The Himalayan salamander, endemic to south Asia and recorded only in Nepal, India, and Bhutan, is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It faces a continues decline in the quality and extent of its habitat throughout its range. The situation is especially precarious in Nepal, where the species is only found in human-dominated landscapes outside protected areas, exposing it to heightened levels of threats. This project is an effort to address critical knowledge gaps and establish a foundation for Himalayan salamander conservation in Nepal.
The project will take place in the Ilam district in eastern Nepal. It is an important stronghold of Himalayan salamander within the country and is a place where the species was first identified from. Despite its importance, the region lacks essential information about salamander habitats and threats, and the local communities in this area are unaware of the conservation significance of Himalayan salamanders. By conducting a detailed assessment of the habitat, this project aims to identify key habitat characteristics and threats, their relative impact on salamander populations, and produce a distribution map. The project strongly emphasizes community engagement and involves active collaboration during field works and includes information dissemination through education campaigns.
The ultimate goal of this project is to lay the foundation for targeted conservation measures on Himalayan salamanders and create a knowledgeable and empowered local community that actively participates in their conservation.
The project is financially supported by: Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders
