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Studentships
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The Studentships group visits the Dongzhaigang mangroves by motor launch
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In collaboration with Hainan Normal University (HNU)
and Hainan Wildlife Conservation Centre of Hainan
Forestry Department, the 2007 KFBG Studentship
presentations were held at HNU from 8-10 September.
Local students were welcome to attend, and some 500
people took part. The meeting featured progress reports by
13 current studentship-holders (2003-2006), along with
keynote talks by speakers from HNU (Prof Shi Haitao),
Hainan Forestry Department (Su Wenba), and KFBG
(John Fellowes). Participants visited the environmental
museums of HNU and Hainan Forestry Department,
and Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve. The "South
China Wild Colours" Photographic Exhibition was held
concurrently in the HNU campus to arouse interest from
university students on the ecological situation of South
China. The event was widely covered in the Hainan and
Guangdong media.
Eight short-listed candidates for the 2007-2008 KFBG
Studentships, out of 19 applications, were interviewed.
Three students were awarded grants:
WANG Haijing (M.Phil.) of South China Institute of
Endangered Animals, South China Institute of Botany
is researching the distribution, current population and
conservation of Chinese Black-necked Pond Turtle.
LIU Kai (M.Phil.) of the Faculty of Conservation
Biology, Southwest Forestry University is studying the
impact of habitat fragmentation in the northwest waters of
Guangxi on fish biodiversity.
LI Zhigang (M.Phil.) of the School of Geographical
and Biological Sciences, Guizhou Normal University is
investigating the social structure of the Hainan Gibbon.
The 2008 KFBG Studentships are now open for
application. We welcome applications from full-time
Masters (M.Phil) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) students within the
area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture
as well as sustainable living in southern China. Application
details are available on our website (http://www.kfbg.org/
kfb/introwithreport.xml?fid=165&sid=200&lang=en).
The deadline for applications is 15th July 2008.
Proactive projects from frontline staff in Hainan
Keynote talk by Prof. Shi Haitao on the conservation of fresh water turtles in China |
A new scheme to encourage initiative and motivation
among Hainan nature reserve frontline staff was launched
in June 2007, in collaboration with the Hainan Forestry
Department. Forty applications were received and three
projects were supported: "Conservation of a rare fish
species in Hainan" by Jiaxin NR; "Impact of tourism
development on the habitat of Rhesus Macaque" by
Nanwan NR; and "Promoting advanced management for
nature reserves in Hainan" by Jianfengling NR. Training
courses on environmental education and community work
will be organized for other reserves. In addition staff from
two reserves will be supported to conduct biodiversity
surveys, and staff from two mangrove reserves will go on
an exchange visit to Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve in
Hong Kong.
Training at Yinggeling Co-organised by KFBG and Yinggeling Nature
Dr Boonratana specialises
in field surveys, reserve management and capacity building of reserve staff, and has run training workshops in
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam |
Reserve (NR) in Hainan, a "Patrolling and Monitoring
Management Workshop" for reserve staff ran from 11 to
21 December 2007. Aimed at enhancing the management
level of the reserve and improving the patrolling skills of
the staff, Dr Ramesh "Zimbo" Boonratana from Mahidol
University in Thailand was the invited trainer.
The workshop included both theory and practice.
Lectures attracted some 200 wardens from Yinggeling
NR and several dozen wardens from 24 other reserves in
Hainan. Zimbo briefed participants on the classification,
establishment and management of nature reserves around
the world, and the vital importance of the frontline
staff. The workshop covered the basic skills of making
and keeping records of wildlife signs, measuring trees,
using GPS and reading maps. Twenty-one participants
were selected to put theory into practice for five days
in Yinggeling's Nanfaling area. Participants enjoyed
the trainer's heroic style and sense of humour, while
Zimbo praised the wardens' proactive attitude and quick
learning, not to mention their cooking skills in a tough
environment. Human disturbance was still evident in the
forests and all their skills will be needed.
Lectures were given in a cinema at Baisha City, Hainan |
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Some 40 students from a rural primary school at Gaofeng and 10 more forest wardens to take part in the Yinggeling Nature
Reserve no-catch-zone activity. |
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In brief
Yinggeling residents start their own protected area
In January 2008 villagers in Daoyin, Nankai, Hainan
decided to establish a no-fishing zone adjacent to their
village, following the suggestion from Yinggeling NR and
KFBG staff. The decision followed initial work by KFBG
training villagers to build a pilot deep-litter bed pig raising
system and compost toilet, improving sanitation conditions
and nutrient recycling. Both of these, built with the aid of
interns from the James Yen Rural Reconstruction Institute
and Partnerships in Community Development (PCD), are
working well, and have fostered a mutual trust between
the NR, the village and KFBG. All parties now plan to
monitor changes in the fish population, in the hope the
no-catch zone will provide a win-win model for other
communities. A first celebratory event was held in May
to show the large fish to villagers, inviting school-children
and reporters.
Cuora yunnanensis : a true, truly endangered, species
For some time controversy has raged over the legitimacy of the Yunnan Box Turtle, following findings that some rare
"species" were really hybrids. In a KFBG-funded project Prof Rao Dingqi has succeeded in acquiring several captive turtles and one of them laid two eggs recently. Genetic analysis has shown Cuora yunnanensis to be a good species, albeit a highly threatened one. Fieldwork will resume in spring to try and find a wild population.
Keeping goats out of the forest
Greylay Goose |
Training on penned goat-keeping was organized for
farmers, livestock officials and Heifer China staff in the
Philippines in October-November 2007. Heifer China
aims to build a demonstration in Yunnan of the penned
goat system which is more environmentally friendly than
open browsing of fragile vegetation.
Black-faced Spoonbill numbers rise in Hainan
The latest Hainan Winter Waterbird Survey was conducted on 10-13 January 2008, visiting 12 wetland sites. Some 51 waterbird species were recorded. Highlights were a total of 93 Black-faced Spoonbills at two sites — a record, and almost 5% of the world population. Also found were 11 Greylay Goose (Anser anser): a new species for the Survey.
Personnel changes
Ms Gloria Siu left KFBG in February 2008. Though
mainly based in a different department (Flora Conservation),
Gloria contributed to the China Programme especially in
its early years, and her passion for orchids will be missed.
We wish her well in the future.
Mr Deng Weijie joined KFBG as a part-time consultant
from February. His great experience will help us
understand the complex socioeconomic situation
especially around Yinggeling NR, and help us identify
solutions that benefit people and biodiversity.
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