Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas : Conservation Through Dialogue : Summary Reports of Workshops on Biodiversity Conservation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Ecoregion

Contents: Foreword. Editorial preface. Abstract. Executive summary. I. Conservation of Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain ecosystems and sustainable development: 1. Participatory biodiversity conservation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan ecoregion – towards participatory conservation and development. 2. Conservation of mountain ecosystems: a people and management model plan for nature reserves – a case study of Pidaung Wildlife Sanctuary. 3. The characteristics of biodiversity in the grand canyon of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the Eastern Himalayas. 4. An introduction to the biodiversity of a mountain ecoregion. II. A study on Hkakaborazi National Park of North Myanmar: 1. NGO collaboration in the development of Hkakaborazi National Park in Northern Myanmar. 2. Vegetation and key floristic features of Hkakaborazi National Park. 3. An introduction to native orchids of Myanmar in the Hkakaborazi area. 4. Endemic species and new records of orchids in Hkakaborazi and surrounding areas. 5. Rhododendrons endemic to Myanmar’s snow-capped mountain region. 6. Current status and threats to the survival of large mammals in North Myanmar. 7. Birds recently sighted in Hkakaborazi region, Northern Myanmar. 8. Socioeconomic and cultural conditions of ethnic communities in Hkakaborazi National Park. 9. Ecotourism prospects and management: issues in Hkakaborazi National Park. 10. Integration of community-based conservation approaches to wildlife and forest laws — emerging legislation and policies in neighbouring countries. 11. ‘Sub-regional consultation in conservation of Hkakaborazi mountain ecosystems in Eastern Himalayas’, Putao of Kachin State, Myanmar. III. Management model plan for Pidaung Wildlife Sanctuary, Myitkyina of Myanmar: 1. The assessment and evaluation of conservation value for Pidaung Wildlife Sanctuary. 2. The technical approach to model management for Pidaung Wildlife Sanctuary. 3. List of rare, vulnerable and endangered species of wild flora and fauna endemic to Kachin state. 4. Extended abstracts of selected papers. 5. ‘Preparing a model management plan for Pidaung Wildlife Sanctuary’ Myitkyina, Kachin State, Myanmar, workshop report. IV. Report of collaboration on and integrated management of mountain ecosystems in Hongqiang, Chuxiong, Yunnan Province of China: 1. Report of collaboration on and integrated management of mountain ecosystems in Hongqiang, Chuxiong, Yunnan Province of China.

From the foreword: "Nature blooms, sings, crawls and prances in abundance in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH). Successions of forests adorn its valleys and flanks – from the tropical hardwoods to an astounding array of rhododendrons in alpine splendour. Tigers prowl at lower reaches while snow leopards mark their territories across high elevations. Giant pandas and small red pandas live on the rich variety of bamboo species. The world’s greatest variation in altitudes combined with meteorological and geological convergences have created some of the world’s richest and most beautiful biological diversity in the Eastern Himalayan region.

This wealth of biodiversity has helped support a rich diversity of human cultures and spurred the development of vast storehouses of indigenous knowledge on the use and care of nature’s products. This has led to the identification, modification and cultivation of a variety of plants and animals, which help feed and keep healthy populations around the world. Himalayan biodiversity also provides ecosystem services within and below the mountains in the regulation of climate and water regimes, the safeguarding of present and future genetic assets, and the glorification of mountain, rivers, lakes, and caves held sacred."