CHITWAN, Sept 6: Two Community Forest Users´ Groups (CFUGs) in Chitwan have started counting of wild animals and birds in their respective areas.
Seti Devi Community Forest Users´ Group and Gyaneshwor Community Forest Users´ Groups started the counting of wildlife and birds in their respective areas last week by adopting Camera Trapping Methodology.
It is the first time that the counting of wildlife and birds has begun in community forest area. Earlier, wildlife censuses like counts of tiger and rhinoceros were carried out only in national parks, wildlife reserves and other protected areas.
The Friends of Nature, an NGO working in the environment field, has lent its technical support to the two forest groups for the counting of wildlife and birds.
According to Dipak Adhikari, Chairman of Seti Devi Community Forest User Group, 15 cameras have been fitted at different spots in a 400-hecatre area of both forests to count wildlife and birds.
Prem Neupane, Forest Management Coordinator of the Friends of Nature, says, “The counting of wildlife and birds will help both the community forest groups promote ecotourism in the long run.”
According to Raju Acharya, Executive Director of the Friends of Nature, 12 types of butterfly species and 60 types of bird species have been spotted in the first five days of the counting.
The first phase of counting is expected to complete in one month. A follow up count will be conducted in the winter season, according to Acharya.
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