Nagao Natural
Environment Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) is a nongovernmental organisation dedicated to promoting nature conservation in developing
countries. Since its establishment, the Research Grant Scheme has supported
researchers from research institutions mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. A total of 289
research projects in 24 countries have been awarded grants during this period (as ofJanuary 2009). Meanwhile, the Scholarship Scheme has given support to a total of 2,794
students in eight countries in Asia (as of January 2009).
In September 2007, the NEF reviewed its schemes in order to contribute to nature
conservation more effectively. In addition to the original Research Grant and
Scholarship Schemes, we extended our support to include the intensive productionof scientific work and filed activities under a new scheme called the Comprehensive
Programme for Conservation Research and Activities.

Comprehensive Programme for Conservation Research and Activities
Research Grant Programme

Research Grant Scheme

Small-scale Research Grant Programme
Conservation Activity Programme
Publication Programme

Scholarship Scheme

Scholarship Programme
Exchange Programme

Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
Address: 3-10-10 Shitaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0004 Japan Phone: +81-3-5824-0771 Fax: +81-3-5824-0772
Website: http://www.nagaofoundation.or.jp E-mail: secretariat@nagaofoundation.or.jp
Establishment: 21 November 1989 Jurisdiction: Ministry of the Environment of Japan

NEF Newsletter

ISSUE No. 18 March 2009

Contents
Comprehensive Programme forConservation Research and Activities

Research･･････････････････････････････････････････････ 5Conservation Activities････････････････････････････････ 8Japan Wildlife Research Center･････････････････････････ 8
Network of Asian Rural Communities････････････････････ 10
Stefan Ottomanski････････････････････････････････････ 12

Research Grant Scheme
Outlines of New Projects in 2008

Research Grant Programme
Abdul Hamid Ahmad･･････････････････････････････････ 17Henry Bernard･ ･･････････････････････････････････････ 19
Satyawan Pudyatmoko････････････････････････････････ 22
Woro Anggraitoningsih Noerdjito････････････････････････ 24
Tu Tan Vuong････････････････････････････････････････ 25
Eleonora Gabrielyan･･････････････････････････････････ 26
Dahelmi･････････････････････････････････････････････ 28
Small-scale Research Grant Programme
Laxman Prasad Poudyal･･･････････････････････････････ 30
Gandhiv Kahle･･･････････････････････････････････････ 33
Quvet Khac Le･･･････････････････････････････････････ 35
Conservation Activity Programme
I Wayan Balik････････････････････････････････････････ 38
Deepa Paudel････････････････････････････････････････ 40
Publication Programme
Armida Pullo Andres･･････････････････････････････････ 41

Progress of the Projects in 2007

Research Grant Programme
Bariushaa Munkhtsog･････････････････････････････････ 43
Hung Manh Le･･･････････････････････････････････････ 45
Irvan Sidik･･･････････････････････････････････････････ 47
Lenin Riquelme･･･････････････････････････････････････ 51
Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen･ ･････････････････････････････ 55
Mochaamad Indrawan･････････････････････････････････ 58
Monica Suleiman･････････････････････････････････････ 61
Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama･･････････････････････ 65
Small-scale Research Grant Programme
Dewi････････････････････････････････････････････････ 67
Ganga Ram Regmi･･･････････････････････････････････ 69
Hesti Purnamasari････････････････････････････････････ 71
Iregi Mwenja･････････････････････････････････････････ 74
Rosniati Apriani Risna･････････････････････････････････ 76
Shahabuddin･････････････････････････････････････････ 80Tran Duc Hau････････････････････････････････････････ 83
Conservation Activity Programme
Johanis Pelealu･･････････････････････････････････････ 85
Lan Phuong Nguyen･･････････････････････････････････ 87

Scholarship Scheme

List of NEF Scholars in 2008-2009･････････････････････ 91
NEF Student International Workshop･･････････････････ 93

Comprehensive Programme forConservation Research and Activities
Basic study on the aquatic fauna and flora and conservation activities participatedin by local residents in the Mekong-Chao Phraya Region
The NEF has conducted its new scheme ‘Comprehensive Programme for Conservation Research andActivities,’ since 2006. The NEF facilitates scientific research and conservation activities by sponsoring local
scientists and conservation groups in four countries in the Mekong-Chao Phraya region. These countries
are Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam.
In the research component of the programme, the NEF is implementing the ‘Basic study on the aquatic
fauna and flora and conservation activities participated in by local residents in the Mekong-Chao Phraya
region.’ This is a five-year project to piece out the current status of fauna and flora in the Mekong-Chao
Phraya region (the area comprising the drainage areas of the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers). Teamsof researchers from the NEF and local institutions in the four countries are conducting research on
aquatic organisms in cooperation with local residents. In particular, the project focuses on the aquatic
environment nearby local residential areas (e.g., paddy fields, irrigation canals, small tributaries, swamps,etc.) as the organisms inhabiting said environments can be largely influenced, and in many cases
threatened, by human activities. The NEF aims to improve local residents’ consciousness in respect tobiodiversity in these habitats by involving them in the research activities.

Research
The primal objective of this section is to investigate the current status of fish fauna in the Mekong-Chao
Phraya region in cooperation with universities and research institutions in Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam
and Cambodia. The research teams conduct
field surveys on fish fauna and collect various
data (e.g., data on collecting locality, habitatand local names for fishes) together withvoucher specimens. Photographs of fishes aretaken immediately after collection in orderto record colouration when fresh. Specimens
obtained during the surveys are stored in thecollection rooms of the respective institutions/
universities that participated. The data of
specimens and photographs obtained will becompiled as a database of the Mekong-Chao
Phraya fishes.
A summary of activity in 2008 is as follows.
1. Annual meeting
From 8 to 10 March 2008, the first annual meeting for the research section of this project was conducted
at Siem Reap, Cambodia. The main objectives of this meeting were:(1) to share the information on activities conducted by the participants countries;(2) to share advanced techniques and knowledge for future project activities; and(3) to provide the opportunity to communicate among the participant researchers.
Two or more participating researchers attended from each country. They presented an outline andresults of the activities in their own countries in 2007, and discussed technical problems, etc. A field
trip to the Great Lake (Lake Tonle Sap) and the surrounding area was also conducted during themeeting.
2. Field surveys
As in the prior year, extensive field surveys were conducted in 2008. These surveys, investigating thecurrent status of fish fauna were carried out periodically (for ca. 1 week every 1-2 months) in all four
countries. The research sites of each country in the period from April 2008 to March 2009 are as follows:5(1) Thailand: lower reaches of Chao Phraya basinfrom Ang Thong Province to Nakornsawan
Province; Omkoi watershed, Ping River of
Chao Phraya basin in Chiangmai Province and
Tak Province; and Mun River drainage (Mekongbasin) in Ubonratchathani Province andflooded forests in Rasi Salai Province.
(2) Lao PDR: Mekong basin of Savannakhet Province.
(3) Vietnam: lower reaches of Mekong delta,
including Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and
Ben Tre Provinces.
(4) Cambodia: Mekong basin in Rattanakiri Province
and Tonle Sap Lake, including its tributaries.
At the research sites, researchers collected fishes from various habitats using several types of fishinggear, such as hand nets, seine nets, casting nets, trawls and traps. The team received the help of local
fishermen who possess invaluable knowledge of their local environment. GPS was used to obtain
detailed geographical data for each site and the local names of fishes were recorded. The same
fishes were also obtained from the fish markets. The fishes were fixed in 10% formalin for subsequent
preservation, while photographs were taken for at least some of the specimens before fixation inorder to record their colouration when alive or fresh.
3. Collection building
The fish specimens obtained in this project
were fixed and preserved in collection rooms attheir respective institutions. After identification,
the specimens were registered with respective
catalogue numbers, appropriately bottled with
75% ethyl alcohol, and systematically arranged in
the collection rooms. Various data accompaniedwith specimens (e.g., collecting locality, GPS data,
habitat, date and time, collecting method andname of collector) are recorded in registration
books and computer databases. In the casewhere the institutions lacked an appropriate
facility for storing specimen collections, the NEF
contributed to the building or refurbishing of a
room.

6

Although identification of the collections is
ongoing, at least 425 species, belonging to 70
families and 19 orders, have been sorted. The
most species-rich order is the Cypriniformes(158 spp., 37.2% of total), followed by the
Perciformes (115 spp., 27.1%) and the
Siluriformes (65 spp., 15.3%). About 380
species were photographed when fresh or
alive. Of these fishes collected, there are several
specimens with new discoveries in respect totaxonomy and/or biogeography. The results
will be compiled in NEF publications andpublished in scientific journals.
Future plans
The specimens obtained in this project are
being appropriately preserved in the facilitiesof the participating institutions as researchresources, such as reference collections andvouchers with the results of this project, andas materials for various derived studies in the
future. A database of fish images that presents
the colour of the fishes when alive or fresh is
useful for identification and research on, e.g.,
intraspecific variations. Detailed distribution
maps of fishes based on the GPS data willcontribute to the conservation activities inthis region. The data on local names will
be helpful when selecting standard local
names for the respective fish species in eachcountry. These will be presented in various
NEF publications, such as scientific articles
and reference books (e.g., pictorial books and/or identification guides), and will contributeto a better understanding of the distribution,
taxonomy and species diversity of fishes in
the Mekong-Chao Phraya region. It is also
expected that the outcomes will be used infuture policy making for sustainable resource
use and development in the region. (Koichi
Shibukawa)

7

Conservation Activities
Japan Wildlife Research Center‘Mizube-no-sachi’ Nature’s blessing of food for the living things around riparian areas
Introduction
Various kinds of riparian wildlife species aregathered and consumed as everyday foodby local people in the Mekong Basin. This istrue even around Vientiane, the capital city of
Lao PDR. In this area, people enthusiasticallygather various wildlife species, such as water
mimosa, water clover, dragonfly larvae,
crickets, grasshoppers, shield bugs, tadpoles,
frogs and small fishes. These creatures are
consumed locally and are also sold in themarkets together with farm products. The
reason why the people gather these creatures
is, of course, not because of a food shortage.
As well as ease in collection, people are Water clover growing beside rice
traditionally attracted by these creatures’unique flavours and/or tastes. Environmental
conditions have been well-preserved there
for long term, and thus, people still enjoy thevariety of food materials from the bounty ofnature.
As the general term for the riparian wildlife
consumed by people, we here call it ‘Mizubeno-sachi,’ the Japanese term meaning ‘nature’s
blessing of food for the living things aroundriparian areas.’
Despite their abundance and importance, Local market in Dong Makai
the species diversity of ‘Mizube-no-sachi’has not been studied thoroughly. In orderto understand the current status between‘Mizube-no-sachi’ and local residents, we areconducting the research activities presented
below.
Research activities and achievements
The research started from 2007 around
Vientiane. In the first year, we surveyed the‘Mizube-no-sachi’ found in local markets.
Through the survey, we found that manykinds of wildlife are consumed as everyday
food by local people. In the second year, we One of the Mizube-no-sachi, ‘Look Houa.’ Mixed aquatic
conducted field surveys accompanied by organisms which are used for soup8

local people. We visited many places with various habitats, e.g., paddy fields, irrigation canals, ponds andshrubs. All of these areas are nearby the living space of villagers. Based on interviews with the villagers,
we recorded various data on every edible wildlife species, including local names, seasons of collecting,edible regions of respective creatures, methods for cooking and habitats. Voucher specimens andrespective photographs were taken as well. As a result, more than 50 plant species and 20 families of
insects, 3 species of frogs and 4 species of crustaceans were recorded as the ‘Mizube-no-sachi’ in the
research area.
Through this survey, we were impressed with the richness in species diversity of the ‘Mizube-no-sachi’in this area. We could also recognise that the local people were properly distinguishing edible species.
However, some confusion or misunderstandings about species recognition were observed. For example,
two insect groups, predaceous diving beetles and water scavenger beetles were regarded as a single
group showing sexual dimorphism, viz. male and female of single species. In another case, some plant
species were confused and referred to together as a single vernacular name, because they are used forthe same purpose.
Approach to wise use of nature
We believe that the most important key to nature conservation is to raise the awareness of local people
about the ‘wise use of natural resources’. Without it, bans do not work for nature conservation. Of thevillagers, adults know a lot about the wildlife that they live with. Children are always playing in the fields
with great interest in the wildlife they see. To sensitize such local people to the wise use of their nature,
we would like to provide a field guide book on the ‘Mizube-no-sachi’ in the area containing interesting
photographs and their legends in the local language. We hope that the field guide can be a clue to thesustainable use of the natural resources, even by local people who have little opportunity to receive
good education.
Secondary nature conservation
There are two categories of nature, namely primary nature and secondary nature. Primary nature is nonmodified nature, which keeps the original state without maintenance conducted by humans. To thecontrary, secondary nature is a concept of nature that is modified and maintained by human activities,
such as paddy cultivation and irrigation. In secondary nature, if it is balanced well, human beings canobtain a lot of benefits, including ‘Mizube-no-sachi’ and wildlife can reproduce. This well-balanced
secondary nature should be a model of the ‘wise use of nature.’ In the case of Japan, secondary
nature was established when paddy cultivation technology was introduced about 3,000 years ago.
However, it has rapidly been disappearing within the last 60 years by reason of rampant development,
hyper-intensification ofagribusiness and the intensive
use of pesticides, etc. It canbe suggested that Japan is anegative example for othercountries. We hope that this‘Mizube-no-sachi’ research
project will help recipient
countries to find the best way toconserve their precious natureand resources. (San'ei Ichikawa)An environment of secondary nature around paddy field in Mekong Basin

9

Network of Asian Rural Communities
Technical cooperation project on sustainable utilization of rice-field ecosystems (SURE)

A rice-field does not only supply rice to the people in Laos, but also creates a unique ecosystem that
supplies various aquatic organisms as an important nutrient source to the people. The present technicalcooperation project aims at (1) making a scientific list of aquatic organisms living in the rice-fieldecosystem, (2) understanding the current situation in utilization of aquatic organisms by the people, and(3) developing appropriate methods and building the human capacity needed for education and anawareness raising campaign on the sustainable utilization of rice-field ecosystems.
The target area comprises 20 villages
selected in the Naxaithong District, 35-50
km north from Vientiane. The Namxouang
Aquaculture Development Center (NADC),
under the Department of Livestock andFisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture andForestry, implements this project with thefinancial support of the NEF and technicalsupport from the Japan Wildlife ResearchCenter (JWRC). The Center for Environmentand Development Studies at the National
University of Laos and student volunteer
groups at the university also participate inthis project. Activities included in the projectare (1) the collection of aquatic organisms inand around rice-fields by school children at
primary schools of target villages, (2) scientificidentification of collected aquatic organisms,(3) education of primary school children on
the conservation of rice-field ecosystems,(4) interview surveys of the villagers on thesituation of rice cultivation and the utilizationof aquatic organisms, (5) preparation of various
materials for education and awareness raising
campaigns on environment protection, and (6)training primary school teachers in education
methods for environmental conservation andthe sustainable use of rice-field ecosystems.

Collection of aquatic organisms in a rice field by school
children

From June 2007 to August 2008, project activities were conducted at 16 villages. At each target village,
twenty primary school children collected aquatic organisms in rice fields, irrigation canals, reservoirs andmarshes in the village. Collected samples of aquatic organisms contained 28 fish species belonging to
13 families, many species of insects including water scorpions, pond skaters, water bugs, grass hoppers,
crickets, ladybirds, calico bugs, larval and adult forms of dragonflies, larval and adult forms of diving
beetles, etc., and snakes, frogs, crabs, shrimps, leeches, snails and bivalves. In addition, many kinds ofaquatic and submerged plants were collected. University students and NADC staff entertained primaryschool children, after the collection of aquatic animals, by playing games and dancing, and showed
them Kamishibai, a storytelling material using several cards with illustrations, to teach the importance of
rice-field ecosystem conservation to their lives.

10

The interview survey of villagers has revealed
that about 80% of villagers are engaged inrice cultivation, and some of them are using
agricultural chemicals that may affect therichness of aquatic organisms in rice-fieldecosystems. Villagers catch aquatic organisms
in and around rice-fields, mainly for familial
consumption, as often as 240 days a year. The
amount of collected organisms reaches 75kg/
household a year. All of the fishes and most ofother animals collected in the project, except
for some snakes and leeches, are consumed
by the villagers. Some of the plants growing
in the rice fields are also consumed by the Interview survey
villagers.
Various materials for education and awareness raising campaigns on the conservation of rice-fieldecosystems have been prepared. T-shirts and notebooks indicating the importance of rice-fieldecosystems have been prepared by NADC and distributed to primary school children. Posters showing
the life cycles and illustrated catalogues of aquatic animals have been prepared by JWRC biologists, anda series of Kamishibai explaining the importance of environmental protection in rice-field ecosystems
has been prepared by university students. Two seminars on education methods for environmental
conservation and the sustainable utilization of rice-field ecosystems were organised inviting primaryschool teachers at target villages.
The present project is conducted in a lowland suburban area situated in the Vientiane plain. It is hopedthat the same kind of activities will be conducted in upland remote areas for comparison of rice-fieldecosystems with lowland areas. (Hiromu Ikenoue)

Teacher training

Training by JWRC

11

Stefan Ottomanski
Conservation awareness activities with student groups

In this second year of our Conservation Awareness Activities, the NEF provided continued support for
student volunteer groups engaged in nature conservation.
In 2007-08, support was given to four student groups in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, to venture out of
their campus and into communities, and carry out environmental awareness educations with children
in village primary schools. These were more general activities that were largely left up to the students
themselves to decide. This year, after a comfortable working relationship had been established with thegroups, the NEF is sharpening its focus more toward the conservation of freshwater aquatic ecosystems.
In rural Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, one doesn’t have to travel far to find healthy freshwater
ecosystems. Within a few paces of most rural households is a pond, rice field or other watery domain,each with a rich assembly of creatures within. These ecosystems are also complex, surprisingly resilient,and provide excellent ‘living classrooms’ for teaching the fundamentals of biology, ecology andbiodiversity - the baseline of all environmental conservation.
These ‘neighbourhood ecosystems’ are integral features of the landscape in Indochina and closely
connected with the livelihood and local culture. Many of the creatures within are well known tothe people of the region. Fishes, crabs, shrimps, aquatic insects and frogs are regularly caught for
consumption. Others, especially some of the small and cryptic creatures are less well known, but are
equally important to the ecosystem as a whole. There arecountless animals and plants ranging from microscopic
to gigantic. Many of these species, by changes intheir presence or absence, can serve as early warning
indicators of chemicals, pollution or other man-madeenvironmental threats.

Icebreaker game at primary school in Vientiane, Laos

The NEF is now working to mobilize conservationminded students to venture out to primary schools toraise awareness of the importance of the rich biodiversityof these aquatic ecosystems. The project provides
training and funding for the logistics of the activities.
The students first learn about the basics of ecology
and then prepare to share what they have learned withschoolchildren. The activities follow an activity plan
template provided by the NEF, which involves a series ofthree or four activity visits to each of a number of primaryschools. A typical activity usually begins with icebreaker
games, followed by a dramatized or illustrated talk on
the topic of the day. This is typically followed by a moreinteractive activity in which the children are given theopportunity to respond and express themselves. Then
there is the all-important field activity, in which thechildren leave the classroom to collect and observe in a
nearby water habitat. Some samples are then broughtback to the classroom for drawing and further study. The
activity ends with a presentation by the children of what
they have seen, learned and experienced.

Student group volunteers dramatizing a lesson on aquatic
ecology in Danxang Village primary school, Laos.
12

Plans for the coming year include facilitating linkages between the various student groups andcompiling the groups individual activity plans into Activity Kits for other groups to use.

Team teaching
The volunteer students plan, prepareand carry out their lessons as a team, also
practicing some group skills useful when
they graduate. Group work continues in theclassroom, offering more interactive learning,both with the numerous volunteer teachers
and with each other.
Preparing materials
Students are encouraged to prepare their own
materials. The NEF is training the students in
how to prepare more interactive activities,
rather than the standard. Sengvilayvanh
Singthavikhoune the student group leader in Students and teachers from Pakse and Vientiane compile
the Center for Environmental Development their ideas at planning workshop
Studies at National University of Laos, Vientiane,shows some activity cards they have made forinteractive activities in primary schools.
Teaching and showing how
From the outset, the volunteer students arechallenged to become teachers and relate
what they learn to primary school children.
The turnaround time is sometimes quite fast;sometimes the students ‘teach’ what they
have only just learned themselves, but the
rapid and enthusiastic feedback from cheerful
young faces spurs them on to learn - andteach even more.

Under construction: a dragonfly model for use in primaryschool classrooms. Vientiane, Laos

Student volunteers in Cambodia explaining some basic Students in Pakse, Laos, practicing a card matching gametaxonomy
before applying it to their next primary school activity

13

Into the field
University students and children from Bakong
Primary school in Siem Reap collect aquatic
animals for their classroom activity. Like mostprimary schools in the region, the pond is oneof the many rich aquatic ecosystems within a
few minutes’ walk from the school that offersa living field classroom to learn about ecology
and biodiversity.
Up close
Many of the smaller aquatic animals are familiar
to the children. However, they rarely get achance to look closely at the different physicalfeatures that clearly distinguish one similarlooking animal from another. The use of asimple magnifying glass opens up a new world
to the observer.
Drawing and presentations
Sketching from life, which forces the observer
to look in close detail at features that might
not be noticed, followed by a presentation, is
one of the key activities. We found that mostchildren can draw to a high level of detail once
given some guidance. Finally the children talkabout what they have learned and experienced
in a presentation, which also provides
useful feedback to the volunteers as to theeffectiveness of their activities.

Drawing a water scorpion in Pakse, Southern Laos

Collecting aquatic fauna with schoolchildren in Pakse, LaosChildren using lupes to see features of small aquatic
animals for the first time

Giving a presentation. Pakse, southern Laos

14

From student groups
Piseth Khin
He was one of the founding members of the Student Environmental
Group set up at the instigation of the NEF at Angkor University,
Siem Reap, Cambodia. He comes from a village on Tonle Sap Lakeand remembers vividly the rich flooded forests of his childhoodthat have now mostly disappeared as Cambodia races toward
development. A natural teacher, he applied his field experienceand thirst for knowledge about the natural environment to the NEF
activities, and took the lead in volunteer environmental awarenesslessons in primary schools. Piseth recently graduated and is now
undergoing on-the-job training for his new job at the Ministry ofEnvironment in Phnom Penh.
Thipphachanh Soulinthone“I am from Xokamnauy Village, Pakse District, in the southern part ofLaos, and am now a 3rd year student at Champasak Agriculture andForestry College (CHAFC). I am very proud to have the opportunity
to work with the NEF project. I like to make people understandand to be aware of natural environment conservation, especiallychildren who are important players in the future. We cannot exist
without nature and we all need to understand the importance ofconservation as well as using our natural resources. In our activities,
we try to raise awareness of the importance of the diversity ofplants and animals, especially small animals and insects, because
without their existence humans cannot survive.”
Noeum Kheoun
In the eyes of many of the student volunteers, the indiscriminate
use of pesticides and other chemicals is one of the more visible
threats to biodiversity. As the region moves toward development,
traditional, biodiversity-friendly farming practices are being
replaced by more intensive methods. Noeum Kheoun, a memberof the Environmental Club at Angkor University, in Siem Reap,
Cambodia, points out that the instructions on a bag of pesticide
imported from Thailand are in a language that neither he nor the
farmers can read.

