Enhancing knowledge local capacity and collaboration for turtle conservation in central Nepal

Sumana Chhetri

Other project team members: Bishal Prasad Neupane, Sabbu Malla, Anupa Sharma, Grishma Majhi

Chitwan National Park (CNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Nepal, is home to nine turtle species, seven of which are globally threatened, including four classifed by the IUCN Red List as Endangered. Despite their critical status, turtles are heavily exploited for consumption and trade, but receive little attention since conservation programs focus on flagship species like the tiger and rhinoceros. Local stakeholders lack both baseline data and conservation capacity. This project aims to secure the future of ‘Endangered’ turtles by gathering data on their population, distribution, and threats, promoting turtle-focused management plans, building stakeholder capacity, and enhancing collaboration. We will assess ecological data (distribution, occupancy, abundance, habitat) through extensive Visual Encounter Surveys and occupancy surveys in the Rapti and Narayani Rivers in two seasons. Information on consumption and trade will be collected through interviews and market surveys. Using this data, we will produce draft plans and reports with recommendations for stakeholders to promote formation of turtle focused management plans and ensure long-term conservation. We will also build capacity through training and foster collaboration through a ‘Turtle Conservation Group’. We will widely disseminate information through blogs, news and journal articles.