Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF) with financial support from WWF/USAID/Hariyo Ban Program, in coordination with Division Forest Office, Tanahun and support from Suklagandaki Municipality, Ward-12, Tanahun initiated “Plantation with Purpose” at Suklagandaki Municipality-12 on 26 June 2019 for two weeks. SMCRF distributed 5349 saplings to the locals in Pyuridovan, Jaspur, Mulabari, Lamagaun and adjacent areas. The saplings included fruit trees of Amalaa (Phyllanthus emblica), Jaamun (Syzygium cumini), Sipligaan (Crateva unilocularis), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Guava (Psidium guajava), lemon (Citrus aurantifolia), tree saplings of Tejpaat (Cinnamomum tamala) and Broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima). The plantation of fruit trees was done inside the forests, forest edges and barren lands with the main purpose of making these fruit trees available for the wild animals especially the monkeys in the forests and minimize their crop-raiding activities. The Broom grass plants were planted along the farm edges as bio fence, on landslide-prone cliffs and barren lands.
The tree saplings of Tejpaat and lemon were planted in the barren lands and farmlands with the purpose of initiating their commercial farming in the area. A group plantation events were organized at Dovan and Jaspur in coordination with Mother’s Group, Youth Clubs and local people to plant the tree saplings in the forest area and barren lands in the areas of Jaspur Community Forest (CF) and Pyuridovan CF. The people in the area are excited with this initiation of the plantation of fruit tree saplings for the wild animals to minimize human-primate conflict in the area and enhance sustainable coexistence with the wildlife. Nepal also celebrated “National Plantation Day” on 29 June 2019. The plantation programs are the part of the ongoing project on mitigating human-primate conflict through habitat management as an approach to enhance sustainable co-existence with primates along the Seti corridor.
We are thankful to Suklagandaki Municipality, Tahanu; Division Forest Office, Tanahu; Suklagandaki Ward-12; Lamagaun Tole Development Committee; Firfire Health Post; Pipalthok Mother’s Group and Nava Prativa Youth Club. We express our special thanks to Mr. Kedar Baral DFO and Mr. Baburam Upreti, AFO, the Division Forest Office, Tanahu; Mr. Manraj Gurung, Ward President, Suklagandaki ward-12; Mrs. Yogita Gurung, President, Pipalthok Mother’s Group and its members; members of Nava Prativa Youth Club; Ms. Sushmita Poudel, Mrs. Bhim Kumari Gurung, ANM at Firfire Health Post; Mr. Bhim Bahadur Gurung, Tole President; Mrs. Uma Gurung, Mr. Bishaan Gurung and his family, Mr Man Bahadur Bhujel, and Mr. Rajkumar (Yuvraj) Shrestha and his family. We are immensely thankful to WWF/USAID/Hariyo Ban Program for the financial support to implement the programs and to make this movement successful.