15

Research Grant Scheme
Outlines of New Projects in 2008

Research Grant Programme
The breeding activities of the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus
porosus in two river systems in Sabah, Malaysia
Research Grant Programme

Abdul Hamid Ahmad
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

The saltwater crocodile, Crocodilus porosus, is a protected species in Sabah. Many major Sabahan river
systems harbour populations of crocodiles. As with the case of many prolific egg-laying reptiles, survival
from juvenile through breeding age depends significantly on the initial number of hatchlings, which inturn depends a great deal on the conditions of their nesting grounds. For such a long-living species, thedestruction of nesting grounds and the subsequent loss of hatchlings will not have a sudden impact
on the adult population size, but will rather demonstrate a very slow decline until the adult population
becomes too old for reproduction or depleted by other factors. In many Sabahan river systems, thesenesting grounds have not been identified or prioritised for protection in ensuring the long term survival,
management and conservation of the species.
Objectives
The objectives of this study are:(1) to study the breeding activities and the onset of breeding seasons of the saltwater crocodile in thewestern (Klias) and eastern (Serudong) parts of Sabah;(2) to study the distribution of hatchlings and young crocodiles along the waterways after the breeding
seasons;(3) to compare the importance of the Klias and Serudong rivers for the reproduction of the saltwater
crocodile based on the crocodile’s distribution, size class and population structure and the numberof hatchlings spotted during breeding seasons;(4) to identify and map the nesting grounds of the saltwater crocodile in two selected Sabahan river
systems based on the presence of hatchlings over a two-year period; and(5) to make recommendations to the Sabah Wildlife Department on the management, protection andconservation protocols of the nesting grounds of the saltwater crocodile.
Methodology
Field studies will be conducted during the onset of hatching season (around November in Sabah) andthe period will extend until the end of March. In the hatching season, surveys will be carried out monthly
and the locations of hatchlings will be recorded. Hatchling detection will commence one month before
and will end one month after the known hatching season in Sabah to allow for the detection of possible
seasonal variations of the hatching season for different river systems. Outside the hatching season,
surveys will be carried out bimonthly to obtain data on the distribution, size class and population
structure of adult populations.
The crocodile surveys will be carried out using a corrected spotlight count method at night during low
tide. It will be done during evening low tides when substantial parts of the mudflats are exposed andcrocodiles can be easily spotted from their eye-shines. Once their eye-shines are spotted, they will beapproached as close as possible to allow for total length (TL) estimation (and for positive identificationof species – in the case of Klias, the status of the highly endangered false gharial, Tomistoma schlegelii,17is still unknown, although many villagers have claimed to have seen them over many years). Nesting
grounds can be identified based on the location of hatchlings at the water’s edge. Hatchlings take a few
weeks to disperse from the point where the female guards them. The river banks immediately adjacentto these locations are the nesting grounds for female crocodiles. All the locations can be precisely
marked using the Global Positioning System and can be mapped accordingly.
The locations of individual crocodiles will be recorded and used to generate the values for crocodile
densities (crocodile/km) in each river. The hatchling distribution data will be analysed by incorporating
the locations into the map of each river system, after which the nesting grounds will be determined.
Ecological data will be analysed by making comparisons between river systems to determine thedifferences in distribution, size class and population structure that will lead to ranking the importance ofeach river system for crocodile reproduction in the wild.
Expected outcome(1) Two-year data on the density of crocodiles in two selected Sabahan major river systems.
(2) Confirmation of a difference in breeding season between the east and west coast populations, givinga clearer picture for the life cycles of the saltwater crocodile in Sabah.
(3) Maps for the distribution of the important nesting grounds along the Klias and Serudong rivers basedon two consecutive breeding seasons.
This project will provide practical information for the management and conservation protocols withinthose river systems and the maps will be important to launch other management measures on the
populations, e.g., egg collecting for ex-situ hatching for farming or reintroduction programmes, byreducing hatching failures in the wild (an average of 60% egg mortality is estimated in the wild).

Figure 1. The map of Sabah showing the locations of Sabahan major rivers. The proposed study willconcentrate data collection efforts in Sg. Klias and Sg. Serudong, marked in blue indicators and red arrows.
18

The potential benefits of forest retention in oil palm plantations
for biodiversity conservation: conserving biodiversity may control
rodent pest species (Muridae) through enhanced species interactions
Research Grant Programme

Henry Bernard
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

The few studies on small mammals conducted in plantation areas in Southeast Asia so far, do not yet
provide a clear picture of what determined the occurrence and population density of various rodent
species, especially in plantations of exotic crop species (Stuebing and Gasis, 1989; Buckle et al., 1997;
Rajaratnam and Vaz, 1998; Bernard, 2003). The assessment of rodent populations conducted in 1994
in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations located adjacent to the western border of the Tabin Wildlife
Reserve (TWR) in eastern Sabah, Malaysia, revealed an unexpectedly low number. During 22 months ofintensive trapping in the oil palm plantations, only 49 rats were caught in an area of not less than 5,000ha(Rajaratnam and Vaz, 1998). In 1999, a trapping programme by myself with a trapping effort of 2,000
trap nights in young (one year after planting) and old (10-15 years after planting) oil palm plantationsin the same region as that of Rajaratnam and Vaz’s (1998) showed a similar trend with densities of rats
estimated to be as low as 0.2-0.8 individuals/ha (Bernard, 2003). These results are in stark contrast to thesituation in oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia, where rats such as Rattus tiomanicus have beenrecorded in densities of as many as 250-500 individuals/ha (Wood, 1969). Rajaratnam and Vaz (1998)
speculated that the evidently low populations of rats in oil palm plantations near Tabin was due to thepredation of at least 17 species of rat predators, including wild cats, which rely on the forest at TWR as
well as remnant forests within the plantation as a refuge and nesting sites. In Peninsular Malaysia, there
is often no forest nearby or within oil palm plantation areas (Hafidzi, 1993). According to Rajaratnam andVaz (1998), this finding suggests that if plantations are linked to existing forest reserves and sanctuaries,
retaining pockets of forest within oil palm plantations could extend the habitat available to several
species of wildlife, including important rodent predators such as wild cats. The presence of such wildlife
in turn will benefit the oil palm plantations from reduced infestations by rodent pest species throughcontinued predation of rats inside the plantations by the rat predators. While such interactions are
known to occur in areas where oil palm plantations occur together with forests, it remains largely
unknown how the various aspects of the landscape, such as distance from forests or the size of forest
remnants, affects the predation on rats and consequent rat population densities.
In this research, I will carry out a study to test
the hypothesis that forest fragments within amatrix habitat of an oil palm plantation locatedin the vicinity of a large forest reserve arebeneficial for biodiversity conservation and that
it is a useful approach in the management ofrodent-pest populations in oil palm plantations.
In particular, I will aim at investigating how
the size and position of forest fragments may
determine the diversity of rat predators utilizing
the forest fragments and, in turn, how thesepredators will affect the diversity, assemblage
dynamics and population densities of various
species of rodents.
Forest fragments within large scale oil palm plantation
19

Location of the study sites in oil palm plantations and Tabin Wildlife Reserve in eastern Sabah, Malaysia(Bernard, 2003)

Objectives
The specific objectives of this study are:(1) to assess the species compositions, richness and diversity of animals utilizing forest fragments within
oil palm plantations;(2) to study the effects of area size and degree of isolation of forest fragments within oil palm plantations
on the patterns of species compositions, richness and diversity of animals utilizing the forest
fragments;(3) to study the variations in community structure and population dynamics of the small mammal faunain oil palm plantations at varying distances from large tracts of natural forest habitats and at varying
distances to forest fragments; and(4) to provide useful information to oil palm plantation managers on how to contribute to biodiversity
conservation within plantation areas.

20

Methodology
In order to address the objectives of this study, forest fragments of at least three different sizes (small,medium and large; each with three replicates) ranging from approximately 0.5 to 5ha within oil palm
plantations and three degrees of isolation (near, intermediate, far; with three replicates) ranging from100m to > 1.5km in distance from the forest of TWR will be selected for this study. To record whichanimal species utilize the forest fragments, to what extent and under which conditions of fragment sizeand degree of isolation, three methods will be employed: (1) direct observation by sightings; (2) indirect
observations, through circumstantial evidence of animal presence such as foot prints, feeding signs andother field signs; and (3) camera trapping. To study the small mammals (mainly rats and mice) within theoil palm plantations at different distances from TWR, live trapping will be conducted on systematicallysampled transects.
Expected outcome
The results of this study will be published as scientific papers in international journals in the fieldsof tropical biology and conservation. They will be also presented at local, national and internationalseminars and conferences. In this way, it is hoped that the information derived from the study could
be utilized by oil palm plantation managers to promote biodiversity conservation in forest fragments
within oil palm plantations and at the same time benefit from such management strategy in terms ofcontrolling the population of rodent pest species inside the plantation. During this project, one and two
local students will be trained at the Ph. D (or M. Sc.) and B. Sc. level, respectively.

References
Bernard, H., 2003. The non-volant small mammal community in tropical lowland rain forest of Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah,
Malaysia: effects of forests disturbance and conversion. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, Copenhagen University, Denmark.
Buckle, A.P., Chia, T.H., Fenn, M.G.P. and Visvalingam, M., 1997. Ranging behavior and habitat utilization of the Malayan wood rat(Rattus tiomanicus) in an oil palm plantation in Johore, Malaysia. Crop Protection 16(5): 467-473.
Hafidzi, M.N., 1993. Rodent infestations in cropland: an incessant situation. The Planter 69(808): 289-296.
Rajaratnam, R. and Vaz, J., 1998. The potential benefits of forest retention to oil palm plantations. In Trockenbrodt, M. and Maryati,
M. (eds.). Tropical Ecosystem Research in Sabah: Trends and Challenges in Tropical Ecosystems: Forest Conservation. 2nd SITE
Seminar, Sandakan Sabah, Malaysia, 2nd-3rd October 1997. Forestry Department Sabah and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Stuebing, R.B. and Gasis, J., 1989. A survey of small mammals within a Sabah tree plantation in Malaysia. Journal of Tropical
Ecology 5: 203-214.
Wood, B.J., 1969. Population studies on the Malaysian wood rat (Rattus tiomanicus) in oil palm demonstrating an effective newcontrol method and assessing some older ones. The Planter 45: 547-555.

21

Influences of dhole Cuon alpinus on population and distributionof banteng Bos javanicus in Baluran National Park, Indonesia
Research Grant Programme

Satyawan Pudyatmoko
Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

This study will focus on the influences of dholes (Cuon alpinus) on the population size and distributionof banteng (Bos javanicus) in Baluran National Park (BNP), Indonesia. Banteng are wild cattle native toSouth and Southeast Asia and the flagship species of BNP. Banteng and dholes are both classified as
endangered species by the IUCN Red List. The number of banteng from 1970 to 1996 in BNP ranged
from 150 to 200 individuals. In 2002, regular observations in grazing areas estimated the minimum
number of banteng was 101 individuals. In 2003, only 47 animals were observed through regularobservations. In line with the decreasing number of banteng, the relative abundance of dhole wasincreasing and evidence of high predation was found. In 2004 and 2005, banteng monitoring was notconducted because of a lack of funds. The results of our recent monitoring, however, showed a dramatic
decline of banteng. In 2006, concentration counts were conducted and only 15 banteng were observed.
Based on the demographic data of banteng in 2002 and 2003, population modelling with VORTEX
predicted that banteng would be extinct in 35 years.
We have provisionally concluded that dholes are responsible for the banteng decline, based on someindicators such as a bias of sex ratio toward males (under normal pressure of predation, the sex ratio
is biased toward females), a very
low proportion of young banteng
and migration of banteng to closer
habitats (forests) to avoid dholes.
The preliminary survey showedthat some banteng migrated to the
managed forest outside the park. Somelimitations of the previous monitoring,
however, prevented us from making
recommendations for the conservation
Location of Baluran National Park in Java (the green area with a black spot)of banteng and dhole.
Objectives
The objectives of this research are:(1) to identify the current distribution of banteng and dholes;(2) to estimate the current total population size and population structure of banteng and their predator(dholes);(3) to investigate the influence of dholes on the banteng population;(4) to investigate influence of dhole occurrence on banteng distribution; and(5) to identify the role of managed forests on maintaining a viable population of banteng.
Methodology(1) Survey of banteng and dhole populations
To survey banteng, a combination of direct and indirect observations will be conducted. Direct
observations include regular monitoring from a tower in the grasslands and concentration counts atwaterholes and in rivers. Regular observation will be conducted every day in the morning and in theafternoon. Concentration counts will be conducted in November, when there is no water available in22the forest. Data recorded through these observations include group size, composition of group, ageclass and sex of animals. The relative density of banteng will be estimated with an indicator countalong transect lines located systematically over the research area. Indicators counted include tracks
and dung. All locations of these indicators will be determined using GPS. Monitoring the population
with line transects will be conducted in the rainy season, when banteng leave clear and measurable
foot prints. The jaws of dead banteng will be collected, photographed and analysed to estimate theage of the dead animals. Cementum annuli analysis will be conducted to estimate the age of older
animals, because, for older animals, this method is more accurate than an analysis of the structureand growth pattern of the teeth. To survey dholes, regular monitoring from the tower and indicator
counts will be conducted. Data collected will include the number of animals and groups, as well as
the size of the groups. Den locations will be searched and determined using GPS. The relative densityof dholes will be estimated using indicator counts. The estimated number of banteng and dholes will
be compared with the past data to understand the trend of population growth.
(2) Distribution of banteng and dholes
Landsat 7 from 2007 will be processed and interpreted to produce a digital map of the research area.
All locations of the animals, their tracks and their dung will be determined using GPS and their UTM
will be recorded. Based on these data, the spatial distribution of the animals will be analysed anddigital maps will be produced. To identify the distribution change of banteng, the current distribution
will be compared with that in 2002, when banteng were still abundant in BNP. To identify if banteng
are avoiding dholes, the map of banteng distribution will be overlaid with that of the dholes. The
relative density of banteng in the park will be compared with the density in the managed forest to
approximate the importance of this area as a banteng refuge.
(3) Predation on banteng by dholes
Predation on banteng by dholes will be investigated through direct observations, interviews withpark rangers and scat analysis. All scat around settlements, where domestic dogs are common, will beomitted from analysis. The diet of dholes will be inferred from identification of hard parts from preyeaten and recovered in faecal remains. The frequency with which a particular prey species occurs
among the collection of scat will describe the average diet. Hairs recovered from faecal matter will beidentified using reference samples. A minimum of 300 scat samples will be analysed.
Expected outcome
The outcome of the project will be therecommendation to solve the conservation
conflict between banteng and dholes. Based onthese findings, a better species management
plan can be made, which in turn is expected
to enable the co-existence of both species.
In addition, we will investigate the role of the
managed forest surrounding the park on theconservation of banteng. If a significant numberof banteng live in this area, we can propose that
this area be classified as a high conservation
value forest and collaborative managementwith the forestry industry can be initiated.

Proposed research area that consists of national park andmanaged forest area. The blue line is the border of theresearch area. Total size of the research area is 384km2.
The red line is a main road.
23

Distribution pattern and geographical variation of stag beetles(Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in Java
Research Grant Programme

Woro Anggraitoningsih Noerdjito
Zoological Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia

Indonesian stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) live in an extensive habitat and show various
behaviours. In Java, most of the stag beetles are forest inhabitants, now almost restricted in conservation
areas. Adult stag beetles are mainly nocturnal and at least some of them are nectar feeders, while thelarvae feed on rotten wood. Of about 800 species of the coleopterans family Lucanidae, as many as 16
genera and 136 species are known in Indonesia. Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, established in 1894
in Bogor, West Java, has preserved about 130 identified stag beetles species, mostly collected before
1930 from various sites in Indonesia.
Based on my research during the last five years in West Java and old collections by the Dutch, I havedescribed 36 stag beetles species of Java. There are no recent collections from other areas that areconsidered to have many species of stag beetles in Central and East Java, however. Collections fromthose areas will be vital to acquire information on the distribution pattern and geographical variations ofstag beetles in Java.
In this project, extensive study on the distribution and geographic variations of stag beetles will be
conducted in selected areas of Central Java (Mount Slamet and the surrounding forest areas) and EastJava (Mount Argopuro and the surrounding forest areas). This study is expected to complete dataand information that will fill the gaps in our knowledge in the distribution patterns and geographicalvariations of stag beetles in Java.
Objectives
The primary objectives of this research are to acquire information on species diversity, distribution
pattern and the geographical variation of stag beetles in Java.
Methodology
Stag beetles will be collected using Malaise and Light traps. Traps will be set-up in various habitats(secondary, primary and plantation forest) at altitudes from 500m asl to the top (if possible). Light
traps will be installed for two consecutive nights at 18:00 to 24:00 at each study site. If possible, active
collection by breaking rotten wood will be performed to find the species that are not active during
the day and are not attracted by artificial light. The positions of the traps and the specimens collected
will be recorded by GPS device to identify the distribution pattern and mapping of stag beetles
species. Statistical analysis to understand species richness and the diversity of stag beetles will be
conducted using appropriate software. Specimens obtained in this study will be housed in the Museum
Zoologicum Bogoriense.
Expected outcome
By conducting this research, it is expected to complete information and data that will be vital forcomplete documentation of the distribution patterns and geographical variations of stag beetles inJava. The results of these studies will be published as scientific papers. A field guide on the stag beetlesof Java is also planned for publication.

24

Assessment of bat diversity within Vinh region, North-Central
VietnamResearch Grant Programme

Tu Tan Vuong
Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam

Vietnam has been recognised as a key country for bat studies and conservation. The known bat faunaof Vietnam is clearly diverse. Remarkably, several species new to science have been described in the
country. During the recent decades, a number of bat surveys were undertaken but none have been
done in the Vinh region of North-Central Vietnam. Considerably, whilst containing a variety of natural
habitats, the Vinh region has received little attention from scientists.
In order to promote the study and conservation of bats in the Vinh region, this project seeks todetermine species diversity, population structure and their distributions within the region; to study theirecology and echolocation behaviour; and to assess the principal threats to the bat population for urgent
and long-term conservation of the threatened species.
Field surveys are carried out for capturing bats using various types of field equipment, comprised of mist
nets, harp traps, canopy nets and flap traps. Impermanent markers are also applied to avoid recapturingbats during study periods and to record their activity frequency. In necessary cases, observation andbat counting are carried out during daylight with the supplement of electronic torches, binoculars,
video cameras and night version cameras. Captured bats are identified to species based on external
morphology, measurements and visible characters of dentition. Selected individuals are collected andtreated as reference materials with the approval of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR)
and properly catalogued at the Department of Zoological Museum of IEBR. For identification, externalmeasurements are taken from the captured bats including the specimens in the field and cranial anddental measurements are done under a microscope at IEBR. All external and cranial data are measured
following the standard categories in a range of international publications.
An echolocation study is also an important task of the project. The echolocation signals of captured
individuals are recorded in different situations including handheld, resting and flying in their natural
habitats. The recorded signals are then analysed using the custom made sound analysis software,
Batsound 3.1 Professional. A variety of echolocation parameters are measured, including the frequencyof the constant-frequency element, bandwidths of the signals, signal duration, pulse interval and duty
cycle, etc.
For a complete assessment of the taxonomic status of bat species, tissue samples are taken from all
examined individuals at every study area and preserved in 95-100% alcohol. They are available foranalyses to the international scientific community. A subset of the tissue samples will be sent to the
Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (University of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario, Canada) to provide genetic confirmation for the taxonomic identifications made in the field.
This project aims at a series of productions. They encompass comprehensive results on the bat fauna of
the Vinh region, which includes the species composition together with relevant information; detailed
recommendations for conservation; various publications (reports, presentations, keys to the bat fauna,
papers published in national and international journals, etc.); and classification of the key sites for bat
conservation and further studies in the future.
Websites comprising scientific records of the known species (materials, systematic descriptions,echolocation behaviour, reproductive biology, distribution, etc.) will be designed and ‘World Wide Web’/
Internet connected during and after the project periods.
25

Research on the population status and conservation of endangered
ornamental plant species in Armenia: tulip (Tulipa L.), iris (Iris L.),
snowdrop (Galanthus L.), poppy (Papaver L.), pink (Dianthus L.),
primrose (Primula L.)
Research Grant Programme

Eleonora Gabrielyan
Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia

There are 3,500 plant species in the small territory of Armenia. The bulbous, tuberous and perennial
ornamental plants are among the most beautiful and very vulnerable species. These include thefollowing taxa that are in the scope of this study: tulips (Tulipa sosnowskyi, T. florenskyi, T. confusa), irises(Iris grossheimii, I. elegantissima, I. lycotis, I. reticulata), snowdrops (Galanthus artjuschenkoae, G. alpina),
poppies (Papaver bracteatum, P. pseudoorientale), pinks (Dianthus libanotis, D. parviflorus, D. callocephalus,
D. subulosus) and primroses (Primula amoena, P. cordifolia, P. woronowii, P. komarovii). Although thehabitats of many of these plants are being disastrously reduced, no special surveys on the state of these
species have been made since 1970. Thus, it becomes very important to investigate the real state of
every highly ornamental taxon and to make its status more precise. It is very urgent to implement strict
protective measures for these plants.
The main goal of this study is to investigate the recent distribution and current status of separate
populations of tulips, irises, snowdrops, poppies, primroses and pinks, while developing recommendations
for conservation. In the framework of the project, the following activities will be carried out:
(1) To obtain information on the recent distribution and current state of the populations of tulips, irises,
snowdrops, poppies, pinks and primroses during field trips.
(2) To investigate the taxonomic range, morphological variability and ecological, biological andphenological characteristics of these taxa in Armenia.
(3) To distribute the printed materials among the conservation organisations (reserves, forestry,
inspections of nature protection), schools, the local communities in the Lori, Vayots Dzor, Sjunik andArarat regions, all of which will allow an increase of public awareness in these regions.
(4) To publish a series of scientific articles and leaflets with colour photos.
(5) To realize ex situ conservation of the endangered species of tulips, irises, snowdrops, poppies, pinks
and primroses (the collection of seeds for propagation ex situ, taking care of seedlings and youngplants for scientific investigations and further reintroduction into nature).
Objectives(1) To carry out special investigations of the recent state and area of distribution of separate populationsof tulips, irises, snowdrops, poppies, primroses and pinks, revealing in reality what part of the previous
area still remains in order to work out real protection measures.
(2) To carry out detailed investigations concerning the taxonomic position of the taxa and theirmorphological, ecological, biological, phenological peculiarities and characteristics in order tochoose proper methods of conservation(3) To reveal major threats for the taxa
(4) To develop recommendations for conservation
Methodology
The research will be conducted in the Lori, Vayots Dzor, Ararat and Sjunik regions of Armenia. The data
will be collected and analysed in the following ways:

26

(1) Specimens housed in the herbarium of the Institute of Botany of the Armenian National Academyof Sciences will be investigated in order to collect morphological data and data on the previous
distribution of the species and compose the routes of field trips.
(2) Recent scientific literature for the precise definition of the taxonomic status of the relevant species
will be surveyed.
(3) Field trips in four regions of Armenia will be conducted in order to investigate morphologicalvariability and the phenological, taxonomic, ecological and biological peculiarities of the species.
It also aims to reveal major threats, to collect seeds for ex situ conservation and to define recent
distribution and the current state of the species.
(4) Data on the biology, phenology and adaptation abilities of the species and the possibility of theirreintroduction into nature will be collected.
Expected outcome(1) The current distribution of populations of tulips, irises, poppies, primroses and pinks will be revealed.
(2) Detailed investigations concerning the taxonomic range, morphological variability, ecological,
biological and phenological characteristics will be carried out.
(3) A GIS database will be created.
(4) Recommendations for the conservation of the species will be developed.
(5) For ex situ conservation and propagation, seeds will be collected and planted on plots at the Instituteof Botany of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.

