During this reporting period, as much as 34 community members, VDC level stakeholders, and project staff were sensitized through the project?s VDC level introductory workshop. Similarly, more than 23 district level government agencies, civil society, media persons, and NGOs were able to understand the project?s goal, objectives and anticipated results through the district level workshop.

The project developed 13 local CBOs as local biodiversity ambassadors, enhanced their capacities and mobilized them in the agro-based biodiversity activities. Action plans of 12 CBOs were enforced following a series of discussion and interactions. More than 70% CBO members internalized the interrelationship between bio-diversity conservation and sustainable livelihood. Owing to this, the rate of wildlife poaching has decreased by 80% and human-wildlife conflicts by 60%.

The project supported to form Thada Biodiversity Conservation Committee as apex institution involving the representatives of all the CBOs and capacitated it. Considering students as agents of change, they were mobilised in environmental conservation activities by forming two eco-clubs.

The project facilitated to form /reform 23 CBOs using GESI approach introducing the fashion of formulating new CBOs and institutions based on the basic principle of GESI. Analysis revealed that 47% women are now represented in the CBOs and presence of Dalits and Janajati are 28% and 42% respectively.

People have now realized the benefits of solar, biogas and improved cooking stoves. Jasrame has turned into a ?Smoke free village? as 100% families (42 families) use ICS for cooking - seven families have shown interest in installing bio-gas. 47 families of Dohote village use solar energy for lighting.

The project facilitated to produce 8000 seedlings (fodder, grass, NTFPs, MAPs) to be planted in barren land, within community forest and public land, covering 67 ha of land (project?s villages). Survival rate of the seedlings is about 70% (the gaps will be fulfilled during this monsoon). The local youths have popularized "one house ten plants" slogan. Now 19 ha land is covered by fast growing fodder and grass.

All the 25 trained members of the cooperative training are now working as local resource persons for sustainable development in and around the project villages. The registration process in both villages is under process. People are confident that their cooperatives will foster economic activities within the village and benefit the poorest of the poor sections of the community.

Around 22 ha of land of 20 households have been used for planting onions and garlic in collaboration with a local farming group. Each of the participating family able to earn NRs 40000 to NRs 51000 during this reporting period. Technological and financial support needed for the farm is being partially provided by the program itself. The onion-garlic farming system has been made efficient with the help from experts of the Agriculture Service Center, Thada. More than 110 farmers in the project villages are benefitting from the turmeric and ginger seeds support programme.

20 households of Dohote have been assisted to build toilets so as to announce the area an ?open defecation free? zone. Also, Juthelno management - a drainage system to divert the waste water to kitchen garden is in place. Awareness on modern composting techniques and their implementation have improved quality supply of compost manure in the area.