near human settlements. The golden langurs usually slept in more than one tree, and our preliminary results indicated rare re-use of the same sleep site. Golden langurs in our study area most often slept in Sapium insigne trees. Sleep trees’ mean DBH was 51.58 cm and the mean height was 19.37 m. We intend for our preliminary data to establish the foundation for future research on the behavior and ecology of golden langurs in Bhutan

Evolution of a transboundary landscape approach in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Key learnings from the Kangchenjunga Landscape

The transboundary landscape approach builds on principles of integrated social-ecological systems with conservation and development perspectives at a transboundary level. The evolution of one such transboundary landscape in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) from the 1990's to the present is discussed through a phase-wise process. Both global and regional discourses have been influential in designing the transboundary Kangchenjunga Landscape which is shared by Bhutan, India and Nepal. The 25,085 sq.km landscape ranges in elevation from 40 to 8,586 m asl and is home to more than seven million people, while hosting more than 4,500 species of plants and at least 169 mammal and 618 bird species. With the aim of conserving and managing the landscape for sustained ecosystem services that ultimately contribute to the livelihoods of the women and men residing therein, the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative was implemented since 2016. Lessons from the Kangchenjunga Landscape indicate that participatory and iterative boundary delineation, transboundary cooperation, identification of a lead institution, ensuring the global-local-global feedback cycle, and regional data sharing are key components for implementing transboundary landscape programmes in the region. Keywords: Landscape approach, Ecosystem management, Participatory planning, Regional cooperation, Theory of chang

Transhumance, livestock mobility and mutual benefits between crop and livestock production

Grazing-based livestock production, named pastoralism, is classified into nomadism, transhumance and agro-pastoralism. Transhumance is characterised by the seasonal and recurring movement of livestock whereby seasonal grazing areas and routes for livestock movement are fixed. All grazing based livestock production systems including transhumance are constrained globally for a variety of reasons. The major threats to the system are globalisation, nationalisation or privatisation of rangelands, national parks and community forestry policies restricting free grazing and shortage of labour. The collapse or decline of such social-ecological systems (SESs), which have existed for over 1000s years, often induces adverse impacts on societies and ecosystems. Here we review the literature on transhumance, and discuss reasons for transhumance, and the associated advantages and disadvantages of livestock movement in transhumance. Our review also focuses on how the integration of crop and livestock production in transhumance derives mutual benefits. The review indicates that the seasonal movement of livestock is an ecological necessity in areas with harsh climates and low pasture production. Transhumance is also a herders’ adaptive management to adjust to variable grazing resources and environmental conditions. The disadvantages of seasonal movement of livestock such as greater herding labour required and expenditure of more energy for livestock, are far outweighed by the ecological advantages. Some of these are: to minimise grazing competition and to protect rangeland pastures from being overgrazed. Our review also indicates that the integration of crop and livestock production derives mutual benefits and contributes for their enhanced sustainability