27

Inventory of swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae),their host plants and parasitoids at several national parks in
Sumatra, Indonesia
Research Grant Programme

DahelmiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Andalas University, Indonesia

Among many tropical countries with high biodiversity, Indonesia is known as the country with both
the richest fauna (121 species) and the highest species endemism (53 species) of swallowtail butterfliesin the world. Sumatra holds high biodiversity, yet its biodiversity is threatened by rapid deforestation.
Despite their protected status, some national parks are under severe threat of deforestation due to a lackof support from local governments and communities. The high pressure on tropical forest ecosystems
has caused a high rate of biodiversity losses on an unprecedented scale. Many studies indicate that
increasing land-use intensity leads to biodiversity loss, including insect species such as butterflies.
Butterflies have a variety of resource needs, principally food, but also sites for thermoregulation and egglaying. The food requirements of larvae and adults are quite different: larvae are phytophagous on one
to several host plant species, whereas adults feed largely on nectar. Swallowtail butterflies are among
the best-studied insect groups. They are highly sensitive to habitat disturbance and have been usedcommonly as an indicator taxon for ecological research. Many Southeast Asian butterflies are endemic
to the region and face the grim prospect of global extinction if current levels of deforestation continue.
In spite of the rich fauna of swallowtails, species composition, host plant utilized and life history
information of butterflies are important not only for conservation planning, but also for the promotionof ecotourism. One of the criteria used for the inventory of environmental preservation areas istaxonomic biodiversity (number of species). To gather basic data for conservation, I plan to investigate
the swallowtail butterflies in seven national parks of Sumatra.
The objectives of this research are:(1) to survey species diversity (species composition) and the distribution of swallowtail butterflies inseven national parks of Sumatra, Indonesia;(2) to examine host plants utilized by larvae;(3) to examine the life history of immature stages for several selected species; and(4) to examine parasitoids fauna attacking the immature stages for selected species.
Methodology
For the collection of butterflies, the areas to be visited include seven national parks, specifically Batang
Gadis, Siberut, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Tiga Puluh, Bukit Dua Belas, Tesso Nilo and Way Kambas. The principal
areas visited are forest interiors, urban habitats and forest gaps. Collections are made ten days (maximum)
for each national park excluding Kerinci Seblat National Park (about 30 days). Due to weather conditions,the surveys will be conducted from January to September, particularly during the dry season.
Butterfly sampling will be conducted by the following three methods:(1) Hand netting
Two observers walk together at a steady pace along the routes and all swallowtail butterflies withinapproximately 5m on both sides will be captured with a hand net. All swallowtail butterflies that are
seen in this radius will also be recorded. Surveys are conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 13:00 p.m.
local time, corresponding to peak activity and only during periods of full sunlight.
28

(2) Baited traps
These traps (bait trays) are placed particularly on moist ground or near rivers. They are baited with amixture of rotting fruit/rum and rotting meat/faeces and animal scraps. Butterflies visiting the traps
are collected by hand net.
(3) Binocular observation
Butterflies flying within 10m from the observer are observed using binoculars. Observations are
made along the transects (routes).
Every specimen trapped or netted is identified to the species where possible. Photographs of specimens
will be taken to aid in identification and for a comparison to the reference collection in the Museum
Zoology Bogor. The distribution of two potential resources for adults, that is, host plants for oviposition
sites and flowering plants as nectar sources will be examined. Along of the route of butterfly collections,
host plants are observed and collected within the areas 5m on both sides of the route. The distributionof nectar plants will be examined along the routes during the butterfly survey.
Eggs of swallowtail butterflies are collected along with the leaf material, incubated in the laboratory
and observed daily for development through various stages. The time and success rate of egg hatching,larval and pupal development and adult emergence are recorded. The dates of hatching, larval molt andadult emergence are recorded daily to determine the developmental times.
To obtain parasitoids, the eggs, larvae and pupae of swallowtail butterflies will be collected fromthe field, particularly at Taman Nasional Kerinci Seblat. They are reared in the laboratory under room
temperature. Each egg and larvae is isolated in a plastic cup with leaves of host plants and thereafter
they are reared singly until emergence. The same procedure will also be applied for pupae. Eggs, larvaeand pupae attacked by parasitoids are collected and kept in a vial containing alcohol 70%.
Expected outcome(1) To contribute to the biodiversity data base of national parks of Sumatra.
(2) To use butterflies as surrogate information for the overall biodiversity values.
(3) To provide some suggestions for the effective implementation to achieve conservation goals andenhance both the participation of local communities and their conservation.

1. Siberut
2. Batang Gadis
3. Kerinci Seblat
4. Tesso Nilo
5. Bukit Tiga Puluh
6. Bukit Dua Belas
7. Way Kambas

29Small-scale Research Grant Programme
Population status and habitat preference of lesser adjutant
Leptoptilos javanicus in Nepal
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Laxman Prasad Poudyal
Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Introduction
Of the nineteen species of the stork family (Ciconiidae) worldwide,
the lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), a colonial tree nesting
species, is distributed in India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam,
Thailand and Bhutan, with a world population about 6,500-8,000
individuals (BirdLife International, 2008). In Nepal it inhabits theriverbeds, floodplains, paddy fields, swamps, lakes and forest poolsof the Chitwan and Bardia National Parks and their buffer zones, theSuklaphanta, Parsa and Koshitappu Wildlife Reserves and their bufferzones, the Jagadishpur and Ghodaghodi lakes, Lumbini farmlands
and Mai Valley, Barandabhar, Nawalparasi, Dang Deukhuri and
Urlabari forests (Baral and Inskipp, 2005). It is listed as vulnerable in
the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2007) and endangered in Nepal’s threatened
category (Baral and Inskipp, 2004) because of its declining population
due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting and disturbances(BirdLife International, 2001).

Lesser adjutant at Chitwan(Photo credit: Hem Subedi)

Project areas of Nepal
30

A study on the population status and habitat preference of this species in Nepal has been started. The
tentative project completion date is December 2010. It is anticipated that the outcome of this projectwill help to develop management plans to conserve this threatened species in its natural habitats.
Study area
This study is going to be carried out in three Important Bird Areas of central lowland Nepal.
(1) Chitwan National Park (27°28’N 84°20’E) was set up in 1973 as Nepal’s first national park. This is a
World Heritage Site and lies in central southern Terai. It is characterized by tropical and subtropicalforests. Roughly 70 percent of the park vegetative cover is Sal (Shorea robusta) forest, a moist
deciduous vegetation type of the Terai region. The remaining vegetation types include grassland
20%, riverine forest 7% and Sal with Chir pine 3%.
(2) Barandabhar Forest (27°40’N 84°10’E) ranges from 2-7km in width and stretches from Chitwan
National Park in the south to Mahabharat in the north. It contains Sal forest, riverine forest, mixed
forest, shrubs and wetlands. Beeshazari Lake, a Ramsar site, lies within the forest corridor.
(3) Lumbini Farmlands (27°29’N 83°17’E) encompass a large rural area where agriculture is the main landuse (68%) followed by forest (21%). There are plains in the south and dry Bhabar and Churia Hills to
the north. A number of perennial and seasonal rivers and streams including the Telar, Tinau, Sundi
and Dano river systems flow through the area.
Methodology(1) Population status
Counting the nests: Nest searching was attempted in mid October but the trail and fire line
maintenance inside the park area was in progress and will be completed by the November. I will
start this work in December 2008. The counting unit will be apparently occupied nests meeting two
criteria: (1) young seen in the nest and (2) at least one adult present around the nest. Individuals will
be counted directly with the help of binoculars/telescopes. The colonial trees will be identified andthe height and diameter will be measured.
Counting the feeding areas: Individuals will also be counted in the feeding areas during the summer
season (May-July) and will be compared with the nesting count.
(2) Habitat preference
The habitat preference (HP) will be determined by a comparison between the proportions of habitat
use with the proportional availability of habitat type within the study area. Neu’s method describes
the formula as the following (Bibby et al. 1998).
Proportion of habitat use =Number of birds observed in individual habitat
Number of birds observed in all habitats

Proportion of habitat availability =Habitat Selection Index =Area of individual habitat typeArea of total habitat available

Proportion of Habitat use
Proportion of Habitat Availability

If the selection index is greater than 1, then the habitat is preferred; otherwise the habitat is notpreferred by the lesser adjutant.
Results and discussion
Four individuals of lesser adjutant were observed in the Rapti riverbed near Paridhap on 14 October
2008 during the drive from Sauraha to Paridhap. From a discussion with local people and naturalists, areview of literature and a short visit to the buffer zone in mid October, I identified possible colonial areas
in and around Chitwan National Park and Barandhabar forests (See Map). They are the Dumaria, Bahapur,
Padampur, Ghatgain, Sukibhar, Beeshazari and Nanda lakes, Bhimle, Lamital, Kuchhkuchhe, Chapparchuli
and Khagendramalli. These areas will be confirmed through field visits in December-February 2008/09.
Work will be continued in other proposed areas as well and publicized after the completion of the
project.
31

Adjutant colonial areas

References
Baral, H. S. and Inskipp, C., 2004. The state of Nepal’s birds 2004. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Bird
Conservation Nepal and IUCN-Nepal, Kathmandu.
Baral H. S. and Inskipp, C., 2005. Important Bird Areas in Nepal: key sites for conservation. Bird Conservation Nepal and Birdlife
International. Kathmandu and Cambridge.
Bibby, C., Jones, M. and Marsden, M., 1998. Expedition Field Techniques Bird Surveys. Royal Geographical Society, London.
BirdLife International, 2001. Threatened birds of Asia. Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK.
BirdLife International, 2008. Species factsheet: Leptoptilos javanicus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 17 October 2008.
IUCN, 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded from www.iucnredlist.org on 17 October 2008.

32

Survey of otters in Pokhara Valley lakes of Nepal
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Gandhiv Kafle
Wetland Friends of Nepal, Nepal

Three species of otters are known to occur in Nepal: Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), smooth-coated otter (Lutra
perspicillata) and Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) (de Silva, 2006; Thapa, 2003). These otters,
which are nocturnal and rarely seen, are very unfamiliar to the people of Nepal. Research on otters isvery limited and much of the otter’s status is unknown. Due to a lack of awareness, a lack of research anda lack of concern from authorities, otter populations are declining. Currently they are facing immensepressure on four fronts: degradation and loss of riparian habitat, poaching for their pelts, disturbance byhuman activities; and their feeding behaviour brings them into direct conflict with fishermen, who see
otters as competitors for fishing. As a result, they are surviving in fragmented populations in isolatedareas (Thapa, 2003). The lack of awareness among the local community on otter conservation has
increased the threat to otters.
The Eurasian otter has been found in Begnas and Rupa lakes, as well as the West Seti basin in the
Pokhara Valley (de Silva 2006). A recent preliminary study by Bhandari and Dhruba (2007) using
participatory methods showed that local fishermen noticed three species of otters in Rupa Lake, but
the species names have not been confirmed. On expert consultation, it is speculated that these species
could be smooth-coated otters, Asian small-clawed otters and Eurasian otters in this geographical range.
But this information needs to be confirmed through systematic study using standard methods. Further,
information on the distribution, habitat utilization and population trends of otters are not available in
the Pokhara Valley lakes.
This study is proposed for the systematic survey of otters in the Pokhara Valley so as the resulting
baseline information can form a good basis for further in-depth studies and conservation initiatives.
The study will address one of the research priorities of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group to fill
the information gap about otters in Nepal and South Asia. The study will involve, make aware andempower the local community for otter conservation and habitat management for the sustainability ofconservation efforts.
Objectives
The project aims to achieve the following objectives:(1) to identify the otter species in and around the lakes of the Pokhara Valley;(2) to determine the distribution and habitat utilization pattern of otter species in and around the lakesof the Pokhara Valley;(3) to estimate the population density trends of otters in the Pokhara Valley;(4) to identify the causes and modes of conflicts between fishpond owners and otters around the lakesof the Pokhara Valley; and(5) to create community awareness and a functional network for otter conservation in the Pokhara Valley
among fishpond owners.
Methodology
The standard surveying and monitoring methods recommended by the European Section of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group and written by Reuther et al. (2000) will be used in this research.

33

Expected outcome
The status of otters and their distribution will be identified in and around eight lakes of the Pokhara
Valley. Educational materials on otters such as a GIS distribution map, checklist and informative leaflets,
will be available. Causes and modes of conflicts between otters and fish-pond owners and possible
resolution methods will be identified. It is expected that the public, as well as fish pond owners, will
come to know the importance of otters for maintaining ecosystem health and will start changing
their negative perception of otters to a positive one. An Otter Conservation Network is expected to befunctional in the Pokhara Valley.

Begnas, Rupa and Dipang lakes

Khaste and Neureni lakes

Phewa Lake
References
Bhandari, J. and Dhruba G. C. 2008. Preliminary Survey and Awareness for Otter Conservation in Rupa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal.
Journal of Wetlands Ecology 1(1/2):2.
de Silva, P. 2006. Survey Techniques and Monitoring Otter Populations. Proceedings of the IUCN/SSC Training Workshop
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Reuther, C., D. Dolch, R., Green, J. Jahrl, D. Jefferies, A. Krekemeyer, M. Kucerova, A.B. Madsen, J. Romanowski, K. Roche, J. Ruis-Olmo, J.
Teubner and A. Trindade. 2000. Habitat: Surveying and Monitoring Distribution and Population Trends of the Eurasian Otter(Lutra lutra): Guidelines and Evaluation of The Standard Method for Surveys as Recommended by the European Section of the
IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group. GN-Gruppe Naturschutz GmbH, Sudendorfallee, Hankensbuttel, Germany.
Thapa, T. B. 2003. Status, Distribution and Habitat Use of the Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutra perpicillata) in Narayani River, Nepal. A
report submitted to IOSF, Scotland.

34

Positional behaviour and habitat use of Tonkin snub-nosed
monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus in Khau Ca area, Ha Giang
Province, Northeastern Vietnam
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Quyet Khac Le
Faculty of Biology, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus), restricted to a small area in Northeastern
Vietnam, is considered one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world (Mittermeier et al., 2007).
The goals of this project include documenting the positional behaviour repertoire of adult male andfemale R. avunculus and to relate the positional behaviour of this species to the tree species profileand forest structure in the Khau Ca area of Ha Giang Province, Northeastern Vietnam. This is the largest
known population of this species and consists of more than 70 individuals (Le, 2007). This projectwill not only provide the first quantitative analyses of the positional behaviour and habitat use of R.
avunculus in the wild, but will also identify preferred habitat characteristics for this critically endangered
species, information that will help shape forest rehabilitation, and expansion plans in the Khau Ca area.

Map of Khau Ca

Objectives
The following are the specific objectives of this study.
(1) To quantitatively and qualitatively characterize forest types and forest structure in the Khau Ca area.
(2) To determine the positional repertoire (pattern of locomotion and posture) of Rhinopithecus
avunculus in the Khau Ca area.
(3) To describe how R. avunculus uses the forests in the Khau Ca area through measurements of thefrequency of use of different parts of the forest and assessment of the types of substrates preferredby R. avunculus.

35

(4) To determine what the relationships between locomotor and postural behaviours and substrate
types are for R. avunculus.
(5) To assess whether or not there are particular aspects of the physical habitat that are not used by R.
avunculus and may constitute unsuitable habitat for them.
Methodology(1) Habituation
From 2005 to present, we have been working on habituating Rhinopithecus avunculus in Khau Ca.
During field work, the principal investigator (PI) and field assistants follow R. avunculus at least fivedays a month. At the moment, R. avunculus in Khau Ca are semi-habituated, permitting PI to observe
their positional behaviours more than 30 hours a month.
(2) Behavioural data collection
Study animals will be observed using binoculars and when possible PI will collect focal animal
data on positional behaviour and on the substrate including size, orientation, rigidity and canopy
height. In this study, data collection will focus on adult males and females. The unit of observation
is a positional sequence, which will be composed of a series of locomotor and postural bouts. A
locomotor bout occurs when an animal moves to displace its centre of gravity by more than one
body length. While an animal is moving, any change in gait, substrate size or substrate orientation
signals a change of locomotor bout because locomotion is likely to differ on supports of different
size or orientation. Postural bouts will be scored when an animal is stationary or not displacing its
centre of gravity by more than one body length. Displacement of the centre of gravity by less than
one body length will be classified as a shift in posture.
(3) Habitat data collection
Four one-kilometre long phenological transects and 15 20x50m plots were established in Khau
Ca in 2005 and phenological data were collected from December 2005 to December 2007. Two
new transects and 10 plots will be established in 2008. Data will be collected following previously
developed protocols (Le et al., 2007; Covert et al., 2008).
(4) Data analyses
Positional behaviours will be studied within the context of broader behaviours (feeding, foraging,travel, social behaviour and other behaviours) to better understand the context of positional
strategy. It will also be summarized and compared in the form of frequencies, rates or durations of
behaviours. Analysis will consist of summary statistics, two sample comparisons of behaviours andsubstrate types between habitat types and individuals and analyses of variance among habitats andindividuals. The nature of the behavioural data collection (lack of independence between positional
behaviours) demands the use of non-parametric statistics.
Expected outcome(1) At least 200 observational hours of positional behaviour and habitat use of Rhinopithecus avunculus in
the Khau Ca area of Ha Giang Province.
(2) Publications based on findings of positional behaviour of R. avunculus submitted to peer-reviewed
journals.
(3) Recommendations for enhancing habitat quality of R. avunculus in Khau Ca.
This project will contribute to the conservation of Rhinopithecus avunculus in several ways. First, thisstudy will place an immediate and continuous human presence in the Khau Ca area, directly helping
to protect the monkeys from hunting and human impact. Second, data on tree and habitat preference
will provide essential information for the continued development of conservation strategies in Khau
Ca and the development of a project that seeks to expand the habitat of R. avunculus at this sitethrough reforestation and forest rehabilitation. Third, the hiring of local assistants will further develop
the capacity of local assistants, permitting their participation in future research and/or conservation36

initiatives and a better understanding and appreciation of biodiversity conservation among thestakeholder communities.
References
Covert, H.H., Le, K. Q. and Wright, B.W., 2008. On the Brink of Extinction: research for the conservation of the Tonkin snub – nosed
monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus), In: Fleagle, J.G. (ed.): Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins. New York, NY, Kluwer Press. pp
409–427.
Le K.Q., 2007. A Population Survey of Tonkin Snub-Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) in Khau Ca area, Ha Giang Province,
April – May 2007. Fauna & Flora International – Vietnam Conservation Support Programme, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Le, K.Q., Nguyen A.D., Vu A.T., Covert, H.H. and Wright, B.W., 2007. Diet of Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) in
Khau Ca area, Ha Giang Province, Northeastern Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Primatology, 1: 75 – 83.
Mittermeier, R.A., Ratsimbazafy, J., Rylands, A.B., Williamson, L., Oates, J.F., Mbora, D., Ganzhorn, J.U., Rodríguez-Luna, E., Palacios,E., Heymann, E.W., Kierulff, M.C.M., Yongcheng, L., Supriatna, J., Roos, C., Walker, S. and Aguiar, J.M., 2007. Primates in Peril: The
World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2006–2008. Primate Conservation 2007 (22): 1 – 40.

37

Conservation Activity Programme
Educational programmes on conservation of ‘babirusa’ species,
Babyrousa spp., and their natural habitats in Sulawesi
Conservation Activity Programme

I Wayan Balik
Yayasan Babi Rusa, Indonesia

The most remarkable of endemic mammalian species in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is the babirusa (Babyrousaspp.). They are members of the family Suidae, having unique morphological characteristics of their upper
canines that penetrate the skin of the snout and curve toward the forehead. Although protected under
an enactment of the Indonesian wildlife law in 1931, the conservation status of the babirusa is alarming
because of a combination of the following
factors: low level of enforcement of control;high levels of hunting or trapping pressure;habitat degradation and their small litter size. As
the result, these species have been included inAppendix I of CITES since 1982. A recent report
indicates 500 individuals of Togian babirusa(Babyrousa togeanensis) as the population size,
showing the necessity of effective conservation
efforts.

Indonesia

It is obvious that the main reason of population
degradation of the babirusa is from humanactivities inside and outside of its natural habitat.
In this project, therefore, I will contribute to theeducational campaign inside and outside ofits habitat, especially on the Togian Islands inCentral Sulawesi, which is known as the Togianbabirusa’s habitat and also in the Gianyar district
on Bali, which is known as a place trading in‘babirusa skulls,’ in order to block the illegal
activities.
Objectives
The objective of this project is to present
educational services using original educational
materials created by Yayasan Babi Rusa in orderto facilitate co-existence between humans andwild animals, especially babirusa in situ and ex
situ. I believe that the local community can act
as realistic managers of nature conservation tocreate the ideal situation in the habitat.

Sulawesi and neighboring islands
Sulawesi has shape that looks like the character of K. Palu isa capital city of Central Sulawesi. Togian Islands National Park
Office is in Ampana.
38

Bali

Implementation sites
For the first year, I will carry out awareness campaigns at schools and in community halls in Kabupaten
Gianyar (Central Bali), Bali Province, Indonesia, although this district is not the natural habitat for thebabirusa. The reason why the district was chosen is as follows. Based on the Indonesian government
policy of the domestic transmigration from Jawa and Bali (high human-population density area) to
Sulawesi (low density area) since the 1960s, a lot of Balinese people, especially from the Gianyar district
moved to Central Sulawesi, which is an important babirusa habitat. Due to their lack of educational
opportunities, the knowledge of the immigrants about the
wildlife conservation law, the importance of biodiversity andthe vulnerability of the babirusa have been quite limited. As
the result, the immigrants not only aggressively deforested
the area to develop paddy fields, coffee and cacao farms, butalso hunted the wild pigs, including the endangered babirusa,
to eat ‘pork’ in Central Sulawesi. Sadly, the ‘skulls of the malebabirusa’ they hunted in the forest have been sold to outsiders.
As it is, some successful immigrants have brought ‘babirusa
skulls’ to Bali and then the skulls have been sent to souvenir
shops for domestic and international tourists. There is no doubtthat the knowledge about conservation issues of the Balinese
people who reside in Bali is also limited. In a word, Balinese
people are ‘potential babirusa-consumers, with no feelings of
guilt.’ Therefore, I will positively offer Balinese people scientificinformation on the babirusa, in order to block the ‘babirusa
skull business in Bali.’

