APPENDIX I
LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL MONITORING-LTEM

At each LTEM experimental site an observer can record specific observations. These include:

• Circular plots of 12.6M radius (500 sq meter area): trees including timber and fodder species, their regeneration, signs of human pressure and wild life use, structure and species composition.

• Nested plots of 5.6M radius (100 sq meter area): all the shrubs and saplings, their cover, height, browsing signs and other uses.

• Four square plots of 1m x 1m within each circular plot at NWSE directions: to record cover of herbs and grasses, presence of medicinal plants, mushrooms etc.

The form has following information for each experimental plot:
General Information
1. Experimental Plot No.
2. Date of observation
3. Locality
4. Latitude and Longitude
5. Altitude (m)
6. Aspect
7. Slope (degree)
8. Terrain
9. Rock soil
10. Snow cover

Floral Information
1. Tree cover
2. Trees
3. Canopy
4. Shrub cover
5. Herb cover
6. Grass cover
7. Medicinal plants
8. Weeds
9. Montane bamboo

Faunal Information
1. Mammals (signs or sightings)
2. Birds (signs or sightings)
3. Insects
4. Reptiles
5. Amphibians
6. Fishes

Human Imapcts
1. Signs of grazing
2. Signs of grass collection
3. Signs of lopping/cutting
4. Signs of wood collection
5. Signs of bamboo collection
6. Cultivation
7. Habitation

Based on the information collected, these experimental plots will provide information on Park biodiversity (or some other specific characteristics) over a longer period of time. The experimental plots can be used for conducting research work for several studies based on faunal, floral, and aspects of GHNP-human interactions.
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APPENDIX II
PHEASANT SURVEYS

Pheasant Census:
The following method is advised for tourists to systematically observe/record their pheasants observations in GHNP:
Call Counts:
This method can be used for most of the pheasants which call during morning hours in their breeding season. The counts can be made from a strategic point in the habitat of the particular pheasant. The number obtained can be doubled for obtaining the estimate of breeding population (e.g., one male; one female). The following factors will influence observations
1. Season of the Year
The counts of calling males assumes that all the existing males in the area will call every morning. In the Western Himalayas, the calling behavior of three species of pheasants during various months of the year is as following:
Cheer: January to May; September to December
Koklas: January to June; September to December
Western Tragopan: April to June
2. Time of Day
Most Koklas observations are made during a short period of early morning. The males usually call at dawn for 15 - 20 minutes. The Western Tragopan starts its song in early morning and continues intermittently throughout the day during breeding period. Cheer pheasants call in chorus at dusk and dawn.
3. Position of Census Point
Surveys will be more successful if a strategic point is selected in the habitat of pheasant. This site should be identified on the day before the survey/census. The census point should allow the observer to hear the birds over as wide an area as possible. A point on a ridge usually allows the observer to listen to the pheasant calls on both the sides. It is possible to hear all the calling birds within a radius of 400 meters from the ridge, however, this can be reduced by the intervening ridges.
4. Position of Observers
When there are multiple observers taking part in census operation of pheasants, they must be positioned at an interval of about 500m to 600m. All the observers must have visited their observation points on the previous evening of the census day. They should be in position well before dawn so that all the calling pheasants are counted.
5. Recording of Observations
The observer should have good knowledge of identification of the calls of pheasants which s/he is likely to encounter in the field. The observers should practice counting the involved numbers of calling birds. An approximate range of each call and the direction of the call, must be anticipated. A compass can be used by the observer.

It is best to have similar formats for all the observers. These formats will have following details:
• Date of observation
• Time of start and end of observations
• Altitude of the observation point
• Major vegetation types within the sample area.
• Weather conditions on the day of observation including
  wind speed, precipitation, cloud cover, temperature etc.
• Marking of observation points on a large scale map of
  the area (marking of a conspicuous point such as
  a rock or a tree which can be located for subsequent
  census in the same area.)

The completed observation form should be left at any GHNP office.
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APPENDIX III
RESEARCH REPORT

"An Ecological Study of the Conservation of Biodiversity and Biotic Pressures in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area-An Ecodevelopment Approach."
Volumes include:
Volume 1: The Project, Research Design, Resource Mapping and Physical Environment
Volume 2: The Biological Environment-Floral Diversity: Vegetation Description and Collection of Herbs
Volume 3: The Biological Environment- Faunal Diversity: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects
Volume 4: The Social Environment: Historical Perspective, Socio-Economic Conditions and Man-Wildlife Conflicts
Volume 5: The Social Environment : Ecotourism and Livestock Grazing
Volume 6: Long Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM)
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