Call for White-bellied Heron research proposals

As a part of ongoing “White-bellied Heron Recovery Plan Project” RSPN would like to invite proposals from enthusiast researchers to carryout researches on various aspect of critically endangered White-bellied Heron across its habitat range. We welcome all proposals pertaining social, environmental and ecological aspects of White-bellied Heron. Best 7 small scale projects will be supported with maximum grant amount is Nu. 35,000, however we do consider additional fund depending on types of project.

For 2017, focused habitats are;

• Punatsangchu basin from Sunkosh, Tsirang till Lhamoizhingkha (Kalikhola) Dagana
• Mangdechu basin from Tingtibi till Panbang or Manas region
• Dragmechu basin Trashiyantse and Tashigang region
• Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary
• Serichu Basin Mongar.

Please kindly submit your proposal in RSPN format at ipacharja@rspnbhutan.org

Last date for submission of proposal is 31st October, 2016 by 5:00 PM

For any inquiries please contact; Rebecca Pradhan, Ecologist or Indra Prasad Acharja, Project Officer, at 02-322056

We also like to inform all interested researchers that following researches has been already done in the past, we encourage looking into different aspects.

1. Assessment of local people’s awareness and perception on threats to White-Bellied Heron Ardea insignis (hume) along Punatsangchu: impact of awareness programmes.
2. Land use change effect on habitat and white-bellied heron population by hydropower project along Punatshangchu.
3. Vegetation structure and species composition in nesting and roosting habitats of white-bellied heron along the Phochu River.
4. Influence of forest fire frequency on nest-site selection and nest-use by White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis hume) at Athang gewog under Wangdiphodrang dzongkhag
5. Vegetation structure and composition of forests along the dry slopes of Burichu, Punatshangchu valley- a nesting site for critically endangered White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis)
6. Assessment of Forest fire impacts on White-Bellied Heron Habitats along Bertichu, Zhemgang Dzongkhag.
7. Habitat preference by White Bellied Heron along Bertichu, Zhemgang dzongkhag
8. Feeding frequency and dietary composition of white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) along the Punatshangchu basin
9. Population and Distribution of White-bellied Heron in Bhutan, 2013.