Togian Archiperago
Togian babirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis) inhabits
Batudaka Island, Togian Island, Talatakoh Island,and Malenge Island within Togian Islands.

For the second year, campaigns will be carried out on the
Togian Archipelago, an important habitat of the Togianbabirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis), especially Malenge Island,
Talatakoh Island, Togian Island and Batudaka Island. The
population size of this species is estimated at 500 individuals in
the wild. Therefore, it can be said that this is also a high-priority
activity.

Methodology
Considering local economics, sociology, law, religions and other human related subjects, several
editions of brochures as educational materials will be created for this programme. Using these materials,
I will make scientific presentations in a workshop style at schools and in community halls. After thepresentations, follow-up activities using questionnaires will be carried out in order to evaluate ouractivities. These programmes will be conducted by Yayasan Babi Rusa, supported by stakeholders suchas some local volunteers, scientists, specialists from the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, the Natural
Resources Conservation Centre and the National Parks, hoping to establish a human network for mybabirusa conservation strategy.
Expected outcome
Although Togian Island National Park was created in 2004, the concept of natural environmental
conservation is still poorly understood among the local people. Therefore, this educational programme
will help them better understand Indonesian government policy. Additionally, they will have an
opportunity to learn about babirusa biology. Furthermore, through this educational programme, it ispossible to create a human network appropriate for babirusa conservation.
Another activity site, the Gianyar district, is on Bali Island for the Hindu people who are familiar with thewild pigs. Therefore, as a good result of the proposed activity in the Gianyar district, I expect that Balinese
people may become helpful and effective supporters for the babirusa conservation within Indonesia.
Additionally, our educational activities will help to block the ‘illegal trade of babirusa skulls in Bali.’39Rhinoceros conservation awareness project
Conservation Activity Programme

Deepa Paudel
Partnership for Rhino Conservation, Nepal

Rhinoceros unicornis (hereafter referred to as rhino), categorized as an extinction-threatened (CITES/
Appendix-1) and vulnerable (IUCN/Red-data list 2008) species, is the main sensitive animal of Chitwan
National Park’s ecosystem. The population status of this species is on the verge of extinction worldwide
and Chitwan is ultimate habitat in Nepal. Rai Village of the Lother buffer zone area in the Chitwan
National Park is one vulnerable site as the rhino’s habitat, but the poor deforest the area for firewood,
fodder and income generation because they are generally unaware about the ecosystem and ecology.
The ethnic Rai people, inhabitants and real users of park resources from ancient times, are economicallyand financially poor, educationally illiterate and deprived of facilities. They are not in a position toeducate their children and their daily lives are intertwined with park resources. People do not know
about legal policies and punishments for poaching. The major threats in this village are community
unwillingness (a low awareness level), illiteracy among women, poverty, poaching and habitat loss, etc.
The main objective of this project is to minimize these threats to rhino conservation. The specificobjectives are:(1) to create awareness among villagers about the rhino, its habitat, environment and nature
conservation;(2) to conduct capacity building and community based livelihood strengthening activities;(3) to reduce the pressure on the rhino habitat and protect it; and(4) to encourage poor children to join school.
Under these objectives, we will perform various activities in the Rai Village, as follows: school teachingof topics on the ecosystem and ecology; environmental education for women; schooling programmes
for poor children; fodder and fuel-wood species plantation programmes in waste and community land;rhino conservation street performances by small children; conservation rallies; the extensive installationof information; livelihood training (home gardening and fishery); interaction programmes about legal
policies and punishments for poaching.
By conducting this project, the following outcomes are expected.
(1) People will start to participate and take responsibility for rhino and nature conservation.
(2) Illiteracy will be decreased.
(3) The awareness level will be increased.
(4) Deforestation and resources destruction activities will be minimized.
(5) Poor children will be educated and people will start to send their children to school.
(6) Destruction based income generation will be minimized.

40

Publication Programme
Publication of ‘A handbook on cave classification for thePhilippines’
Publication Programme

Armida Pullo Andres
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines

Caves are considered fragile ecosystems with significant ecological, historical, cultural, archaeological,
paleontological, aesthetic and socio-economic values. The Philippines is blessed with over 1,500 caves
distributed nationwide. Caves are deemed crucial to the conservation of biodiversity. They provide
habitat to some of the country’s endangered animals, which are yet to be described and are protectedby existing networks of protected areas. Only a few caves presently have protected area status. Batsfound in caves represent 20% of the currently known species of Philippine mammals with at least 23
species found only in the country and nowhere else (Alviola, unpublished). Without protection of theircave habitat, the Negros bare-backed fruit bat Dobsonia chapmani will remain critically endangered.
One of the strategic approaches to stem the tide of destruction of Philippine caves, as provided in the
National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act of 2001, is the institutionalizationof a system of cave assessment and classification. A Cave Classification and Manual was issued in
February 2007 through the DENR Administrative Order No. 2007-04 to ensure that caves undergo
detailed assessment to establish their values and are classified according to their most beneficial use oruses and protection requirements. The guidelines and the corresponding manual on cave classification
are the result of collaborative efforts and the sharing of resources and experiences among governmental
and non-governmental organisations involved in cave conservation and management.
The present handbook intends to highlight the procedural guidelines and the manual for the Philippine
cave classification system. The procedural guidelines and the manual are the products of years offield testing and iterative consultations led by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the Gaia
Exploration Club.
The handbook is divided into the following sections: a special section highlighting the link between
cave and nature conservation; the approved guidelines on cave classification; the manual detailingthe steps and technical requirements for assessing and classifying caves; and appendices that provide
important forms and reference materials to help interpret and complete the classification process. The
targeted users are government and non-governmental organisations involved in cave conservationand management. These include the members of the cave coordinating agencies, concerned local
government units, the caving community, including the local communities residing near caves and landowners who have caves within their private properties.

41

Research Grant Scheme
Progress of the Projects in 2007

Research Grant Programme
Research on snow leopards in Mongolia for their conservation
Research Grant Programme

Bariushaa Munkhtsog
Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Mongolia

Introduction
The snow leopard (Uncia uncia), a highly charismatic species, is recognised as ‘very rare‘ by Mongolian
fauna law, registered in the Red Data Book of Mongolia and is classified by the IUCN Red List as
Endangered. Mongolia is one of the key range states for the snow leopard, with over 100,000km2 of
habitat. The snow leopard population is estimated at about 1,000 (or about 20% the world population)in this area. However, it has been declining due to the depletion of its habitats, wild ungulate
populations owing to competition with increased livestock and open water sources and illegal huntingof snow leopards, either for their fur or in retribution for the killing of livestock.
This research is aimed to provide concrete and reliable data for making the snow leopard ecologicalstatus clear, especially the density, movements, home range sizes and habitat use. Such information isindispensable for the effective implementation of the Nature Conservation Strategy in North-East Asia.
Methodology(1) Research area
In the initial plan, the Tsagaan Shuvuut Strictly Protected Area was selected as the research area. This
reserve, located in Uvs Province, in the western part of Mongolia, covers an area of 22,000 hectares.
However, our preliminary reconnaissance survey revealed that the satellite collar did not work at thissite because there were no areas covered by the satellite system. As a result, we re-selected Baga
Bogd Mountain in Uvurkhangai Province as a pilot area for the study. It is located 630km southwestof Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Baga Bogd Mountain

Snow leopard habitat in Baga Bogd Mountain43

(2) Collecting data
The Remote Access Satellite Sensor Link (RASSL) Tracking Collar, which enables tracking andmonitoring in real time via satellite, is used. The RASSL Tracking Collar acquires a GPS location witha certain interval (2 hours), and transmits that data via the Northstar Satellite System in real time toa web site, where the information is displayed graphically on a zoomable mapping application, andalso in a tabular format that can be downloaded for use in a GIS system. In addition, camera traps
including three Marif Digital Camera Traps, which are equipped with Olympus digital camera anda passive infra-red sensor, are set in the study area. Individual snow leopards are discriminated byphotos taken by the camera traps.

Author in the field

Snow leopard in the trap

Collared snow leopard

Captured snow leopard

Preliminary results(1) Density
Two field trips were made to Baga Bogd Mountain. Sign surveys suggest that the density of snow
leopards in this region is very low. The assumed density in the region is much lower than that inother regions, such as the Tsagaan Shuvuut Protected Areas in western Mongolia.
(2) Home ranges and their spacing pattern
A 3-4 year old male of snow leopard was collared on 21 September, 2008 in Baga Bogd Mountain.
The cat was 42kg in weight and had a total body length of 210cm, including the tail. Although datafor determining the home range size of this male is now being accumulated, this specimen mainly
inhabited the Ust, Hanh and Chatsarganat valleys of Baga Bogd Mountain and stayed several days ineach valley.

44

Status survey and conservation of key bird species on the Con Dao
Islands, Vietnam, including Chinese crested tern and Nicobar pigeon
Research Grant Programme

Hung Manh Le
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam

Introduction
The Con Dao Islands of Ba Ria Vung Tau Province are known to support many key species, providing partof an important habitat within the South China Sea ecosystem. However, due to the territorial disputes
in the South China Sea, the status of many species has been poorly studied. While there is high demand
for the conservation of the islands’ biodiversity, the lack of detailed information on the status of key
species, especially birds, has been a constraint in taking appropriate conservation measures.
The key bird species of the Con Dao Islands include a number of colonially nesting seabird species. The
Chinese crested tern Sterna bernsteini, a critically endangered species, is possibly found on the islands. In
addition, the islands are the only place in Vietnam where the globally near-threatened Nicobar pigeon
Caloneas nicobarica has been recorded, although there have been no records of this species for overhalf a century. As the bird species of the Con Dao Islands are currently threatened through hunting,disturbance and the introduction of alien predators, such as rats, cats, dogs, goats and civets, there is anurgent need to assess the status of these species and evaluate the threats to them. Working with park
managers and NGOs is vital in taking the suitable action necessary to address the critical conditions of
the bird species of the islands.
The present project is intended to assess the current
status of birds of the Con Dao Islands. We arecollecting data for the conservation of the Chinese
crested tern, Nicobar pigeon and nesting seabird
species, including great crested tern Sterna bergii,
bridled tern Sterna anaethetus, roseate tern Sterna
dougallii, brown noddy Anous stolidus, red-billed
tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, masked booby Suladactylara and brown booby Sula leucogaster.

Great crested tern and bridled tern at Trung Island

Brown booby at Trung Island

Results
The field surveys have been implemented during
2007 and 2008. The surveys have been carried out
on seven different islets within the Con Dao district
including Con Son, Bay Canh, Trung, Tre Nho, Tre
Lon, Ba and Troc. Six nesting seabird species havebeen recorded in large numbers, including the great
crested tern (5,500 birds), bridled tern (7,000), blacknaped tern Sterna sumatra (800), roseate tern (500),
brown booby (70) and brown noddy (150). Trung
Island has been identified as the most importantnesting site for the great crested tern, bridled tern,brown booby and brown noddy. Tre Nho Island is thebest place for the black-naped tern, while Troc Islandis the best place for the roseate tern.

45

The other key species recorded during the survey is
the Nicobar pigeon (globally near-threatened) and at
least 26 birds have been recorded and distributed onfour different islands: Con Son, Bay Canh, Tre Lon and
Tre Nho. Two nests have been recorded on Tre Nho
Island. This is the first officially confirmed recordingof the Nicobar pigeon for over half a century in
Vietnam, qualifying Con Dao National Park as a newImportant Bird Area.

Trung Island: the most important island for nesting seabird

One of the main purposes of our field surveys wastry to find the possibility of the globally criticallyendangered Chinese crested tern on Trung Island,
but we have failed to find the occurrence of thisspecies during the last surveys. However, it is difficult
to approach the island and conduct surveys there
during the breeding time (avoiding the eggs anddisturbing birds), preventing us from having more
opportunities to find the species.

The main threats for nesting seabirds and otherkey bird species on Con Dao National Park include
egg collecting by local people during the breeding
season (mostly on Trung Island) and the invasionof alien species such as cats and rats (Tre Nho
Island). Thousands of eggs of the bridled tern andgreat crested tern were collected by local fisherman
when we surveyed on July 2007 on Trung Island.
Nicobar pigeon at Tre Nho Island
Our survey team had to spend at least two hours toreturn all of the eggs back to the nests. Another serious threat is the release of one domestic cat on Tre
Nho Island, this cat is now out of the control of forest guards and freely lives in the wild. The main foodfor this cat during the breeding season is the eggs and juvenile birds breeding on the island, including
the bridled tern, black-naped tern and pied imperial pigeon.
Discussion
Con Dao National Park has been identified as the only remaining site for the aforementioned key
seabird species within Vietnam. The following efforts should be done in order to protect these species’
populations: 1) patrols to prevent the local boatmen from collecting the eggs during the breedingtime; 2) education efforts should be carried out to raise the awareness of local communities about theimportance of the species (with a particular focus on the local fisherman; 3) control the alien species;and 4) more surveys and efforts should beundertaken in order to find the globally
critically endangered Chinese crested tern andto carry out detailed studies of other nestingseabird species.
Our second year project will continue fieldsurveys on identified islands within the nationalpark, setting up a monitoring programme forkey bird species and conservation efforts toraise the awareness of the local community.

Eggs of bridled tern and great crested tern collected by
local fishermen
46The highland herpetofauna of the Meratus Mountainous Range,
South Kalimantan: a preliminary survey to determinants ofdiversity and biomass
Research Grant Programme

Irvan Sidik
Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute for Sciences,Indonesia

Background
The island of Kalimantan represents a zoogeographic region of wetlands and upland transition (Inger,1966) and is probably the richest island in the Sunda Shelf for herpetofauna diversity – 254 reptiles(24% endemic) and approximately 100 amphibians are known (Mackinnon et al., 2000). It is known tobe more diverse than both Sumatra (217 reptiles and 70 amphibians) and Java (173 reptiles and 36
amphibians). On the contrary, Sabah
and Sarawak occupy only one-thirdof Kalimantan but these Malaysian
regions hold the larger number of
species in herpetofauna, comprising
259 reptiles and 150 amphibians(Inger and Stuebing, 1997; Stuebing
and Inger, 1999; Lim and Das, 1999).
In addition, the level of endemism
is much greater, especially at thehigher elevations.
In this project, we conduct fieldwork
to inventory herpetofauna in South
Kalimantan. The Meratus Mountain
Range in the South Kalimantan
Province is chosen as the study site.
This mountainous area contains
diverse natural environments,
including lowlands, marshes andlakes that provide suitable habitats
for herpetofauna. However, dataon herpetofauna in the Meratus
Mountain forest are lacking. So, thisfieldwork aims also to gather data on
the distribution, relative abundanceand biomass of herpetofauna.

Figure 1. Meratus mountainous forest along South of Kalimantan
Province

47

Methodology(1) Study site
The Meratus Mountain Range is mostly
covered by primary tropical rain forests
with the high peak (1,892m) of Gunung
Besar. The following two study sites arefor collecting specimens: Malaris, locatedat 2°47’44.20”S, 115°29’40.40”E, andabout 26km from the Kandangan District,the capital of the Hulu Sungai Tengah
Regency; Emil Baru, located at 3°2’51.10”S,
115°34’4.00”E, and about 50km from the
Kandangan District. Both of these areas
are under the threat of large-scale illegal
logging activities around their boundaries. Figure 2. Study site at Malaris and Emil Baru forest(2) Collecting specimens
Two types of sample collection are employed in order to obtain data on herpetofauna as broadly as
possible. First, night-time collection is conducted, particularly for amphibians (some reptiles) along
streams. Headlamps are used to scan near streams or riverbank areas. Second, day-time collection isconducted primarily for reptiles. All reptiles and amphibians are collected by cruising within the tree
buttress areas. Shaded areas behind/under rocks and holes in dead trees are carefully examined inorder to search for some reptiles and amphibians with cryptic habits. Skin sheds and eggs are alsocollected.
For quantitative analysis, we employed the line transect method for each type of vegetation. Driftfences with pit-fall traps were used every 200 meters from above sea level. At least 10 drift fences of
50 x 50m2 were set up for three days in each location and about 50 plastic buckets were used inside
the fences as pit-fall traps. All reptiles and amphibians caught were identified, photographed andmeasured in the field. Unidentified specimens were kept for further examination in the museum. All
specimens obtained were deposited at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense.
Preliminary results and perspective
In March and April 2008, fieldwork was conducted for a total of 48 days, containing 26 night-time and22 day-time collections, in Malaris and Emil Baru. During this period, 26 species of amphibians and 16
species of reptiles were recorded. The species comprise: 8 toads, 13 frogs, 4 tree frogs and 1 caecilianin Amphibia; and 2 agamids, 1 cat-eyed gecko, 2 geckos, 3 skinks, 1 varanid (seen only, no voucher
specimen available) and 7 snakes in Reptilia.
This is a two-year project, conducted in 2007-2008. It will document the species diversity of reptiles andamphibians found in the Meratus Mountain Range along with database development, contributing tofuture biological and ecological research and the future conservation of nature in the Meratus Mountain
Range. Also, it will help better understanding of the taxonomic status of reptiles and amphibians in thisregion. The results of this research are going to be published as scientific papers and as a field guide of
reptiles and amphibians of Meratus Mountain Range.
References
Inger, R. F., 1966. The Systematics and Zoogeography of The Amphibia of Borneo. Fieldiana: Zoology 52: 5-15.
Inger, R. F. and Stuebing, R. B., 1997. A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo). pp. 1-205.
Lim, B. L. and Das, I., 1999. Turtles of Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo). pp. 1-151.
Mackinnon, K., Hatta, G. and Mangalik, A., 2000. The Ecology of Kalimantan. Ecology of Indonesia Series Book III. Prehallindo.
Stuebing, R. B. and Inger, R. F., 1999. A Field Guide to the Snakes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo). pp. 1-254.

48

Phoxophrys sp.

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus

Pareas carinatus

Aeluroscalabotes sp.

Polypedates leucomystax

49

Pedostibes rugosus

Ichthyophis sp.

Megophrys sp.

Ansonia spinulifer

Mabuya sp.

50

Conservation of Trichechus manatus manatus in suitable habitats
in Panama
Research Grant Programme

Lenin Riquelme
Fundación Conservación, Naturaleza y Vida, Panama

Introduction
Threatened by the destruction of its habitat, accidental deaths and poaching, the Antillean manatee
Trichechus manatus manatus is listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List and as ‘threatened withextinction’ in CITES. Though it has the largest
range of all Sirenia, most of its habitat isfragmented and available information for
the Central American stock is rather scarce.
An ongoing study on its status has been
conducted in Panama between mid-2004 tolate-2006, in an effort to protect the species’
habitat, with support from the Van Tiehnhoven
Foundation for Nature Conservation (theNetherlands) and the Rufford Small Grants for
Nature Conservation (UK). Recent outcomes
include the designation of the Jugli-Damani
lagoon, a major manatee habitat, as aprotected area and Ramsar Site.
Female manatee and her calf
In the present project, Fundación CONAVI is conducting a survey to understand the current status of
the Antillean manatee population in Panama. During 2007 - 2008, research has focused on the eastern
portion of Bocas del Toro province, specifically in the San San, Changuinola and Sixaola River systems,
where manatee counts have been highest in the past. The lower San San, Sixaola and Changuinola Riversystems recharge aquifers that provide water for human consumption and use in the nearby banana
plantations. The geomorphology of this area is characterised by coastal plains and lowlands formed by
the accumulation of sand in coastal bands. The hydrological areas are defined by the Río Changuinola(with a basin of 2,810 sq km) and the Río San San and these rivers flow into the Caribbean.

Research map
51

This project is aimed at encouraging effective
conservation by means of:(1) knowing the number, status, distribution andhabitat use of the Antillean manatee in the
study area;(2) tagging and tracking five manatees forindividual health studies and finding out usual
moving patterns;(3) assessing their condition and that of theirmain feeding and gathering areas; and(4) systematising local people’s knowledge,
experience and observations on manatees inthe study area.

Dumping of agricultural runoff San San River

Methodology
Research methodology consists of aerial survey overflights, interview surveys, the use of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), on-site assessment of suitable habitats and tagging. Nine two-hour
overflights were conducted, 3 in December 2007, 3 in February 2008 and another 3 in April 2008, allfocused on the San San Pondsak Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining wetlands--San San, Negro, Sixaola
and Changuinola Rivers, Changuinola lagoons and Soropta Cove, all located in the province of Bocas
del Toro.*1 Ground assessments were conducted at the San San River and the lower watersheds of the
Sixaola and Changuinola Rivers and the adjoining coast. During recognaissance, the team relied on local
wooden and fibreglass boats as a means of transportation to detect the main spots where manatees
gather, feed or reproduce, determine the different types of vegetation they consume and conduct
interviews in hard-to-access areas. Interview surveys were conducted among fishermen and dwellers
living on the nearby waterways and aircraft pilots who make daily flights in the area.

* 1 The lower Sixaola River marks the boundary between Panama and Costa Rica, thus manatee
populations found in this river might be wrongly counted as separate populations.

