The Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is little known and nationally protected wildlife species of Nepal but this species is notorious for crop raiding. Scientific information on this species is lacking from Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) of Nepal. KSL includes Baitadi, Bajhang, Darchula and Humla Distrct of Nepal. This project will be implemented in this area to find out scientific information on habitat, distribution, relative abundance, nutritional diet and to raise the conservation awareness in local community level to mitigate the human bear conflict and to conserve this species, its habitats and overall mountain biodiversity in this region.

The project area will be divided into 10 km X 10 km grid and presence absence survey will be conducted to find out the relative occupancy of this species. Scats of summer and winter will be analysed to understand the seasonal dietary species of black bear. Nutritional value of these dietary species will also be explored to find out the natural fulfilment of diet of this species. This information will also be useful to understand the nutritional requirements of Himalayan black bear in captivity. The project will also find out the preferred habitats of this species. Presence plots will be established where signs of this species will be found and absence plots will be designed 200-300 m far from presence plot. Habitat parameters of these plots will be recorded for analysis. Logistic regression will be used to analyse the habitat preference of this species in the region. Long terms and immediate threats will be explored during field visit and community awareness programs.

The most important part of this project is community awareness programs. In community awareness programs the knowledge about the importance and scientific conservation of this species and its potential habitat will be provided and discussion will be conducted to mitigate human bear conflicts and its smuggling. The people will be aware and trained to plant the appropriate crops to mitigate the human bear conflicts. Posters, booklets and calendars will be published for public distribution to provide information to motivate peoples to conserve bear and its habitats. Finally, the project will strengthen the existing Community Forests Users Committees as Himalayan Black Bear Conservation Committee to conserve this species, its habitats and overall biodiversity in the region.