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Forest Guardians

13 Community Forest Guardians from 6 community forests in four villages. Forest guardians are the key to the future of red panda. They mobilize the community into action to preserve the EHBCF and red panda. These special people work in their respective communities to inspire the creation of a community forest networks that are empowered to take control of their forests. They monitor the treacherous red panda habitat monthly in order to collect important baseline data that enables us to monitor our conservation efforts. Last year they had 10 sightings.

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Sange Sherpa, 47
Dobate, Mabu-8, Ilam, Nepal

I’m forest guardian of Surkey National forest. I finished my education of class 7. I’m living near the Surkey forest since 1988. My traditional occupation is agriculture farming and cattle herding. With reference to my experience the wild dog has disappeared from our forest and new wild animal wild boar appeared and is very harmful animal for our agricultural crops. I became interested and careful about the red panda since the research about it took place at our forest by director of Red Panda Project. Now I almost spend my time roaming around the jungle for searching fodder/grass for my cattle, firewood collection, and leaves for cattle bed and for monthly monitoring. At that time I saw red panda many times. When I saw it I normally spend many hours watching its activities and I fill them on red panda sighting form then I submit it to the office. I think the participation of villagers is most necessary for the conservation of red panda.

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Pasang Sherpa, 40
Kalapokhari, Mabu-8, Ilam, Nepal

I relate to the Surkey National forest as a forest guardian. I’m living around the forest since 1977. I became aware and passionate about the red panda conservation after I came in touch with Red Panda Network-Nepal and by the activities of WWF-India. Now I’m fully interested about red panda conservation. I’m a follower of Buddhism, in our religion it is believed that all the animals have soul and we shouldn’t harm them. I think the conservation of wildlife, forest and environment is necessity. At the time of taking benefits we don’t have to forget our responsibilities. We have to handover the world with nature to our future generation.

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Surendra Rai, 24
Sidin-1, Panchthar, Nepal

I relate to the Kanyadevi community forest. My academic qualification is class 9. In past I have involved in monitoring of community forest activities (e.g. timber smuggling patrol) many times. I’m interested about the social service and conservation of environment. Conservation is very much important and is necessity of today. By doing conservation, in return we will get more than we do.

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Pemba Tshiring Bhotia, 36
Sidin-1, Aahal, Panchthar, Nepal

I’m cattle (yak) herder occupationally and forest guardian of Kanyadevi community forest which is near to my resident. I don’t have any formal education but I can read and write in Nepalese language. I have long experience about the forest, medicinal plants and wildlife because I spend my long time cattle herding in forest since my childhood. My childhood passed in the forest for guarding the cattle in high altitude area.I love cattle farming and now I want to contribute my time for red panda conservation. I had encountered with red panda many times at forest. My time and effort would help Red Panda Network, Nepal on its great endeavors of conservation.

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Hangbir Rai, 29
Gasu-basti, Malinge, Maimajhuwa-8, Ilam, Nepal

I’m forest guardian of Guranse Dhanepa community forest and also member of that community forest users committee. I finished my primary level education from my village. I’m living in a complex family and total no. of family members is 13. Our family occupation is farming and cattle herding. My father has good knowledge of wild animals and medicinal plants. He is guiding me on my work of forest. The trainings provided by the Red Panda Network, Nepal is fruitful for me to do the work on forest. I want practice to apply all the knowledge and ideas that I gained during trainings. I want to contribute my time and experience for the conservation of red panda and other wild species.

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Man-Bahadur Gurung, 48
Chibe, Maimjhuwa-6, Ilam, Nepal

I spend my long time on the Chintapu community forest as cattle herder because my interest is cattle farming and now I’m forest guardian of that community forest. I don’t attend any formal education. Our family members are involved in agriculture and in the activities of community forest users group, so it’s easy to get help from my family members to manage my work as a forest guardian.

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Kush Bahadur Gurung, 30
Maimajhuwa-6, Ilam, Nepal

I relate to the Chintapu community forest as a forest guardian. My occupation is agriculture and I monthly travel to forest for red panda monitoring. I found it quiet hard to travel around the forest but interesting to roam around the nature. My interest is to go forest and do some enjoyable works, which is being fulfilled by red panda. Conservation of red panda depends on the conservation forest. So for the first time conservation of forest is necessary.

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Junga Bahadur Rai, 35
Prangbung-8, Panchthar, Nepal

I spend my life closely with wild animals and forest many years doing cattle farming. I have good knowledge about the medicinal plants and wild animals i.e. musk deer, tragopon, bear, lophophoros, red panda etc. I attended a tour with the staff of TMI around Kangchenjunga region as assistance, at that time I got important knowledge about the high altitude medicinal plants and wildlife. Then my interest about the conservation rise and got an opportunity to work with Red panda Network, Nepal. I know about the hunters of the wildlife and its nature. I think by unity we can do more for red panda conservation.

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Bhim Kumari Tamang, 27
Prangbung-3, Panchthar, Nepal

Singhdevi-Jaljale community forest lies in north of our village, which is in four hours walking distance. Many villagers are dependent on that forest for firewood, bamboo for house roofing, and fodder for cattle. I involved on the establishment of transect lines on that forest for red panda research through Red Panda Network. Since then I became a forest guardian of that forest. I completed my education up to class 10. I want to learn how to conserve the natural resources and share the ideas about the red panda with local villagers.

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Nirmala Tamang, 19
Prangbung-3, Panchthar, Nepal

I’m student of class-9 and also forest guardian of Singhdevi-Jaljale community forest, Wasathupa, Prangbung. I saw wild boar and blood pheasant when I stayed on forest with my elders doing cattle herding. We should discuss about the conservation of forest and wildlife in our society and make them more active. More we conserve our natural heritage more our society would get. I love to wander in forest and feel its natural beauty. To make the positive attitude of people towards the conservation, we have to raise awareness in our society. Conservation is not only for the personal benefit of people, it has a national concern.

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Purna Bahadur Rai, 36
Simkharka, Maimajhuwa-4, Ilam

I relate to the Todke community forest as a forest guardian. I successfully served the community forest user group as an assistant secretary for three years in past and also involved in the fire control that occurred on our community forest two years ago. I want to be a good social worker in future. A cattle farming is my interest. I think the wildlife and forest need conservation.

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Rajendra Rai, 24
Simkharka, Maimajhuwa-4, Ilam

I’m forest guardian of Todke community forest for Red Panda Network, Nepal. I have finished my formal education up to class 10. My family occupation is farming. I have little knowledge about the Red Panda and birds. I’m interested about the conservation of wild animals. The conservation of wild animals also helps to survive human being.

Red Panda Network:
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