Results and discussion
The number of manatees sighted wasquite significant as compared with thelatest survey, conducted in 1987. Mou
Sue´s 1987 survey provided a total of 42
manatee sightings in 13 overflights within
the same area in 8 months, with a rate of
81.8% probability of sighting a manatee
during an overflight. The present survey
recorded 49 sightings in 6 overflights in
3 months with a 100% probability rate. In
terms of reproduction, the present study
found a frequency of 18.3%, as comparedwith 11.4% in the 1987 study. The San
San, its tributary the Negro River and its
man-made channels seem to be the main
manatee habitat in the area; the largest
single sighting took place at ‘La Olla,’
near the mouth of the San San, where
gatherings of 13 and later 9 individuals wasfound. It seems manatees migrate up river
taking advantage of high tides, entering
the Negro River and its intricate web ofManatee sightings map
52

Mouth of the San San

channels where they can feed on freshwater
macrophytes, mainly water hycinth (Euchornia
crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratoites) and
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). They move
down river to La Olla where they can feed on black(Avicennia germinans L.), red (Rhizophora mangle L.)
and white (Laguncularia racemosa L.) mangrove.
Agrochemical runoff continues being dumped in
the San San, but we found no indication manatees
are staying away from those areas. Surprisingsightings took place within the Changuinola Riversystem: its lagoons offer excellent habitat for
manatees despite the large number of populatedsites found along its banks and the general useof this water course for garbage disposal. The
research team sighted a gathering of 9 individuals
in Quebrada Lagarto, a stretch of water within the
Changuinola lagoons.*2

Despite local boatmen´s assertions that manatees
are uncommon within the Soropta Channel
because it is too narrow and shallow, 11 individuals
where sighted. The high number of manatees
sighted could be the result of increased water flowfrom heavy rains and flooding in recent months
that have widened the channel and improved its
Lagunas de Changuinola
quality as manatee habitat. Quite possibly, theseman-made channels could hold the largest number of manatees in Panama. Soropta Cove, rich in seagrassmeadows and coral reef protection is the only marine area where manatees were found. The team sighted
3 separate adults that seemed to be feeding on the cove´s turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) patches andthe mangrove stands. Soropta Cove and other seagrass-rich coastal areas might serve not only as feeding
grounds but also allow for manatees to move between river and channel systems.
No sightings were made at the Sixaola River. It´s mouth marks the southern tip of the Gandoca-Manzanillo
Wildlife Refuge that protects the lowlands of the southern Caribbean coastal region of Costa Rica. Manatee
sightings in the area are scattered and include 1 in 1982 and 3 in 1990 at the coastal Gandoca Lagoon(Vasquez R. 1993 in litt.); an aerial survey in July 1991 yielded 2 sightings just north of the mouth of the Rio
Sixaola (Reynolds et al. 1995). It seems this manatee population living in Costa Rica´s Gandoca Manzanillo
area probably comprises a maximum of 6 and a minimum of 3 individuals connected to manatee
populations living in contiguous habitats in the San San Wildlife Sanctuary within Panama (Jimenez 1998;
MINAE/PNUMA 2001).
Currently, the research team is making use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce precise,
digitised maps, plotting geographically referenced data sets: location of manatees, distribution and densityof fresh water macrophytes, sea grasses and mangrove stands, boat traffic patterns, location of run-off
water discharges, current and proposed development sites and so forth. Tagging and tracking equipment
is expected to arrive in December 2009, so this research component may be started. Overflights and fieldsurveys will be conducted in the Panama Canal Watershed in 2009.

* 2 In 1963, 9 manatees where taken from this area and translocated to the Panama Canal area, giving origin
to that particular population.

53

Landscape of research area

Manatee habitat mangrove area

Manatee habitat rio Negro

Manatee habitat San San River

References
Jiménez, I., 1999. Estado de conservación, ecología y conocimiento popular del manatí (Trichechus manatus) en Costa Rica. Vida
Silvestre Neotropical 8: 18 – 30.
Mou Sue, L. L. and D. H. Chen. 1990. Distribution and status of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Panama. Marine Mammal Science 6:234-241.
Reynolds, J. E., III, and Szelistowski, W. A., 1995. Status and conservation of manatees, Trichechus manatus manatus, in Costa Rica.
Biological Conservation 71:193-196.
United Nations Environmental Program. 1994. Regional Management plan for the West Indian Manatee Trichechus manatus. Regional
Workshop on the Conservation of the West Indian Manatee in the Wider Caribbean Region. pp. 1-67.

54

Inventory of vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in the northwestern part of Vietnam
Research Grant Programme

Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam

Introduction
Wasps of the family Vespidae, consisting of more than 4,000 species worldwide, are distinguished in all
the zoogeographical regions (Goulet and Huber, 1993). Four of six vespid subfamilies are distributed in
the Oriental region including Vietnam. They are a solitary wasp subfamily Eumeninae (potter wasps),
the largest subfamily in the Vespidae, and three social wasp subfamilies, Stenogastrinae (hover wasps),
Polistinae (paper wasps) and Vespidae (hornets and yellow-jackets). The vespid wasps are beneficial
insects in that they attack caterpillars and other insects including many pests to feed their young(Richter and Jeanne, 1985; Goulet and Huber, 1993) and such foraging habits allow them to be, at least
potentially, effective predators of insect pests in biological control programmes (Iwata, 1967; Gould andJeanne, 1984). In addition, because they are at the top of the food-web of terrestrial arthropods (or evenanimals) as well as pollinators of many plants (Kojima, 1993; Carpenter and Wenzal, 1999), vespid wasps
may play important roles in an ecosystem, and thus they can be good bio-indicators for environmental
conditions.
Vietnam is expected to harbour very diverse biota, not only because it spreads widely from thesubtropics or warm-temperate climate in the north to the tropics in the south, but also because thenorthern part is on the eastern slope of theHimalayas, one of the centres of biologicaldiversity. This should also be the case forthe vespid wasps and especially the northwestern part of Vietnam is believed to be
one of the areas with the richest vespid
faunas in the Oriental region. However, thesocial wasp fauna in the north-western partof Vietnam has only been briefly studied,with 12 species recorded in literature.
Furthermore, any information on eumenine
wasp fauna is yet unavailable. Moreover, thevespid species in this region are very poorly
represented in existing collections.
Polistes sagittarius attaching a catepilla

Objectives
The main objective of this research is to clarify the vespid fauna in the north-western part of Vietnam. Its
specific objectives are:(1) to describe new taxa, and to produce identification keys for all new and known species of the
Vespidae in the north-western part of Vietnam; and(2) to conduct a species-level systematic inventory of vespid wasps, which will allow us to assess species
richness in the area, and to contribute to more general biogeographical and phylogenetic studies.

55

Methodology
Laboratory research is conducted based on
the specimens housed in the Institute of
Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnamese
Academy of Science and Technology (VAST),
Hanoi. Field research on vespid wasps isalso carried out in and outside the following
five national parks and national reserves in
the north-western part of Vietnam, which
represent typical ecosystems in the area:
Hoang Lien Son proposed National Park (Lai
Chau Province); Muong Nhe National Park
(Lai Chau Province); Muong Fang (Dien Bien
Province); Sop Cop National Park (Son La Malaise trap was set up in forest in Copia, Co Ma, Son La
Province); Ta Sua proposed National Park (Son
La Province); and Pa Co National Park (Hoa
Binh Province). Malaise traps, aerial nets, lighttraps and nest collection are used to efficiently
collect the vespid wasps. Adult morphology,
except for male genitalia and colouration, areexamined under a stereoscopic dissecting
microscope with a drawing tube. Male
genitalia and larvae are handled withappropriate methods and observed basedon the specimens preserved in glycerine
or mounted specimens under stereoscopic
dissecting microscope.

Author was collecting wasps by light trap in Pa Co, Mai
Chau, Hoa Binh province

Results(1) Establishing reference library
Access to scientific references published outside the country is generally difficult in Vietnam. Thisis true especially in the case of references for potter wasps (Eumeninae), taxonomy and biology
because no one but me has worked on the vespid wasps in Vietnam. During first six months of thisproject (May – October 2008), I succeeded in obtaining about 20 references on the vespid subfamily
Eumeninae, mainly from the reference collection of Dr James M. Carpenter (American Museum of
Natural History, New York, USA). Many other references will be sent to me by Dr Carpenter later. Then
I will establish the reference library necessary for conducting my research.
(2) Field work and examination of specimens obtained
Two field trips were conducted at the north-western part of Vietnam, viz. Copia (Son La Province)
and Mai Chau (Hoa Binh Province). We spent 15 days in Copia and 12 days in Mai Chau. Nearly
400 specimens of vespid wasps in four
subfamilies were collected, including
wasps in 9 nests. In addition, about 200
VAST specimens of vespid wasps collectedfrom many localities in the northern part ofVietnam were examined. The examination
revealed that these specimens are assigned
to at least 35 species, belonging to thefollowing genera (the number of speciesof respective genera are in parenthesis):
Provespa (1) and Vespa (6) of Vespidae;
Polistes, (5) Ropalidia (5) and Parapolybia
The author and colleague in Copia, Co Ma, Son La province,at elevation of 1,400m
56

(3) of Polistinae; Eustenogaster (1) of Stenogastrinae; Zethus (2), Calligaster (1), Labus (1), Pseumenes(1), Eumenes (3), Delta (2) and Antepipona (4) of Eumeninae. In addition to these species, there aresome unidentified species of the genus Polistes of Polistinae and many species of Eumeninae. Efforts
should be continued in the future.

Polistes sp. (subgenera Polistella) in their nest

Ropalidia sp. in their nest

Parapolybia varia in their nest

57

Conservation research for the critically endangered Banggai crow
Corvus unicolor and undescribed montane birds in the BanggaiIslands, central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Research Grant Programme

Mochamad Indrawan
Indonesian Foundation for the Advancement of Biological Sciences, Indonesia

Introduction
This project is part of long-term research and conservation endeavours on native birds on remote islands
around the central-eastern peninsula of Sulawesi. The work began in 1991 (Indrawan et al., 1993, 1997),
and is being developed as a comprehensive conservation endeavour. In the Togean Islands, located
off the northern coast of the central-eastern peninsula of Sulawesi, two new species of birds havebeen described through the fieldwork beginning in 1996 (Indrawan, 2004; Indrawan and Somadikarta,
2004; Indrawan et al., 2006a, 2006b, 2008). These findings will establish Togean as an endemic bird areaaccording to the BirdLife International criterion (Stattersfield et al., 1998).
Banggai Islands, the target area of the present study, is located off the southern coast of the centraleastern peninsula of Sulawesi. Together with the Sula Islands to their west, the Banggai Islands are
already known as an endemic bird area, harbouring numerous range-restricted species (Stattersfield etal., 1998). Narrow endemics found in these island groups include: Sula megapode Megapodius bernsteinii,
slender-billed cicadabird Coracina schistacea, red-and-black thrush Zoothera mendeni, henna-tailed
rhinomyias Rhinomyias colonus, helmeted myna Basilornis galeatus and Banggai crow Corvus unicolor.
Of these endemic birds, the Banggai crow had not been seen in the field by scientists for a long timesince its original description in 1900. This bird, described from an unspecified locality of the ‘Banggai,
Sula Islands’ (Hartert, 1919), was known only by two specimens kept at the American Museum of
Natural History, New York, until its recent rediscovery made by our team from Peleng (the largest
island in Banggai Islands). It was first seen in 1991 by us, and our subsequent expeditions confirmed its
occurrence in the area from 2004 to 2008 (including the present study). Judging from our preliminary
surveys, the Banggai crow appears to be forest dependent, surviving mainly in the western montaneof Peleng and remains critically threatened. Further comprehensive research is clearly needed forconserving this rare species appropriately.
Although our previous studies in the montane range of the Banggai Islands were limited, someundescribed taxa, hitherto known only from this area, have been discovered, as well as ‘cryptic’ taxa withuncertain taxonomic positions owing to a lack accurate information including vocalization, morphology,
behaviour and DNA sequence. These findings reveal that the potential for biodiversity study in the
Banggai Islands has not yet been sufficiently explored.
The objective of this project is to study the population status, ecology and taxonomic status of little
known birds in the Banggai Islands, some of which are threatened and unknown to science. The
ultimate goal is to establish justification and local support for establishing protected areas.
Methodology
Field expeditions, interviews with local people and focused-group discussions are implemented togather information on the montane avifauna of this region. Considering the importance of developing
the scientific capacities of local researchers, the activities are conducted in collaboration with local58

researchers as much as possible. The field expeditions are concentrated mainly in the higher altitudes(500-900m above sea level) on the mountainous western half of the Peleng Island of the Banggai Islands.
Comparative studies, e.g., surveying similar ecosystems in the mountain ranges of the eastern peninsulaof mainland Sulawesi, are carried out. A limited number of specimens are collected in a judicious
manner, and deposited at Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense for further taxonomic studies. Local
knowledge is gained through interviews with local farmers and hunters recruited as our guides. Local
knowledge will be tapped to find models for the establishment of protected areas for conservation of
the montane species.
Preliminary results
Research collaborations are being developed with an active group from Palu (the capital of Central
Sulawesi province), namely Celebes Bird Club (CBC). Back in 2004, one of the CBC members joined our
team’s survey, establishing the rediscovery of the Banggai crow. In October and November 2006, CBC
conducted their own expedition to Peleng Island, and managed to locate a lowland distribution of the
Banggai crow in the central part of the island.
In collaboration with CBC, two specimens of Banggai crow were secured and deposited at Museum
Zoologicum Bogoriense, becoming first collection housed in an Indonesian institution. With the helpof Prof Somadikarta and Prof P. Rassmussen, these specimens are being studied in detail by membersof the team from CBC and our group. In the field, we also managed to capture, measure and release
another specimen of the Banggai crow (Fig. 1).
We also studied about altitudinal distribution of the endemic birds. With the likely exception of Sula
megapode, most of the endemic birds were found from the area at 500m above sea level or higher. The
extension of altitudinal range records of these endemic birds is good news for the conservation of small
islands such as Peleng and Banggai. The Sula megapode had been locally extinct from the highland
distribution area onward 10 – 20 years ago.
The red-and-black thrush, which is rare andconsidered as ‘near-threatened’ by IUCN
in 2007, was also found in western Peleng.
Indigenous knowledge from local peopleindicated that the bird was a forest dweller andbreeds only seasonally. This bird was describedin 1939 based only on one specimen from an
unknown locality in the Banggai Islands, and,in 1991, a total of three birds on two occasions
were observed on Taliabu Island of the Sula
Islands. The present occurrence represents the
fourth example for the species since its originaldescription.
Although this study concentrates on birds, we
also documented the presence and habitat ofendemic mammals and reptiles, including thePeleng Island tarsier Tarsius pelengensis (‘data
deficient’ according to IUCN in 2007; Fig. 2),
and the recently described flying lizard fromthe Banggai Islands, Draco rhytisma (Fig. 3).
Figure 1. Banggai crow in the forest habitat(photo: Frangky Masala/ IdOU - Indonesian Ornithologists’Union)

59

Figure 2. Peleng Island tarsier, one of the first photos of the Figure 3. The flying lizard, Draco rhytisma, in Banggai Island
endemic primate (Mochamad Indrawan & Yunus Masala)(Frangky Masala)

References
Indrawan, M. 2004. Avifaunal distribution and endemism in the Togian Islands, C. Sulawesi, Indonesia. Doctorate Dissertation.
University of Indonesia. (Academic Supervisors: Prof Dr Soekarja Somadikarta, Dr Jatna Supriatna, Prof Djoko Iskandar)
Indrawan, M., Fujita, M.S., Masala, Y. and Pesik, L. 1993. Status and conservation of Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii in BanggaiIslands, Sulawesi. Tropical Biodiversity 1: 113-130
Indrawan, M., Y. Masala and L. Pesik.1997. Recent bird observations from the Banggai Islands. Kukila 9: 61-70.
Indrawan, M., Rasmussen, P.C., Sunarto. 2008. A new white eye (Zosterops) from the Togian Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Wilson
Journal of Ornithology 120(1): 1–9
Indrawan, M. and Somadikarta, S. 2004. A new species of hawk-owl from the Togian Islands, Gulf of Tomini, Central Sulawesi,
Indonesia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 124 (3): 160-171
Indrawan, M., Somadikarta, S., Supriatna, J., Bruce, M.D., Sunarto, and Djanubudiman, G. 2006. The birds of the Togian islands,
Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Forktail 22 : 7–22
Indrawan, M., S. Somadikarta, J. Supriatna, D. Iskandar. 2006. Avifaunal distribution and endemism in the Togian Islands, Gulf ofTomini, Central Sulawesi. Poster. 24 th. International Ornithological Congress, Hamburg, Germany, 13 – 19 August 2006.
Stattersfield, A.J., Crosby, M.J., Long, A.J. and Wege, D.G. 1998. Endemic bird areas of the world. BirdLife Conserv. Ser. No 7. BirdLife
International, Cambridge.

60Phylogenetic analysis for selected genera of mosses in Mt Kinabalu:
its implication to their phylogeography and systematics
Research Grant Programme

Monica SuleimanInstitute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

Introduction
Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, is one of the four hot spots of moss diversity in
Malaysia (Tan and Iwatsuki, 1999). This mountain supports 360 taxa of mosses (Tan and Iwatsuki, 1999)
which is about 62% of the 582 taxa reported from Sabah (Suleiman et al., 2006).
In addition to the prominent diversity of mosses
on Mt Kinabalu, allopatric and sympatric
distribution of congeneric species has beenrecorded along elevational gradients. Little is
known about what are the causes for these
distribution patterns. It is of interest whether
present-day populations of mosses are relicts
from a warmer/cooler time (Late Plestocene) orwhether they are from recent colonization andspeciation events. Also, the uplift of Mt Kinabalu
in the late Pliocene era might have also formed
present-day distribution and diversity of mosses.

A view of Mt Kinabalu taken from Mt Trus Madi

This study therefore focuses on obtaining
genetic data from three selected genera ofmosses, namely Dicranoloma, Campylopus andPogonatum, from Mt Kinabalu. These data is used
to update and improve current systematics ofthe genera in Sabah. In addition, genetic datafrom some congeners were collected fromother mountains in Sabah. The molecular data isanalysed in order to solve the phylogeography
and the possible speciation events of mosses in
Mt Kinabalu.
Dicranoloma havilandii, an endemic species of Mt Kinabalu

Campylopus umbellatus

Sporophytes of Pogonatum neesii

61

Research objectives
The objectives of this research are:(1) to update the systematics of Dicranoloma, Campylopus and Pogonatum; and(2) to discover the phylogeography and evolutionary biology of mosses of Sabah, with an emphasis on
Mount Kinabalu.

Methodology(1) Fieldwork
Sampling of mosses have been carriedout on Mount Kinabalu (4,095m),
Mt Alab (1,800m), Mt Minduk Sirung(1,900m), Mt Trus Madi (2,600m), Mt Lucia(1,200m), Mt Lumaku (1,950m) and Mt
Tambuyukon (2,588m) between October2007 and September 2008. The mosses
were collected along existing trails oneach mountain. Several samples fromeach species were collected at different
elevations within their distribution range.
Each sample was collected at two points
along elevational gradients that wereapproximately 200-300m above sea levelapart. The coordinates of all the sampling
points were recorded.
On the summit of Mt Minduk Sirung with a mountain guide(2) DNA analysis
Three to five samples from each fresh
specimen of Dicranoloma, Pogonatum
and Campylopus species were separated
in eppendoft tubes immediately from thefields and preserved at -80ºC in a freezer.
DNA was extracted from each sample
using a Dneasy plant mini kit (QIAGEN) or
following Tsubota et al. (2005)’s extraction
method. In the present stage, PCR was
carried out for nrITS genes (subsequently,
PCR will be done for another three genes,
namely, atpb-rbcL, rps4 and trnL-trnF). The
PCR primers and programmes follow thatof Grundmann et al. (2006).
Mossy forest on Mt Trus Madi

The DNA sequences were aligned using the ClusterW Multiple alignment inside the BioEdit
Sequence Alignment Editor, version 7.0 (Hall, 1999), then subsequently were checked and adjusted
manually using the same programme.
The phylogenetic relationships for the selected mosses were analysed using neighbour-joining (NJ)and maximum-parsimony (MP), with PAUP*4.0b10 (Swofford, 2002). For MP, gaps were included asa fifth character state and each character is given equal weight. Five hundred bootstrap replicateswere carried out, with ten replicates of a heuristic search with a random addition sequence at eachbootstrap replicate. Branches were swapped under the tree bisection-reconnection (TBR) algorithm.
For NJ, gaps are treated as missing data. In addition, MrBayes 3.1 for Bayesian Inference analysis and
TCS 2.1 for network clade analysis were also used.

62

Preliminary results and discussion
Forty and 11 ITS sequences for Dicranoloma spp. and Pogonatum macrophyllum, respectively, have beenobtained. The genetic variations (nrITS) among this widespread species were hitherto unknown as there
was only one ITS sequence recorded in GenBank (based on a 14 October 2008 search in GenBank, http;//
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The highest intraspecific variation of among Pogonatum microphyllum populationsin Sabah is only 0.7%. Thus, the phylogenetic relationships among the population in the mountainous
area in Sabah could not be constructed based on the genetic data from the ITS gene (Figure 1).
In contrast to Pogonatum macrophyllum, intraspecific ITS gene variations in Dicarnoloma spp. wererelatively higher. With the exception of D. havilandii, the genetic differences between the population forD. brevisetum, D. braunii and D. assimile were 1.8%, 0.8% and 1.0%. There was almost no genetic variation
among populations along elevational gradients (3,000 – 3,300m) for D. havilandii, a species endemic to
Mt Kinabalu.
For most of the Dicranoloma spp., the monophylies of the morphology-based taxonomic units were
supported by genetic data (Figure 2). However, there are some morphologically doubtful specimens(tentatively named D. brevisetum; see the red arrow in Figure 2). Although these specimens areprovisionally identified as D. brevisetum following the keys in previous literature, they have somecharacteristics (e.g., the absence of a stem central strand) that fit the description of D. braunii. Thus, we
suspect the doubtful ‘brevisetum’ might be a hybrid between the aforementioned two species.
Future efforts(1) To obtain sequences from other Pogonatum species and compare the genetic variations between
species.
(2) To investigate the morphology and ecology of the typical Dicranoloma braunii and D. brevisetum andthe doubtful D. brevisetum.
(3) To investigate the genetic diversity of Campylopus spp.
(4) Adding more genetic data from the different genes in the analysis.

Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree of the Pogonatum macrophyllum inferred from the nuclear ITS genes. Phylogenetic
analysis was performed with Bayesian method using K81uf evolutionary model. Posterior probabilities arenoted on the branches.

63

Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree of the five Dicranoloma species inferred from the nuclear ITS genes. Phylogenetic
analysis was performed with Bayesian method using HKY+G evolutionary model. Posterior probabilities arenoted on the branches.

References
Akiyama, H., Yamaguchi, T. and Suleiman, M., 2001. The bryophyte flora of Kinabalu National Park (Sabah, Malaysia), based on thecollections by Japan-Malaysia collaborative expeditions in 1997. Nature and Human Activities 6: 83-99.
Frahm, J. P., Frey, W., Kurschner, H. and Menzel M., 1990. Mosses and Liverworts of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah Parks Trustees.
Grundmann, M., Schneider, H., Russell, S. J. and Vogel, J. C., 2006. Phylogenetic relationships of the moss genus Pleurochaete Lindb.
(Bryales: Pottiaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear genomic markers. Organisms, Diversity & Evolution 6: 33-45.
Hall, T. A., 1999. BioEdit: a user-friendly biological sequence alignment editor and analysis program for Windows 95/98/NT. Nucleic
Acids Symposium Series 1: 95-98.
Suleiman, M., Akiyama, H. and Tan, B. C., 2006. A revised catalogue of mosses reported from Borneo. The Journal of the Hattori
Botanical Laboratory 99: 107-184.
Swofford, D. L., 2002. PAUP*: Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (*and other methods). Version 4. Sinauer Associted,
Sunderland.
Tan, B. C. and Iwatsuki, Z., 1999. Four hot spots of moss diversity in Malesia. Bryobrothera 5: 247-252.
Tsubota, H., Takahashi, A., Nakahara, K., Mohamed, H. and Deguchi, H., 2005. A simple procedure for DNA isolation using small
quantities of lichen thallus. Lichenology 4: 25-28.

