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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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