Mohan Chandra Bishwakarma
The project aims to aware and involve local communities and local enforcement agencies to reduce unsustainable exploitation and control illegal turtle trade activities in Jagadishpur reservoir.
Jagadishpur reservoir was constructed in the early 1970s over the Jakhira lake and agricultural lands for irrigation purposes. The reservoir is surrounded by cultivated lands and a few smaller lakes; and is shelter for an assemblage of some rare and endangered species including turtles. Recognizing its conservation importance, the reservoir area of 225 ha. has been listed in Ramsar site in 2008. It is estimated that annual trade volume of turtles in Kapilvastu district is more than one and half tons and there exist cross boarder turtle smuggling in between Nepal and India.
Moreover, turtles of Terai region are now transported to China from Nepal and India via Nepal mainly for medicinal purposes where a single turtle can fetch up to NRs 15,000 (~110£). Hence, the increasing demand and high price of turtles in Chinese markets is likely to increase the level of turtle exploitation in major Terai wetlands. In other hand, local communities are not fully aware of conservation importance of turtles; and government and non-government conservation organizations have not given adequate attention on the conservation of these species.
This conservation project is working with local community based institutions such as reservoir conservation committee, community forest user groups, other community based organizations; and local enforcement agencies mainly District Forest Office, Custom Offices and police administration. Local communities, school children and enforcement agencies will be aware, sensitized and involved in turtle conservation works. Strengthened monitoring works of communities and enforcement agencies will reduce unsustainable exploitation and control illegal trade activities in and around the reservoir.