64Assessing the impacts of tropical forest modification andfragmentation on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning using
dung beetles as the focal taxon
Research Grant Programme

Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama
Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Habitat loss and fragmentation are rapidly modifying tropical forest ecosystems, causing dramaticchanges to biotic communities. More than any other terrestrial ecosystem, the vitality of tropical forests
depends on the web of ecological interactions among species. This research was designed within
the scope of developing theoretical and empirical frameworks for evaluating the impact of habitat
modification and fragmentation on biological diversity. Conservation importance of the study arises
from the need to understand the responses of biotic communities to the modification of natural
habitats, in order to predict and mitigate further biodiversity loss. The focal taxon of dung beetles area proven indicator for measuring biodiversity disturbance and interactions between anthropogenic
disturbance and community structure due to their high morphological and functional diversity,
abundance and ecological role in dung removal.
During the first six months of the project, we assessed dung beetle diversity and abundance, together
with the efficiency of dung removal, in primary forests, secondary forests, home gardens and tea
plantations in the lowland wet zone of Sri
Lanka. We collected standard environmental
and habitat variables from the sampling
locations in each plot for habitat comparison.
Dung beetles were identified up to morphospecies for the preliminary analysis. Preliminary
data analysis was carried out using suitablestatistical methods to establish the sampling
completeness and to assess compatibility withthe hypotheses. To evaluate the suitabilityof dung beetles as an indicator species, we
compared dung beetle diversity and abundance
data with those of amphibian and butterflies
from the same habitat types. According to
Two Scarabaeus beetles rolling a dung ballthe results, dung beetle abundance, species
assemblages and the proportions of functionalgroups differed markedly between habitats.
The trends in species diversity could be betterinterpreted once the beetles are taxonomically
identified.
There was a positive correlation in beetle
density and the proportion of dung removed.
Results suggest that the dung removal function
is affected by the change of land-use throughaltered community structure. We are also
exploring the ecological traits that make species
vulnerable to habitat degradation.

One of the sampling sites in a tea plantation
65

The study was successfully presented at the annual
meeting of Scarab-Net, organised by the American
Museum of Natural History in New York in September,2008. At the meeting, we sought collaboration for
the taxonomic work, since facilities are not available
in Sri Lanka. As a result, a team of taxonomists will bevisiting Sri Lanka by the end of this year to conduct a
training workshop.
The first of the planned outreach programmes will beheld in November, 2008 in Sinharaja MAB reserve. We
are collaborating with Sabaragamuwa University of Sri
Lanka, the University of Colombo and the Ministry ofEnvironment and Natural Resources in organising thisfield training workshop for undergraduate students.
We aim to continue sampling the wet zone this year.
Several suggestions from the feedback obtained at
the Scab-Net meeting will be incorporated in the
research.
Setting a trap in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Research assistant and field assistants setting a pitfall traps in Enoka sorting a sand trap in the dry zone
a home garden

66Small-scale Research Grant Programme
The diversity of fungi (Agaricales and Hyphomycetes) in West Java
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Dewi
Herbarium Bogoriense, Botany Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of
Sciences, Indonesia

Introduction
Biodiversity research is one of the high priorities of the Indonesian Government. Glaringly absent
from all published accounts of Indonesian biodiversity, however, are estimates of fungal diversity.
Along with other microorganisms, the fungi of Indonesia have received little attention from thescientific community. Historical literature, exsiccati and recent fungal collections from the region
suggest, however, that the mycota of Indonesia are as equally diverse as higher plants, althoughmostly undocumented. Java is a careening ecological disaster, either as a result of high populationor high pollution. Under the enormous pressure of the population and high pollution, deforestation
is progressing at a frightening pace. The few remaining areas of primary forest that support a large
variety of fungi are primarily in national parks and reserves or on inaccessible mountain slopes. The
fungi of these few primary forest must be documented soon before declining forests result in declining
fungal diversity. One can predict a similar pattern of diversity loss as a result of poor air quality in Java,particularly on ectomycorrhizal and hyphomycetes taxa primarily near population centres.
A fascinating fungal world encompasses a wide range of fungi, from unicellular fungi to multi-cellular,
as well as aquatic to terrestrial and from open fruit body to enclosed fruit body. Under this situation,
research will delimit only two kinds of fungal taxa. Order Agaricales represents enclosed fruit body fungiwith various colours and large sizes. Most of it plays an important symbiotic row with trees in forming
ectomycorrhiza. While Hyphomycetes represents open fruit bodies with a tiny size, they are the mostfrequently isolated fungi and play a major role as decay fungi in the mycoflora of the air and the soil.
Objectives
The objectives of the research are to fill the gaps in our knowledge of Indonesian fungi, to document
the diversity of Agaricales and Hyphomycetes from West Java and to enhance the number of fungal
collections in Herbarium Bogoriense.
Location
Several sites in West Java will be sampled during the course of this survey. They were selected basedon the presence of relatively undisturbed primary forests and their potential to support a wide diversityof fungi. Nearly all collecting sites were reforested regions on the slopes of volcanoes and accessis controlled by the Ministry of Forestry as part of the National Park and Reserves Systems. They are
Ujung Kulon National Park in Serang City, Province of Banten, the most extensive undisturbed lowland
rainforest and swamps in Java; Mt Halimun National Park in Sukabumi City, Province of West Java, oneof the low-land forests left in Java; Bogor Botanical Garden in Bogor City, Province of West Java, thehistorical centre for mycology in Indonesia, the Botanical Garden served as the original source for many
fungal specimens; Mt Gede Pangrango National Park and Cibodas Botanical Garden in Cianjur City, West
Java, the slopes of Mt Gede and Mt Pangrango, the Cibodas region is the type locality for numerous
Indonesian Agaricales and is one of the most extensive undisturbed primary forests in Java and the
Haurbentes Nature Reserve in Bogor City, Province of West Java, an artificial Dipterocarpaceae forest67

that is well known for its mycorrhizal trees, which associate with many mushrooms. It is expected manyfascinating mushrooms will be encountered during the fieldwork.

Methodology
The project management plan involves the collection, description, identification, preservation, curationand documentation of specimens of Agaricales and Hyphomycetes in West Java.

Expected outcome
At this moment there is very little information concerning the Indonesian Agaricales and Hyphomycetes
and Indonesia is still a black spot for mycologial exploration. Through this project, the encounteredspecies are expected to help other mycologists who currently work on the biogeography pattern ofAgaricales and Hyphomycetes in the world and several questions concerning the biogeography can be
answered. Specifically, what are the distribution patterns of Indomalaysian and Australasian Agaricalesand Hyphomycetes and how do they correlate with the distribution pattern of their host or hostsubstrate?

68

The red panda Ailurus fulgens in Langtang National Park: anassessment of its conservation status
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Ganga Ram Regmi
Association for Integrated Environmental Management Society, Nepal

Introduction
The red panda Ailurus fulgens is an ‘endangered’ species that is fully protected under Nepalese law.
Its distribution is restricted to the Himalayan foothill regions of Nepal. Due to the increase in forest
fragmentation caused by human land use, red pandas are facing pressure for their survival. Unless
a comprehensive study of the population status and existing threats is conducted, no reasonable
management recommendation and conservation action plan can be established.
This study concentrates on an assessment of the red panda in Langtang National Park. This
comprehensive project includes population surveys through the direct sighting and indirect sign
survey method following the contour line perpendicular to the elevation gradient, an analysis ofsocioeconomic factors and site-specific conservation measures and the development of community
outreach/participatory programmes. The project will also assist the authorities concerned of theGovernment of Nepal in formulating effective management plans for the conservation of the red panda.
In this report, I have briefly described recent
activities and outcomes. Recent activities
are mostly related to interaction with park
staff and locals and the first red panda
survey conducted by the project.
Study area
After communication with the park staff,
I selected the Phedi–Ghopte area andMangingoth area in Langtang National park as
the first survey sites. Due to tough and steep
cliffs and dense bamboo thickets, it seemedthat there was a good red panda habitat in the
Phedi-Thadepati area. A dense canopy with Prime habitat of red panda in Langtang National Park
thick understory bamboo was characteristic of
the Mangingoth area, which was comprisedof Abies spectabilis and Rhododendron spp. as
the dominant plant species.
Methodology
The study area was divided into two
blocks, viz. The Phedi-Ghopte block andthe Mangingoth block. Due to the rugged
terrain, I could not lay out the horizontal linetransects in the Phedi-thadepati area andMangingoth area. I walked slowly (0.4-0.8km/hour) along the existing trails (mainly
cattle paths) passing through different

Red panda in Langtang National Park69

habitats and altitudinal types (Pradhan et al.,2001) searching for signs of the red panda,
recording signs of its absence or presence.
The sign data will be used to derive an index
of relative abundance, expressed as the
proportion of the signs encountered to thesurvey efforts in the final report after being
replicated over the field study. Where signs(droppings) were encountered, different
parameters such as age of sign (categorizedin 4 age groups, i.e., very fresh, fresh, oldand very old), altitude, slope, substrate,
vegetation structure, tree canopy, GPSreading and proximity to water source wererecorded. These habitat parameters and the Scat (dropping) of red panda
signs encountered have just been expressed
as a percentage in this interim report.
Results(1) Phedi-Ghopte block
During the field survey, 36 dropping signs of the red panda were encountered, out of which 22%(n=8) were very old, 50% (n=18) were old, 22% (n=8) were fresh and 6% (n=2) were very fresh.
Among these, 50% of the signs were found on trees followed by rocks (30.50%), logs (14%) and on
the ground (5.50%). Droppings were found on Butula utilis (39%, n=7) followed by Rhododendron
spp. (22%, n=4), Juniperus recurva (22%, n=4) and Abies spectabilis (17%, n=3). All the signs were
found less than 100m from a source of water. 81% of the signs were found within 50m from a water
source, while 19% were found between 51m and 100m. No droppings were found beyond the 100m
periphery of the source of water. All the signs were found within the altitude range of 3,250m to
3,650m and the topographic slope from 25 to 40 degrees. Most of the red panda droppings (42%)
were found under the open crown canopy followed by medium crown canopy (28%), closed crown
canopy (19%) and dense crown canopy (11%). Altogether, 58% of the signs were found in the habitatwith dense understory bamboo, while the remainder were found in medium understory bamboo.
(2) Mangingoth block
During the field survey in this block, 13 dropping signs of the red panda were encountered out of
which 15.38% (n=2) were very old, 46.15% (n=6) were old, 23.07% (n=3) were fresh and 15.38% (n=2)
were very fresh. Among these, 69.23% (n=9) of the signs were found on trees followed by rocks andlogs (15.38%) and no signs were found on the ground in this block. Droppings were distributed
equally on Betula utilis (33.33%, n=3), Rhododendron spp. (33.33%, n=3) and Abies spectabilis (33.33%,
n=3). All the signs were found less than 150m from a water source. 46% of the signs were foundwithin 50m of a water source, 30.76% were found between 51m to 100m and 23.07% of the signs
were found between 101-150m, while no droppings were found beyond the 150m periphery of
the water source. All these signs were found within the altitude range of 3,100m to 3,345m and the
topographic slope from 23 to 35 degrees. Most of the red panda droppings were found under theclosed crown canopy (46%) and medium crown canopy (46%) followed by dense crown canopy (8%).
62% of the signs were found in the habitat with dense understory bamboo while the remainder were
found in sparse understory bamboo (23%) and medium understory bamboo (15%).

References
Pradhan, S., Saha, G. K. and Khan, J. A., 2001. Ecology of the red panda Ailurus fulgens in the Singhalia National Park, Darjeeling,
India. Biological Conservation, 98: 11-18.

70

Taxonomic study of the parasitic wasp genus Pediobius in Java,
Indonesia
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Hesti Purnamasari
Zoological Division, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia

Introduction
Pediobius is a large genus of the wasp family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), comprising morethan 200 described species worldwide and distributed in all the zoogeographical regions (Hansson,2006). The species of Pediobius are primary or secondary parasites for eggs, larvae and pupae of theother arthropods, e.g., insects of the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera andspiders of the order Araneida (Bouček, 1988; Hansson and Nishida, 2002; Noyes, 2002). Some species ofPediobius have frequently been used as biological control agents for many insect pests.
Studies on the Pediobius of Java Island were started in the mid-19th century by Walker (1846), followed
by Zehntner (1898), Girault (1917), Gahan (1922) and Ferrière (1933, 1940). Kerrich (1973) subsequently
updated the studies on tropical and subtropical species of Pediobius, including the species from Java.
Most recently, Purnamasari and Ubaidillah (2007) recorded 14 species of Pediobius from Java, andprovided important information resources on parasitic wasp conservation in Indonesia. Nevertheless,there are no comprehensive taxonomic studies covering all Javanese species. The main objective of thisproject is to clarify the species diversity of Javanese Pedibius to have an accurate identification system.
This is a fundamental study that is necessary for the future development of strategies for biodiversity
conservation. In addition, the biological information obtained during this study will also contribute toestablishing a biological control programme, which is important for enforcing sustainable agriculture inthis area.
Materials and methods
This study is conducted based on the specimens collected during our field research in West Java
(Sukabumi), Cental Java (Purwokerto) and East Java (Magetan) from 24 March to 6 April 2008, as well as
the collection of Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB)
and that collected by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences(LIPI) from 2002 to 2007; all of these specimens examined
are now deposited in the MZB. The materials were collected
mainly by sweep netting, but also using Malaise traps

Figure 1. Collecting parasitic wasp using sweep net

Figure 2. Collecting parasitic wasp using
sweep net and aspirator
71

and yellow-pan traps, and also by rearing
from hosts. The sweep nets and yellow pan
traps and sometimes the Malaise traps wereapplied especially to habitats where Pediobius
species diversity is presumed to be high(e.g., secondary and primary forests, forest
edges, agriculture areas and grasslands).
The specimens obtained were prepared byappropriate methods according to methods
for wasp collection (Noyes, 1982). Specimens
were mounted on rectangular cards and theirexternal morphology and colouration wereobserved under a stereoscopic microscope.
The morphological terminology follows Figure 3. Malaise trap
Bouček (1988) and Gibson (1977).
Result and discussion
During this study, we examined more than
140 specimens of Pediobius wasps from Java.
Our examination reveals that at least 17
species of Pediobius are recognised from Javaalthough the identification of specimens isstill continuing. Of these, three species, briefly
accounted below (as P. sp.1, P. sp.2 and P.
sp.3), were assumed to be new to science.
The number of Pediobius species found in
this study will be much higher than previous
Figure 4. Yellow pan traprecords.
Pediobius sp.1
This putative undescribed species shows peculiar morphological features that make the species easy
to identify. It resembles Pediobius aspidomorphae in general physiognomy, but the former can be
distinguished from the latter in having shallow, dull and distinctly reticulated notaular pits, eyes without
sparse short setae, and propodeum with sub-parallel submedian carina. The unique condition ofnotaular pits in this species is probably specialized within Pediobius, and it would modify the diagnosisof the genus.
Pediobius sp.2
This putative undescribed species resembles Pediobius anomalus, re-described by Kerrich (1973)
based on a single female specimen from the Philippines. Both species share a unique combinationof characteristics, i.e., ocelli having fine keels running back from each ocellus and sideways from eachlateral ocellus, notaular pits separated by a fine median keel and medially smooth scutellum with finely
longitudinal striations on their sides. Pediobius sp.2 can be separated from P. anomalus by having thefollowing characteristics: the groove from anterior ocelli to occipital carina being absent (vs. being
present in P. anomalus); a sculpture on the anterior mesoscutum being strongly reticulate (vs. being
finely striate); the anterior side of notaular pits being deeply impressed (vs. being parallel and shallow);
the coxa and femur of the legs being blackish blue with a metallic tint, except for pale yellow tibia andtarsus (vs. blue green legs, with pale testaceous middle and hind parts of the tibia and dull stramineous
tarsi).
Pediobius sp.3
This species is hitherto known only by a single female from the West Java. Pediobius sp.3 is the smallest
in size (1.47mm in body length) within the genus, and easily distinguished from the other congeners
by having: frons, ocelar triangle and lower face under the toruly smooth and shiny; mesoscutum with afinely rugouse sculpture; no notaular pits; a convex scutellum with smooth and longitudinally reticulated
surfaces at the anterior and posterior sides, respectively.

72

Figure 5. Dorsal view of Pediobius sp.1

Figure 6. Dorsal view of Pediobius erionotae

Figure 7. Dorsal view of Pediobius inexpectatus
References
Bouček, Z ., 1988. Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A Biosystematic Revision of Genera of Fourteen Families, with a
Reclassification of Species. CAB Internationa. pp. 1-701.
Ferrière, C., 1933. Chalcidoid and Proctotrupoid parasites of pests of the coconut palm. Stylops 2: 86-96, 97-108.
Ferrière, C., 1940. On some parasites and hyperparasites of Artona catoxantha, Hmps. Bulletin of Entomological Research 31(2): 137.
Gahan, A. B.,1922. Report on a small collection of parasitic Hymenoptera from Java and Sumatera. Treubia 3: 47-52.
Gibson, G. A. P., 1997. Morphology and Terminology. In: Gibson, G. A. P., Hubber, J. T., Wooley, J. B (eds.). Annoted Keys of Neartic
Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). NRC Research Press. pp. 16-44.
Girault, A. A., 1917. New Javanese Hymenoptera. Private publication, Washington. p. 1.
Hansson, C. and Nishida, K., 2002. A new species of Pediobius (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from Epilachna (Coleoptera:
Coccinellidae) in Costa Rica. Revista De Biología Tropical 50(1): 121-125.
Kerrich, G. J., 1973. A revision of the tropical and subtropical species of the Eulophid genus Pediobius WALKER (Hymenoptera:
Chalcidoidea). Bulletine of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology Series 29: 115-199.
Noyes, J. S., 1982. Collecting and preserving chalcid wasp (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Journal of the Natural History 16: 31
Noyes, J. S., 2002. Interactive Catalogue of World Chalcidoidea (2001 - second edition). CDRom : Taxapad, Vancouver and the
Natural History Museum.
Purnamasari, H. and Ubaidillah, R., 2007. Notes on parasitic wasp genus Pediobius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) of JavaIndonesia, with five new records. Treubia 35: 117-136.
Walker, F., 1846. Characters of some undescribed species of Chalcidites. (Continued.) Annals and Magazine of Natural History 17: 184.
Zehntner, L., 1897. De Mineerlarven van het Suikerriet op Java IV Cosmopteryx pallifasciella Snell., nov. spec. Mededelingen van het
Proefstation Oost-Java (3) 4: 1-15.

73

The distribution and conservation status of Mt Uarges guereza
and the de Brazza’s monkey in Leroghi, Mathews Range Ndoto
and Mt Nyiro forest reserves of Samburu, Kenya
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Iregi Mwenja
Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya

Although the northern part of Kenya is predominated by arid and semi-arid areas, there are six tropicalforests found in the regions with higher elevations. Of these forests, four are found in Samburu. Thesefour, namely the Mathews Range and the Leroghi, Ndoto and Mt Nyiro forests, are rich in biodiversity
and receive a substantial amount of rain. These forests have, however, received marginal attention due
to the remoteness of this area, the lack of security and the poor infrastructure, and the knowledge of
their biodiversity has remained scanty.
Several endemic species of plants and animals are found here including Mt Uarges guereza Colobus
guereza percivali, the only endangered subspecies of the Colobus guereza. It is endemic to Samburu
and classified as ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List on account of its limited extent of occurrence.
No comprehensive on-the-ground field assessment of the species had been done to determine its
distribution and conservation status prior
to this study. Another example is the deBrazza’s monkey Cercopithecus neglectus.
Although the distribution of this species
had been believed to be restricted to thewestern part of the country, its range was
extended to Samburu, east of the Great Rift
Valley, in a study concluded on February,
2007. The total population size of thisspecies in Kenya is currently estimatedat 1,000. However, recent research
revealed that all the isolated populations
are becoming significantly smaller at an
alarming rate.
Objectives
The primal aim of this research is to enhance
the conservation and management of the
populations of the endangered Mt Uarges
guereza and the de Brazza’s monkey in the
Mathews Range and the Leroghi, Ndoto
and Mt Nyiro Forest Reserves and thesurrounding areas. Its specific objectives are:(1) To assess the status, distribution andrelative abundance of both the deBrazza’s monkey and the Mt Uarges
guereza in the Mathews Range, theLeroghi, Ndoto and Mt Nyiro Forest
Reserves.

Leroghi Forest, Saanata peak where Colobus guereza are foundIregi Mwenja, Samburu Kenya

74

(2) To identify local threats and opportunities for conservation of the Mt Uarges guereza and the deBrazza’s monkey throughout the Mathews Range and the Leroghi, Ndoto and Mt Nyiro Forest
Reserves.
(3) To develop the capacity of eight local scouts and four research assistants with both forest and wildlife
survey skills and with data collection methodologies.
Results(1) Local threats
Generally, anthropogenic threats and their effects include fires caused by honey gatherers, huntersand pastoralists who burn the old grass at the beginning of the wet season in order to promote
regeneration of young grass. Other threats are overgrazing in the plains and forest, cultivation in theforests, and over-collecting of firewood to meet the energy demand for the fast-growing humanpopulation. Mt Uarges guereza is also severely threatened by hunting for its skin by local people.
(2) Distribution and population status of de Brazza’s monkey
During the survey started in April 2007, six groups of de Brazza’s monkeys were recorded in thenorthern Mathews Range, in addition to the 24 groups recorded in the prior survey in 2006.
Additionally, two groups were recorded in the southern parts of the Ndoto forest, although moregroups are expected to be found there in an ongoing in-depth survey.
(3) Distribution and population status of Mt Uarges guereza
Mt Uarges guereza was found in substantial numbers distributed over the central and southern partsof the Mathews Range Forest. In the neighbouring Kirisia Hills and Leroghi Forest, this subspecies waslast seen by the forest guards in 2006. It is now believed to take refuge in the dense and inaccessible
part of the deep forest after two-decades of persistent poaching by local people who highly value
its skin. In Mt Nyiro, this subspecies was last seen fifty years ago and is possibly extinct there. Twogroups were recorded in the densely forested areas of south-eastern part of the Ndoto Forest.

75

Autecology and population study of Myristica teijsmannii Miq.
(Myristicaceae or nutmeg family) in Sempu Island Nature Reserveand its predictive distribution in East Java, Indonesia
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Rosniati Apriani Risna
Center for Plant Conservation, Bogor Botanic Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia

Introduction
Myristica teijsmannii belongs to Myristicaceae or the nutmeg family, a popular and important plantgroup in Indonesia as a medicinal and essential oil plant (Jansen et al., 1993) which also characterises
tropical regions (Arrijani, 2005). In the past, this species was widely used as natural dye for its red resins,
as a local medicinal plant and timber (Heyne, 1987) but is no longer used because of its rarity andsynthetic chemical substitution.
Myristica teijsmannii is native to Indonesia and has been categorised as an endangered species at the
EN B1+2C level according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2007) based on herbarium
specimens data. Inhabiting lowland tropical mixed forest with an altitude of 50-1,000m above sea
level (de Wilde, 2000), this species is considered rare and only reported from a few spots in East Javaso far, which are Mt Wilis, Mt Anjasmoro, Pacitan to Mt Kawi and Sempu Island. However, informationon the ecology and conservation biologyof this species is very limited. Therefore, thisongoing research focuses on autecology andthe population distribution of M. teijsmannii,
because this species is still in the wild andunderstudied. It grows in tropical lowland
areas with intensive threats and disturbances
caused by human activities. Local people
consume it without any efforts towardsustainable use.
The Sempu Island Nature Reserve (SINR) is
a suitable site to study due to its biologicalResearch location: Sempu Island Nature Reserve, Malangrichness with three ecosystem types, viz.
District, East Java Province, Indonesia
lowland tropical forest that covers mostof the island, mangrove and coastal forest
ecosystems with two freshwater lakes (Telaga
Lele and Telaga Sat) and natural springs. SINR
also has a significant role as a barrier islandthat protects the adjacent villages on the Java
mainland from high tides such as Tsunami.
Furthermore, no research concerning
the autecology of plant species has been
conducted there. The proposed researchaims not only to determine the M. teijsmannii
current population status and its ecologicalrequirements in SINR, but also to predict
its spatial distribution in East Java using
geographical information systems (GIS).
Sempu Island Nature Reserve in more detail scale (Source:
Google Earth July 2007)
76

The results will be very useful to support threatened plant conservation programmes, both locally andglobally, as stated in Global Strategy for Plant Conservation by the CBD, Botanic Gardens Conservation
International and UNEP (Anonymous, 2002). Conserving the species by preservation and restoration(cultivation) for its future consumption and utilization may give benefits to both local people and its
sustainable use.
Objectives
The objectives of the research are:(1) to study the habitat characteristics, ecological interactions and requirements including edaphic
factors and climates and population structure and status of Myristica teijsmannii in the Sempu Island
Nature Reserve; and(2) to provide a predictive distribution of M. teijsmannii in East Java using GIS.
Methodology
The research is conducted in Sempu Island
Nature Reserve (SINR), Sendangbiru Village,
Malang District, East Java Province, Indonesia.
It is divided in two phases. The first phaseincludes autecological study of Myristica
teijsmannii in seven localities (Telaga LeleKiambang, Telaga Sat, Pasir Putih, Waru-waru,
Air Tawar, Teluk Semut and Gua Macan),whilst the second phase will employ GIS work
including fieldwork to check and validate thegeographical distribution model of the species.
Vegetation analysis using a systematic Southern end of Sempu Island
parallel lines search (Cropper, 1993; Krebs,
1989) was used to determine the Myristica
teijsmannii population status and interaction
status between it and the other plants
within communities, as well as edaphic
factors, climatic condition and topography
in SINR to result in determining factors forhabitat preference of the existing population
using statistical multivariate analysis. These
determining factors will be analysed spatiallyusing ArcView 3.2 software (ESRI) to predict theM. teijsmannii habitat suitability throughout
East Java by extrapolating the ecological dataobtained by the weighted overlay method.
Sempu expedition

Preliminary results
A total of 72 tree species were recorded within the quadrants where we studied. The overall diversity oftree species of SINR, determined by the H’ or Shannon diversity index following Krebs (1989), is 5.07. The
highest index was recorded in the Gua Macan locality (H’=4.64), whereas the lowest one was recorded
in Teluk Semut (H’=4.08).
Myristica teijsmannii was widely distributed throughout SINR and found in all localities studied, showing
the highest tree density. This means that the species is one of the most dominant plant species in SINR,
together with Pterospermum diversifolium and Pterospermum javanicum (Table 1). This result indicatesthat M. teijsmannii grows well throughout SINR, providing good habitat for the species. Exclusively on
Telaga Sat and Telaga Lele, M. teijsmannii ranked within the top five in IV and SDR on all research sites.

77

Table 1. Abundance parameters of tree species in Sempu Island Nature Reserve selected by the top ten density.
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Abundance Parameter (%)
RF
RD
RDO
6.92
11.36
9.63
9.11
10.80
9.91
6.92
8.59
9.42
4.55
3.88
5.10
3.10
3.74
2.16
4.01
3.60
2.74
3.83
3.60
2.47
4.55
3.60
6.55
2.91
3.46
3.96
3.64
3.32
2.44

SPECIES
Myristica teijsmannii
Pterospermum diversifolium
Pterospermum javanicum
Terminalia bellirica
Drypetes ovalis
Acmena acuminatissima
Aglaia elliptica
Artocarpus elasticus
Vitex glabrata
Garcinia celebica

IV
27.91
29.82
24.93
13.53
8.99
10.35
9.90
14.71
10.34
9.40

SDR
9.30
9.94
8.31
4.51
3.00
3.45
3.30
4.90
3.45
3.13

RF: relative frequency; RD: relative density; RDO: relative dominance; IV: importance value; SDR: summed dominance ratio
Table 2. Importance value of Myristica teijsmannii in Sempu Island Nature Reserve
ALTITUDE &LOCALITIESPOSITIONFOREST ASSOCIATIONSLOPES80 26’646” S 50 – 102m asl
Telaga Lele
Pterospermum (Sterculiaceae)
1120 42’339” E 0 – 90%

IVI
5.42

Waru-waru

80 26’020” S 25 – 87m asl
1120 41’863” E 0 – 43%

Myristicaceae-Pterospermum-AnnonaceaeEuphorbiaceae

48.68

Telaga Sat

80 27’228” S 30 – 65m asl
1120 42’173” E 0 – 90%

Moraceae-Macaranga

8.28

Air Tawar

80 26’068” S 40.5 – 84.7m asl
1120 4’557” E 0 – 40%

Pterospermum-Myristica-Garcinia-Artocarpus

39.07

Gua Macan

80 26’159” S 41 – 76.8m asl
1120 4’523” E 0 – 27%

Myristica-Pterospermum-Maranthes-Annonaceae

29.62

Teluk Semut

80 26’300” S 17 – 68.8m asl
1120 4’328” E 0 – 15 and 90%

Euphorbiaceae-Pterospermum

26.41

The autecological study revealed that Myristica teijsmannii occurred from 17 to 102m above sea level on
Sempu Island, and found only in the mid-forest with a slope preference of 0-8%. Myristica teijsmannii did
not form pure communities in SINR, but usually found in small groups indicating clumped distribution.
The population structure (classified using the diameter at breast height) appears to vary amongst localities,
although younger plants tend to dominate(Figure 1). Young leaves and fruits of M.
teijsmannii were favoured by two speciesof primates, namely Macaca fascicularis andTrachypitecus auratus.
A chemical and physical analysis was
carried out on soil collected from 6 different
localities in SINR. The results showed thatthe species generally prefers fine particles
with silty loam to silty clay textured soils,
with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Figure 1. Population structure of Myristica teijsmannii by stage
class at Sempu Island Nature Researve.

78

Expected outcome
This ongoing research will present a predictive distribution model of Myristica teijsmannii in Sempu
Island Nature Reserve and East Java. This model could constitute a good tool for decision-making
within the framework of applied biological conservation of endangered plant species in Indonesia,
such as strategies for conservation, planning and forest/nature reserve management. In addition, theabundance and distribution data observed from fieldwork may give a contribution to the species’
current conservation and rarity status released by IUCN.

Myristica teijsmannii fruits eaten by primates

Fruits of Myristica teijsmannii

References
Anonymous, 2002. Global strategy for plant conservation. Montreal: Secretariat of Convention on Biological Diversity, Botanic
Gardens Conservation International, United Nations on Environmental Programme.
Arrijani, 2005. Biologi dan Konservasi Marga Myristicaceae di Indonesia. Biodiversitas 6: 147-151.
Cropper SC. 1993. Management of Endangered Plants. East Mealbourne: CSIRO Publication.
de Wilde, W.J.J.O, 2000. Myristicaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I – Seed Plants. Vol 14.
Heyne, K., 1987. Tumbuhan Berguna Indonesia. Jilid III. Jakarta: Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kehutanan, Departemen
Kehutanan.
IUCN, 2007. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed on March 03, 2007.
Jansen, P.C.M, 1993. Basic List of Species and Comodity Grouping. PROSEA.
Krebs, C. K., 1989. Ecological Methodology. Harper & Row Publisher, New York.
Ludwig, J. A., Reynolds, J. F., 1988. Statistical Ecology: A Primer on Methods and Computing. John Wiley and Sons, Singapore.

79

Diversity and distribution of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
across a habitat disturbance gradient in Lore Lindu National Park,
Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Small-scale Research Grant Programme

Shahabuddin
Center for Biodiversity Research, Tadulako University, Indonesia

Introduction
The deforestation of tropical forests and their conversion to human-dominated land-use systems
such as agricultural land is one of the most important reasons for biodiversity loss. This is also true forIndonesia, which holds about 10% of the world’s remaining tropical forest. However, the area coveredby forest is decreasing rapidly and most provinces have already lost 80% or more of their lowland
forest (MSPE, 1992). Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are widely used as biological indicatorsfor evaluating effects of habitat disturbance driven by human activities since they have proven to beparticularly sensitive to habitat perturbation such as canopy forest loss (Davis et al., 2001), and humanhabitat modification (Shahabuddin et al., 2005). Furthermore they are ecologically important since theirdung burial activity could maintain soil fertility (Omaliko, 1984) and plant regeneration through dungseed dispersal activity (Andresen, 2003). Therefore, a reduced dung beetle population most likely results
in a cascading and long-term effect throughout the ecosystem.
Objectives
The main objective of this research is to explore the diversity and distribution of dung beetles across a
gradient of habitat disturbance in Central Sulawesi. Particularly, this study will investigate the responseof dung beetles to different levels of habitat disturbance ranging from natural forest and agro-forestry
systems to open cultivated areas in Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP). The data on species diversity anddistribution of dung beetles in various habitat types will provide important information for improving
habitat management aiming to maintain a high level of biodiversity also at the margin of the protectedarea and adjacent land-use systems.
Methodology(1) Study area
The study area is located at the northern and western margin of Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP) in
Central Sulawesi - Indonesia (Fig. 1). Lore Lindu National Park is a local biodiversity hotspot covering
an area of 229,000ha and located southeast of Palu, the provincial capital of Central Sulawesi. In thefirst year the study was conducted at thenorthern part of LLNP. The study sites arelocated surrounding the village of Bobo
(01°07’10.2” S - 119°59’40.2” E) in Palolo
Valley situated between 800 and 100m
above sea level. Dung beetle communities
were studied in four habitat types: naturalforest (NF), disturbed forest (DF), agroforestry systems (cacao plantations
with some shaded tree species, AF) andannually cultivated (maize fields, AC). For
each habitat type, three site replications
were selected.
Figure 1. Standing in front of the tree in natural forest80(2) Specimen collection and identification
Dung beetles were sampled in 50m2 plots at all 12 sites using baited pitfall traps as described in
Shahabuddin et al. (2005). At each site, 10 traps were set up along a 100m transect. Traps werebaited with ca. 20g of fresh cattle (Bos taurus) dung collected from pasture land around the study
sites. Trapped specimens were removed from the traps after two days and preserved in Scheerpelz
solution. Traps were baited and exposed synchronously to dung beetles three times during Februaryand April 2008. Later on, samples were identified in the laboratory with available identification keys
(e.g., Bathasar 1963). Additionally, the reference collection of the Center for Biodiversity Research at
Tadulako University and Zoological Museum of LIPI were used. Taxa that could not be identified were
sorted to morphospecies.
(3) Habitat parameters
Several habitat parameters were measured (air temperature, moisture, canopy cover, herbs layer
coverage and number of trees) and will be tested for their potential to predict changes in the
structure of dung beetle ensembles.
Results
A total of 1,696 dung beetles were collected in the four-month period of specimen collection. Although
identification is still in process, it has been recognised that they belong to 3 genus (dominated by genus
Onthophagus) and 24 morphospecies.
In general, the abundance and diversity of dung beetles across habitat disturbances were notremarkably different. The total number of specimens recorded at the natural forest was lower comparedto those in annually cultivated areas, while the total number of species was almost similar in all habitat
types studied (Fig. 2). However, this study found a different response of dung beetles to habitat
modification at the genus level (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). While
this study could not detect the response of genus
Aphodius to habitat change due to their very small
number of specimens, genus Onthophagus tend to be
more adapted to habitat modification compared togenus Copris and Aphodius, since they are predominantly
found in all habitat types studied. On the contrary, theabundance and number of Copris sp. reduced fromnatural forest to annually cultivated areas, which is anindication that this group of dung beetles was moresensitive to habitat perturbation.

Figure 2. Design of dung beetle trap

Figure 3. My field assistant collecting dung beetle at the cacao
plantation

Figure 4. Onthophagus limbatus, one of the most abundantspecies collected from open cultivated area81

Nevertheless, the response of dung beetles to habitat disturbance and their relation with the habitat
parameters measured have to be analyzed further at the species level. Previous studies have shownthat some species of dung beetles respond differently to changes of land-use type in Central Sulawesi(Shahabuddin et al. 2005). Therefore, during the second year of this research, dung beetles will becollected from the Napu Valley, located at the southern margin of the park (see Fig. 1) to get a morecomprehensive picture regarding the response of dung beetle communities across habitat disturbance
gradients and their distribution in Central Sulawesi.

References
Andresen, E., 2003. Effect of forest fragmentation on dung beetle communities and functional consequences for plantregeneration. Ecography 26: 87-97.
Davis, A. J., Holloway, J. D., Huijbregts, H., Krikken, J. and Sutton, S. L., 2001. Dung beetles as indicators of change in the forests ofNorthern Borneo. Journal of Applied Ecology 38: 593−616.
[MSPE] Ministry of State for Population and Environment of Republic Indonesia, 1992. Indonesia country study on biologicaldiversity. Prepared for UNEP under the programme for environmental cooperation between the Republic of Indonesia and theKingdom of Norway, Jakarta.
Omaliko, C. P. E., 1984. Dung decomposition and its effects on the soil component of a tropical grassland ecosystem. Tropical
Ecology 25: 214-220.
Shahabuddin, Schulze, C. H. and Tscharntke, T., 2005. Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry
systems and annually cultivated areas. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 863–877.

82

Study on the species composition of fish fauna in the upper
reaches of the Nhat Le River, Quang Binh Province
Small-scale Research Grant ProgrammeTran Duc Hau
Faculty of Agro-Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Vietnam

At approximately 189km in length and with a basin area of 4,080km2, the Nhat Le River, including its
two branches (viz. Long Dai and Kien Giang Rivers), is one of the longest rivers in Quang Binh Province.
Since this is a long river with a variety of different environments, the species composition of fish faunain the upper reaches of the Nhat Le River is expected to be quite different from that of its lower reaches.
However, given financial and other constraints, such as the area’s adjacency to the Lao border, researchon fish fauna has been quite restricted in this area.
This is a two-year project that started in October 2007 and has conducted extensive fieldwork to explore
the fish fauna in the upper reaches of the Nhat Le River System. We have periodically implemented
sampling of freshwater fishes in this area with the assistance of the local people, as well as having
recorded environmental conditions and the local name of each fish species. This study is expected toyield an extensive list of fish fauna in the area.
Preliminary results and discussion
In the first year of this project, we gathered the scientific articles necessary for the research and carriedout three field surveys in the Long Dai River, one of the major branches of the Nhat Le River System, on a
total of 20 days in February, May and September, 2008. A brief summary of these surveys is given below.
A total of 11 research sites in the upper
reaches of the Long Dai drainage area,
comprising four and seven sites in the Le
Thuy and Quang Ninh Districts of Quang
Binh Province, respectively, were surveyed.
We used various types of fishing gear, suchas hand nets, hook and lines, cast nets, andelectro-fishing to collect fishes.
During the period, a total of 215 fish
specimens were collected. These specimens
were identified as 34 species, belonging to 28
genera, 14 families and five orders. Of these
five orders, Cypriniformes is the most diverse 11 studied sites for 1st year
order with 22 species. Sixteen species belong
to the species-rich family Cyprinidae.
These fishes contain two threatened species, listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book on 2007: viz. Anguilla
marmorata and Anguilla bicolor pacifica (Anguillidae). The first species is more abundant than the otherone in the area. According to the local fishermen and some previous investigations, the diet of A.
marmorata includes invertebrates and small fish. Like other species, the resources of this species havedeclined significantly during the last 20 years for a number of reasons, e.g., deforestation and an increasein the number of fishermen there.

83Interviews were also produced to define the resource status of various fish species with high economic
value in some research sites. Based on the results of interviews with 20 fishermen, some ecological andbiological characteristics of the three species, viz. Mastacembelus armatus, Onychostoma gerlachi andSpinibarbus denticulatus, which play a significant role in the livelihood of the local people, were obtained.
The results reveal that the habitats vary depending on species, and their reproduction seasons tend to
be in the summer (March to May).
The number of fishes hitherto obtained bythis research is quite small. This could be a
result of destructive fishing. For example, thelocal fishermen catch fish using electro-fishingtools and small boards along the banks of slow
flowing streams, especially in breeding grounds
for many fishes. Serious pressure from fishery
activities on the study area is continuously
being felt, whereas there is no effort for fishingmanagement. In the upper reaches of the river,forests have been rapidly destroyed and it may
indirectly impact the aquatic environment,
particularly the fishes.
Identifying in the laboratory

Acrossocheilus macrosquamatus

Mastacembelus armatus84

Conservation Activity Programme
Field training on Sulawesi biodiversity for North Sulawesi highschool biology teachers
Small-scale ResearchConservation
ActivityGrant
Programme
Programme

Johanis Pelealu
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Indonesia

Introduction
As a follow-up of the workshop on Sulawesi biodiversity and conservation curriculum for high school
teachers in North Sulawesi held from 8 to 12 January 2007, we conducted the field training programmeon biodiversity and its conservation for those teachers. This programme was held based on therecommendations of workshop participants who realized that they lacked certain knowledge withrespect to local biodiversity and its use and conservation. They also recognised their responsibility
in delivering these issues to their students through various learning methods such as local contents,
infusion and the integration of local knowledge in school curricula. The lack of experience andknowledge with respect to local biodiversity leads to a constraint on the teachers’ ability to implement
education on local biodiversity and on-site teaching. Accordingly, it is necessary to conduct field training
for biology teachers in North Sulawesi.
Objectives of this programme were:(1) To deliver knowledge and experience on biodiversity of North Sulawesi to high school biology
teachers of North Sulawesi; and(2) To train the teachers’ techniques in population monitoring.
These objectives are very important to conservation efforts for biodiversity in North Sulawesi. Biology
teachers are one of key stakeholders who can bring messages of conservation to the young generationand can change the practice of eating bushmeat. This practice has become the highest threat to thewildlife of North Sulawesi. Furthermore, the result of this training gave the teachers the basic knowledge
to construct curricula for their respective schools based on their local biodiversity and conservation.
Results and discussion
The project was conducted at the Tangkoko-Batuangus Nature Reserve on 8-12 biology teachers of highschools in North Sulawesi. This reserve is located near three other conservation areas, namely the Dua
Sudara Nature Reserve, the Batuputih Ecotourism Area and the Batuangus Ecotourism Area, in the Bitung
District of North Sulawesi. Tangkoko-Batuangus was chosen as the training location based on four reasons.
First, it represents typical North Sulawesi biodiversity, including its ecosystem and species diversity. Second,
it is considered as the most secure location for researchers and visitors for education purposes since itis relatively well-managed compared with the other conservation areas. Third, Tangkoko-Batuangus isclose to the Batuputih Ecotourism Area, which has useful facilities such as research stations and camping
grounds. And fourth, it has convenient access for reaching the Dua Sudara Reserve.
The contents of this training course comprise: (1) an outline of conservation areas, (2) a method for the
management of conservation areas, (3) a method for the recognition of various kinds of ecosystems,(4) a method for identification and population surveys of birds and animals and (5) individual tasks in
identification and population surveys on an animal species. Theory and practice about biodiversity andmethods for its monitoring were brought by the participants.
85

On the results of the pre- and post-tests given in order to evaluate the degree of their understanding,considerable score improvement was recognised after the training course about Sulawesi biodiversity.
The following secondary output is also expected in the future:(1) Participants (teachers) will spread their knowledge and skills to their students in biology classes, andthus the ability of the students to appreciate the local biodiversity will be improved.
(2) Teachers are now familiar with the nature of these conservation areas, and, thus, they will be able toutilize them as resources for both field teaching and extra-curricular activities.
Participants felt that this programme provided them with valuable experience because it was the firsttime for them to learn the actual state of the local biodiversity. On the other hand, several requests
to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Sam Ratulangi University, were proposed. For
example, they requested that this kind of training course would be conducted every year, involving
students as well. They also asked the faculty to publish text books on local biodiversity and conservation.
Furthermore, several teachers hoped that the faculty would be the central institution of local
biodiversity, where every school can use it for studying about biodiversity.

Class activity

Looking through tarsier nest

Observation on bird

Observation on monkey activities

Resort head with wooden boat confiscated during
patrolResting near hole fig
86

Raising awareness of local students and communities using raptor
migration at Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam
Conservation Activity Programme

Lan Phuong Nguyen
Hanoi-Amsterdam Secondary and High School, Vietnam

Introduction
Tam Dao National Park has been identified as one of the most important raptor migration sites in North
Vietnam, with many species of raptor using Tam Dao forest as their roosting or stop over area. The key
raptor species migrating over Tam Dao include a number of globally vulnerable species such as thegreater spotted eagle Aquila clanga and imperial eagle A. heliaca.
While the opportunity for the conservation of birds in Tam Dao National Park is high, the lack of
educational programmes awareness-raising activities or detailed information on threatened species,
especially raptor groups, means that appropriate conservation measures have not been taken.
Many of the raptor species are currently threatened by hunting, catching for pets and the destructionof habitats by local people who are living around the national park. The recent surveys show that
individuals of many raptor species were caught by local people, including school students, during thelast migration season. At least one imperial eagle has been recorded in the house of a local farmer living
close to the national park last March, revealing that this situation is still continuing. There is therefore
an urgent need to take action, and the main objective of the project is to raise awareness among local
communities about the importance of raptors as this group plays an important role in the ecosystemand the food chain.
Different standard methods for educational conservation programmes, such as documents (posters,
games, slide shows, films), as well as direct field observation, are used to raise awareness among
local communities and school students. The project is carried out in three different communities
and in schools situated at the most ecologically sensitive areas of the national park. The project will
incorporate local staff of the Forest Protection Department (FPD), Tam Dao National Park and local
community members. The results of the project will contribute to on-going conservation initiatives oforganisations such as German Technical Zone (GTZ), FFI, and BirdLife. Although GTZ is currently carryingout their conservation project at Tam Dao National Park with technical support from BirdLife and FFI, noawareness-raising initiatives for birds have been implemented up until now.
Such awareness will be achieved through the implementation of this programme and presentation of
the results to the local stakeholders, FPD, national park, schools and communities in identified sites, andNGOs.
Objectives
Objectives of this project are:(1) to raise awareness among local communities and students of the importance of raptor species andwildlife;(2) to build the capacity of local team members in wildlife educational programmes;(3) to engage graduate and undergraduate students in scientific programmes;(4) to produce recommendations for the conservation of raptor species and natural habitats in Tam Dao
National Park;87

(5) to distribute the results to conservation organisations with on-going activities in Tam Dao National
Park (FFI, GTZ, Birdlife, etc.) in order to improve conservation management; and(6) to use the results to develop a proposal for follow-on awareness-raising projects and conservation
activities.
Methodology(1) Project site
The project was conducted at two different communes and schools in Tam Dao town. Tam Dao
town is located within Tam Dao National Park (21°21’ - 21°42’N; 105°23’- 105°44’E), situated in the Lap
Thach and Me Linh districts, Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam. Tam Dao National Park supports 21,982haof natural forest and 1,351ha of plantation forest. The natural forest is of two main types, viz. lowland
evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen forest. Tam Dao is one of the most important raptor
migration sites in Vietnam.
(2) Awareness-raising programme
The local team members were trained in standard methods for building the capacity of local teammembers in wildlife educational programmes and engaging graduate and undergraduate students
in scientific programmes. Films and slides about raptors and raptor migration will be shown, as wellas posters depicting the raptor species. Talks will be given and games to teach identification of raptor
species will be carried out at the designated places.
Raptor observation will be implemented at the identified raptor watch sites within the national park.
On-location talks about raptor migratory species, migration routes, identification, the importance ofraptors in the ecosystem and the food chain and how to account for raptor migration will be given
to the participants along with posters.
Results
In the first six months of the project, the local
team members were trained in the standard
methodology, which will apply for whole project.
The first two educational programmes, viz. indoor
and outdoor programmes, were set up.
The first educational programme, the indoor
programme, was carried out at Tam Dao town
(one of the most important raptor watch
sites in the north of Vietnam) with the joiningof 60 students from secondary schools. This
programme includes direct talks and poster andslide presentations on raptor species, showing Trained for group leader
the roles of raptors in the ecosystem, globally andnational threatened raptor species, key raptor
species in the study area, migrating and resident
species, and the regional raptor migrationroutes. Games to identify the raptor species
were set up and we divided the participants into
four different small groups to join in the raptor
identification competition, awarding the winnersof the game with hats and books on Vietnamese
birds. We also encouraged discussion about the
typical characteristics of raptor species among
the groups of school children.
In-house programme
88

The second programme, the outdoor
programme, was implemented just after
the indoor programme. Two experts fromthe Institute of Ecology and Biological
Resources and the Vietnam BirdwatchingClub were invited to act as guides for raptor
identification in the field and provide up-todate information about raptor research andconservation activities in Vietnam. A quiz washeld by the experts and the winners (with thequickest answers) were awarded. The teammembers, experts and the local teachers
engaged the school children in some othergames and in a competition on methods for Expert gave the guide in the field
the sustainable use of natural resources andmeasures for the mitigation of the impact ofhuman beings on wildlife.
These two educational programmes havebeen successfully implemented. Namely,
the awareness of local school children wasincreased and all of the participating school
children submitted a summary of theseeducational programmes. Some additional
lessons were also given toward a better
understanding of forthcoming programmeson the project.
Out-door programme89Scholarship Scheme
The Scholarship Scheme aims to promote the training of the future generation ofexperts in the protection of the natural environment. Currently, university students insix countries in the Asia region are studying at the undergraduate or post graduate levelwith NEF’s support. In 2008, the NEF assisted 385 students. The Scholarship Scheme isoperated with the cooperation of the NEF’s local counterparts.

List of NEF Scholars in 2008-2009
Indonesia
Undergraduate students(155)
University of Indonesia

Fika Afriani
Mariska Astrid Kusumaningtyas
Mulyati Dewi Aisyah
Nur Mutia Dewi
Suryani
Sutini
Rerin Santiana
Gita Rahayu Budiarti
Uswatun Khasanah
Asminatun
Dina Mariyanti
Anggi Puspa Nur Hidayati
Ayu Roossea Mustika Putri
Devri Ary Sinaga
Diana Agustina
Lina Herlina
Intan A. Pratiwi
Rika Prihatiningsih
Anjar Prianto
Sarah Albar
Nidya Sutanto
Eko Burhanuddin
Adhitia Pratama
Niarsi Merry Hemelda
Ratih Rimayanti
Januar Hakam
Aditya Bayu
Tiara Dewi
KanardoFebrial
Arifah Dinda

Assyafi’iyah Islamic
University
Andam Dewi Melani
Dwi Widyanti Octavia
Hetty Jariah
Ridho Tahir
Sartika
Sapan
Syahrul Lail
Winanjar Restu
Septika Wijayanti
Dedi Rahman
Arif Saifudin
Fadlurahman
Dahliana
Adi Saputra
SumarniNasron Azizah
Dieka Pertiwi
Didi Prasetyo
Nur Asiyah
Nur Aini
Risky Darmawan
R.A. Ayu Yekti N.

N. Elis Kuraisin
Siti Fatimah Zahra
Eka Zakia Setiawati
Nur Fitriani
Qurotul Aini

National University

Etika Sayekti Hidayati
Dessy Sulistya Ashari
FratiwiMaysyarohNeneng Mardianah
Shafa Noer
Dian Fajar Vitianingrum
Windrati
Melinda Octaviana Kuswandari
Rebina Urfhy Zen
Mursyidah
Nuzuki Atara
Abdurachman Syafiih
Devi MargarethDewi Andini Fitriani
Hesmi Rahmawati H.
Husnul Khotimah
Rima Paramita
Ririn Diah Ramadani
Siti Mardiyana Ulfah
Zahra Hanifannisa
Agnes Yuliana
M Arif Rifqi
Dyah R Sihwuladari
Dwi Winarsi
Hemansyah
Gabrilla
Nadia Maulida S
Muchida Fitri Lubis
Sharuk Nur Bani
Diky Wahyudi
Rizki Amelia
Siska Tri Suharti
Abigael S Q Renti

Pakuan University

Dian Sudianto
Enri Agus Setiani
Marlina
Mita Fajriah Ibrahim
Muhammad Ahyad
Nurdiyansah
Nur Laela Fadhila
Sanan Supriatna
Stephanie
Agustinus Sarira
Zulfikar Failasufi
Budi Triyanto
Intan Kusumaningrum
Aam Amaliah
Ayu Septina PrasantiAvia Agustian MinantiMila Setyani
Astri Anggraeni

Olivia Mersylia Tombe
Irfan Agustiawan
Taufik Hidayatullah
R.Farida
Indra Santi
Ratih Nindyakiran A
Rahman Eri Pridana
Nevi Herhisa
Diva Kharisma Putera
Endah SusantiState University of Jakarta
Daulat Yusuf Harahap
Fatyah Arfah
Fuji Setiawati
Lutfiyah
Muna Murnianjari
Mutia Hardhiyuna
Putri Kesuma Wardani
Supri
Listinayah
Maria Fajri
Evindika Tri Padarik
Nur Upik
Tinur Malasari
Afdini Rihlatul
Desy Permatasari
Norma Rahmawati
Sari Setyaningsih
Retno Dyah Kuntari
Siti AmanahWahyuningsih
Anis Mutirani
Febrina Ariyanti
Dina Silviana
Ria Amelia
Dita Monalisa
Ninda Hutami S
Irfanul Arifin
Mella Ferania
Dessy Widvanita
Diaz Sari P
Evi Kusumes Tuti
Dehhy Yumbar
Bramastho A
Suci Nurul L
Astriana Pertiwi

Philippines
Undergraduate students(36)
Palawan State University
Antonette B. Bartolome
Analyn V. Omapas
Lanie A. Blanco
Eric James A. Magay
Rosalyne S. Ramos
Jenneferlyn B. Yap
Arvin A. Silverio

Brooks Ann O. Bermudes
Bryan Sonny S. Arlegui
Jagmis Cory P.
Jaztin Robert D. Altea
Roselle Apdon
Gerold Allen Argonoso
Neliza Bacani
Dorcas O. Besa
Jessa Mae Jagmis
Ma. Rose Christy B. Josol
Edgar Palmon
Joanna Mae B. Rolando
Darelle Kaye M. Cacho
Honey Rose O. Firmalo
Jessa Belle B. Garibay
Arnica L. De Guzman
Ebenezer C. Herrera
Winston G. Quinit
Alison Quirino
Erickson A. Tabayag
Florence S. Vicente
Allan Alleda
Cherry Lyn Jalover
Rizajane Pablico
Maria Retchie Pagliawan
Ken TanJoan Urquiola
Irish VillamorWestern Philippines
University
Jonnie Asis

Postgraduate students(4)
Palawan State University
John Rex N. Jardinero
Jonas Tenefrancia
Lyca Sandrea Castro
Bienvenido Ollave

Myanmar
Postgraduate students(20)
Dagon University

Kyaw Min Htay
Sao Mon Theint
Daw Khin Wai Hlaing

Defense Services Medical
AcademyThet Su Mar
Khaing Khaing Kyi

Sittway University
Daw Kay Thi

University of Forestry
Thida Swe
U Kyaw San
U Tin Myo Aung
Daw Cho Cho Win

University of Maubin
Aye Aye Min

University of Monywa
Khin Than Oo

University of Veterinary
Science
U Tin Tun Aung

Yangon Institute of
Education
Thanda Win

Yangon University
Wint Wint Tun
Sapai Min
Daw Min Min Htwe
U Kyaw Naing Oo
Daw Su Su Naing

Yezin Agricultural
University
Daw Lay Lay Khaing

Undergraduate students(31)
University of Forestry
Aung Myint Myat
Khain Wut Hmone
Su Sandar Aung
Tet Nay Tun
Nwai Mon Mon Aung
Kay Zin Than
Kay Khine Lwin
Way Soe Zin
Thura Kyaw
Lat Mi Tin Win
Talun Hmone Htan
Htet LinSu Su Lwin
Paing Htet Oo
Phyo Zaw Hein
Myat Su Mon
Yadanar Zaw
Arr Kar PhyoEi Sandar Myint
Aye Myat Ko Ko
Arnt Myo Zaw
Kyaw Khaung Thant Zin
Nwai Nwai Aung
Phyo WaiSu Yi Kyaw

Khin Zun Phyo
Khin Zaw Win
Shwe Yi Win Htet
Chan Pyay Zaw
Shwe Yi Phu Phu
Aung Kyaw Thu

VietnamPostgraduate students(47)
Can Tho University
Le Diem Kieu

Hanoi Agriculture College
Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy

Hanoi Pedagogical
University

Le Thi Thanh Xuan
Nguyen Xuan Hoa
Nguyen Khac Son
Doan Viet Tien
Nguyen Xuan Vinh
Luu Hoang Yen
Ho Thu Minh
Pham Thi Hong Phuong

Vinh University

Hoang Thi Mai Anh
Hoang Thi Kim Dung
Nguyen Phuong Mai
Tran To Oanh
Dao Thi Hang
Nguyen Thi Thu
Do Van Toan

Nguyen Thi Thuy Ninh
Dinh Minh Quang

Lao PDR
Undergraduate students(92)

Hue University of Sciences

National University of Laos

Tran Thuy Hang
Le Thi Tran Nhi
Phan Tien Dung

Institute of Ecology andBiological Resources
Vu Tien Chinh
Nguyen Thien Tao
Pham Van The
Nguyen Anh Tuan
Duong Thi Hoan
Nguyen Manh Hung
Phan Xuan Binh Minh
Dao Thi Sen

Vietnam Forestry
University
Le Thi Tuyet Anh
Pham Thanh Ha
Nguyen Van Thanh
Trinh Phu Thuan

Vietnam National
University

Be Thi Ngoc Anh
Pham Van Bao
Nguyen Thanh Chinh
Truong Duc Cuong
Nguyen Anh Duc
Bui Thi Hoa
Nguyen Manh Hung
Lu Thi Ngan
Dinh Thi Hai Yen
Phan Thi Bao Chi
Nguyen Thi Hien
Nguyen Thi Hoa
Phan Quoc Toan

Somexay Savathna
Chanhphet Inthavixay
Sixiong
Phonesavanh Phonnaly
Teuanchai Xaisomeboun
Bounmy LorlaithongSomsouphanh Simmanivong
Khamsamone Phanthavilay
Panhyasook Keoleuxay
Philaylak YoutthasantySengsouly Phaleukham
Laty Pangpaseuth
Phonesavanh Xayalath
Khaokeo Lorvanxay
Phouthone SamlanephanhToui Phommalin
Alounsak Xayasouk
Mengxiong Xaichui
Phommachanh Phothichanh
Santy Phiyadeth
Yileng Thaochoutheng
Phetsomphone Thammavong
Somphanith Si One Chanh
Ai la da Si boun heung
Lamnyong Bounthavong
HouaThor YouaYee
Vannasin Inoudom
Oulaivanh Chantjaloth
Maithor Laouyiajong
Yipheng Thayongyia
Souksakhone Chanpadith
Khamboui Soukhantha
Sisavath Phimmasone
Phaengta Bounthavangkham
Thipphaphone Phiengvilaivanh
Phetviengkham Onexaivieng
Kenemai Phengpaseuth

Bounhieng Sisavanh
Viengvilay Vanthanouvong
Chounnaphon Sibounheuang
Hongphakham Inthavong
Mong Xiong LaCheutouky
Maladda Chanh thi lathBair Khang Vang Toua
Khamphou Luanglath
Sadalat Thanongsack
Bousamai Boudthavong
Sauosavanh Phavilaivong
Phoummano Khammanivong
Thipphamala Manivong
Amphaychit Boutbouathong
Somphavanh Keobouasamay
Khankeo Phathong
Phanhthoudeth Pongpanya
Khamla Phetnavongxay
Thavone Khounsida
Songkane Somsavanh
Phouthone Phapho
Davanh Oulaythong
Xaisuvanh Phaxaisomebath
Khoun Thammavong
Somchanh Ouphanxay
Phaimany Xaiyasing
Bounphack Lorbreeryao
Phaivone Khounthavone
Yenpapha Vilavong
Khammanh Vongvansy
Vanpaseuth Phoutthavong
Palamy Changluexai
Vonesackda Phoudthavong
Soukphaphone Soudthalavong
Sivanh Vivanhxai
Bounhuong Yachongtou
Xaysavanh Khiaovongphachanh
Souksakhone Phanthoulak
Chanthala Vinthaxay
Chittana Bouasavanh
Sa phaou ngeuan Vongthavilay
Chanhhome Chanhthavisouk
Keovanpheng Sengdalavong
Nilaphai Taxo
Lidthisone Kettavong
Xaiyalarth Vongsavath
Silisack Dalavong
Nouxay Bounmixay
Soudaniame Inthisane
Viengsavanh Xomvimane
Annida PhongsavathNokpalinya Inthavong
Phengdy Vilayvong
Viengvilay Thongmanila
Bounhome Yengnuvong

NEF Student
International Workshop

The NEF has held national and international workshops for NEF scholarship recipients since 2004, aiming
to provide them with the opportunity of first-hand experience in the field and to promote exchanges
between different cultures. This is the third international workshop and it was held from 10 to 16
February 2009 in Palawan, the Philippines, in cooperation with the City Government of Puerto Princesa
and the Palawan State University (PSU) with the theme ‘forging friendships toward environmental
conservation.’ This year, a total of 28 students on NEF scholarships representing four countries (Indonesia,
Vietnam, Lao PDR and the Philippines) were invited to participate in the Workshop.
Prior to the Workshop, a student committee was organised by Filipino students and they were actively
involved in preparation (e.g., planning and scheduling the programme) and the implementation of theWorkshop under the supervision of Dr Lorna C. Gelito, Dean of the College of Science, PSU, Ms Rebecca
Padilla, City Program Manager of the Puerto Princesa City Scholarship Office and Mr Stefan Ottomanski.
Each of the committee members was responsible for different parts of the Workshop’s operation. In
addition, all participants began communicating with each other through the Internet and exchanged
their ideas for activities in the Workshop programmes and its expected output.
Upon their arrival at Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, on 10 February, all participants wereinvited to a welcome dinner held by the Honourable Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn of the City Governmentof Puerto Princesa. The participants enjoyed food, cultural performances and conversations with friends
and colleagues.
The opening programme of the Workshop was held in the morning of 11 February. It started with thenational anthem of the Philippines played by the PSU Band and was followed by a welcome addressfrom Mr Jessie A. Tabang, Assistant City Administrator of the Puerto Princesa City Scholarship Officeand Prof Dr Yasuhiko Taki, President of the NEF. The following programme was a team building activity
led by two facilitators (Ms Wenifreda J. Arcigono, Assistant Department Head II of Human Resource
Management Office and Ms Maria Corazon B. Temonis, Tourism Operation Officer), both from the City
Government of Puerto Princesa. It started with a lesson and discussion on the qualities of leadershipand the characteristics of teamwork and the participants shared their ideas in their own words. Some ofthem seemed to be too shy to speak out in the beginning, but their shyness soon disappeared. Divided
in three ethnically mixed groups, they carried out the assignments they were given and played games
together. These activities helped break the ice among them and encouraged unity and teamwork.

94

After the team building activity, the participants
started cooking and practicing performances
for the last activity of the day, a cultural show.
Lao and Indonesian foods were served atdinner. Everyone was surprised, but enjoyed thedifferent tastes. That evening, the participants
wore ethnic costumes and demonstrated
dances and songs from their home countries,
while the audience also learned and participatedin the dances and songs.

Early in the morning on 12 February, the participants headed toward Sabang, where the Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River National Park, or the Underground River, is located. The area has a limestone karst
landscape with an 8.2km underground river flowing directly into the South China Sea and the lower partof the river is affected by tides. Furthermore,
the area contains a full mountain to thesea ecosystem and important forests andrepresents a significant habitat for biodiversity
conservation. Upon recognition of thesefeatures, the Park was designated as a World
Heritage Site in 1999.
It was an approximately three hour trip toreach the Park from Puerto Princesa. At themouth of the cave, a group of eight to ten tooka small boat and went inside the cave with aguide. It was dark inside and a spotlight in frontof the boat was the only means for visitors
to see the natural formations of stalactites
and stalagmites, including formations thatlooked like mushrooms, vegetables andanimals. Insects were attracted to the light andswallows and small bats flew overhead. The
guide explained the history of the cave andthe river and provided information about theformations the visitors could see near the boat.
While enjoying the cave tour, the participants
were simply impressed by nature itself.

95

In the afternoon, walking through the Monkey Trail, theparticipants reached the Sabang River and joined the Mangrove
Paddleboat Tour operated and managed by local volunteers.
Guided by these volunteers, boats went along the river where
old growth mangrove forests can be found. A yellow and black
striped snake was on a branch as birds warbled away in the forest.
As the participants were enjoying spotting wildlife and the boatride, they learnt what roles the mangrove forest performs andhow tourism is operated while conserving wildlife and its habitat.
The volunteers also offered the participants one of the local
delicacies, tamilok (shipworm), which can be found inside thedeteriorated wood. That evening, the participants also saw how a
Filipino traditional dish, lechón baboy, a roasted suckling pig thatis cooked for special occasions in the Philippines, was preparedand cooked.
On the second day in Sabang, 13 February, after eating lechón baboy for breakfast, the participants
visited an elementary school in Manturon Village for school activities. There were about 30 elementary
students in a room. With a song and games, the participants led discussions to tell the students theimportance of nature conservation and what people can do for the future. It was very impressive thatthe students were eager to learn from the participants and asked them many questions. The activity was
carried out in Tagalog and all the participants enjoyed teaching the students and sharing what they hadlearnt at university.

96Later in the afternoon, the participants left
Sabang for the Palawan Wildlife Rescue andConservation Center (PWRCC). Mr Ottomanski
explained to the participants that the PWRCC
had been established as the Crocodile Farming
Institute (CFI) in 1987 with the assistance of
the Japan International Cooperative Agency
aiming to conserve the two species ofcrocodiles found in the Philippines, Crocodylus
porosus and Crocodylus mindorensis, throughcaptive breeding and the development ofcrocodile farming technology for the benefitof the Filipino people. Now as the PWRCC, it
continues research on crocodiles and provides
a refuge for wildlife seized from illegal poachers
and traders. Besides the achievements of the
CFI, he told the participants what difficulties
the CFI faced through its projects and theparticipants discussed them. Guided by
the PWRCC’s staff, they toured its museum,hatchling house and nature park. A few
participants had the opportunity to feed fishto mature crocodiles.
The Government of Puerto Princesa City held
the citywide mangrove reforestation activity‘Love Affair with Nature’ on Valentine’s Day andthe participants joined in. The event is held
yearly in the coastal area to reforest degradedmangroves and raise public awareness on theecological role of mangroves and other coastal
ecosystems. The participants planted one or
two mangrove seedlings with the thousandsof volunteers gathered to celebrate the event.
It was surprising that such a large number ofconservation-minded people gathered andworked together for conservation.

97

The sixth day of the Workshop started with a presentation by each country. Either individually or in agroup, participants shared activities that they are involved with or research that they are carrying out
and also explained their culture and the natural environment in their home countries. The titles of thepresentations and presenters were as follows:
Lao PDR‘Studies and present status of biodiversity in Lao PDR’ by Nokpaliya Inthavong, Xaysouvanh
Phaxaysombeth and Annida PhongsawatIndonesia‘Sea turtle conservation in Indonesia’ by
Abigael Stivannya Queen Renti
Vietnam‘Biodiversity research in Vietnam andamphibian breeding station in Hanoi’ by
Nguyen Thien Tao
Philippines‘Philippine biodiversity’ by Rizajane Pablico‘Palawan biodiversity’ by Ma Retchie Pagliawan
The next activity was a discussion to wrap up the Workshop with five topics: activities of the Workshop
programme; environmental conservation; culture; higher education; and future actions. Through theWorkshop, the participants learnt that both similarities and differences were found in the culture andeducation in their countries. They also mentioned that their countries were facing the same or similar
environmental conservation issues and clearly stated how they will work on those issues together as
NEF students, or conservation conscious citizens, in their reports.
The NEF hopes that this Workshop enriched the knowledge and experiences of the participants andinspired their further interest in nature conservation.
The NEF would like to express its sincere appreciation to the City Government of Puerto Princesa, PSU
and its staff and students for their enthusiastic efforts in making the Workshop successful, as well as tothe individuals who helped with the participants’ activities during the Workshop. (Tomoko Oizumi)98

NEF Newsletter Issue No.18
March 2009

Published by Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
3-10-10 Shitaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0004 Japan
Editors: Tomoko Oizumi, Koichi Shibukawa and Kenzo Utsugi
Designed by ILC Limited