TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PREPARATION OF RIVER STRETCH CO-MANAGEMENT PLAN AND FISH SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN IN LOWER KARNALI

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR

PREPARATION OF RIVER STRETCH CO-MANAGEMENT PLAN AND FISH SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN IN LOWER KARNALI

1. Background

The Lower Karnali Watershed covers 747 km2 in Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape. Rich in aquatic biodiversity, it harbors 136 fish species and provides ecosystem services for local communities. The watershed provides a rich mosaic of habitats that includes rivers, riverine forests, floodplain grasslands and oxbow lakes which is suitable for a large number of fish species and provides habitat for many IUCN Red List species such as Gharial Crocodile (critically endangered), Mugger Crocodile (vulnerable), Gangetic River Dolphin (endangered) and Smooth-Coated Otter (vulnerable). Considering its significance, the Government of Nepal prioritized the western channel of Karnali River as an ecological corridor and the eastern channel is included in Bardia National Park buffer zone.

Otter species are an ecological indicator of healthy aquatic ecosystems and protected by the amended Aquatic Animal Protection Act 2002 of the Government of Nepal. However, declining fish diversity and abundance due to overfishing and habitat disturbance caused by intensive river aggregates extraction threaten the health of the river ecosystem and declining smooth-coated otter populations. Limited research on their distribution hampers development of an effective national otter conservation strategy.

Illegal and unsustainable fishing is prevalent in western channels of Karnali River due to interlinked drivers- limited capacity to enforce fisheries regulations and insufficient fisheries management procedures. Unregulated river aggregates extraction has rapidly increased in the western belt of the Karnali. Local governments lack the capacity to ensure sustainable extraction and contractors extract aggregates without following environmental mitigation plans required by Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) reports. Weak compliance and monitoring mechanisms from local governments allow degradation of river systems and otter habitat, destroying vegetation and fish spawning sites. 

This has caused a sharp decline in fish diversity and abundance, threatening the traditional livelihoods and food security of indigenous and marginalized Sonaha and Tharu communities (targeted project participants). In the project intervention sites, there are around 61,125 Tharu and Sonaha people (Tharu: 59925 and Sonaha: 1200). Sonaha are an indigenous group, not legally or formally recognized by the Nepalese Government and incorrectly categorized under the indigenous Tharu group. Since ancestral times, Sonaha have practiced gold panning in the lower Karnali River, and fishing is their customary practice. Sonaha depends on fishing for subsistence while Tharus depend on fishing primarily for commercial purposes (fishing is an important component of their traditions). 

To address these threats, Sonaha Bikash Samaj (SBS) has been implementing a project entitled “Strengthening Communities’ Livelihood and Stewardship to Conserve Otter in Karnali” in coordination with WWF and with financial support from UK Government through Darwin Initiative. This task is to prepare community river stretch management plans and fish sanctuary management plan in close coordination with respective local governments and indigenous peoples and local communities.

2. Objective

The two primary objectives of the research are:

• To prepare river stretch management plans,
• To develop scientific and community integrated fish sanctuary management plans to address the conservation of fish species and their habitat 
• To create a monitoring and evaluating framework for the effectiveness of the management plan

3. Methodology

Literature Review: Pertinent scientific articles, reports, other management plans, plans, policies and other publications related to river stretch management plans and fish sanctuary shall be collated and reviewed.

Consultation/Interaction/Meetings: A series of interaction programs, including workshops and meetings, shall be conducted with the community, relevant government and non-government organizations, experts, academia, the forest user groups, the Division Forest Office, and local communities. These interactions may occur together or separately, as needed, to enhance understanding of the river stretch management plans and the associated biodiversity, as well as to discuss their interactions, threats to the fish sanctuary, and the actions required to address these threats. The draft management plan will then be presented to stakeholders for their final comments and approval.

Field investigation: The plan must address all issues related to the Lower Karnali corridor, it should be visited by an interdisciplinary team that includes, but is not limited to, an ecologist, fish expert, sociologist and hydrologist. The team shall gather all relevant facts, figures, and information from the field.

Draft management plan: Develop 15 river stretch management plans that incorporate sustainable fishing guidelines, informed by baseline assessments of fish abundance and otter occupancy. This process should be conducted in coordination with local government representatives (including the environment focal point and members of municipal environmental committees) and community groups (such as community river stretch management groups, community forest user groups, buffer zone user groups, and water user groups).

Note: Prepare 15 river stretch management plans for the 15 Community River Stretch Management Groups (CRSMGs), specifically from Lamkichuha-3, Balchaur Kailali, to Rajapur-4, Chhediya, Bardiya.

Fish Sanctuary Management Plan: Develop a management plan for the designated fish sanctuary site, conduct a brief environmental study, and establish a management committee. This committee will submit the plan for approval to the local government. 

The proposed sites are:

Final sharing meeting: The final draft management plan shall then be shared with experts and relevant stakeholders at local/provincial/central level. Comments/suggestions received from the experts shall be incorporated in the final plan. The completed plans will be submitted to local governments for approval and endorsement.

4. Time Frame and Schedule

A maximum of 2.5 months (the whole process will be completed not longer than 15 March 2025) is estimated for this work considering the required field visits.

5. Deliverables

• A detailed 15 river stretch management plans.
• Collection of all relevant literature and database including all citations.
• Digital photographs of meetings/workshops.
• Fish sanctuary management plan.
• Financial report with supporting invoices.

6. Team Composition and Qualification and competency

The team should comprise of but not be limited to river stretch management plan and in land fisheries expert, NRM expert and sociologist.

Team Composition

1. Team Leader: Fish expert with river stretch management, sound knowledge on aquatic bio-diversity and ecosystem services

Qualification and competency of Team Leader

• At least Masters’ Degree in river science, aquatic ecology, environment science, forestry, natural resources management, related discipline 
• At least 10 years of proven track record of community based natural resources management/ river/ wetland management and conservation 
• Experienced on preparing community river stretch management plans
• Should have knowledge on fish sanctuary and aquatic bio-diversity
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent reporting and writing skills in English

2. NRM /NRM planning expert with sound working knowledge of river stretch management in Nepal

Qualification and competency of NRM expert

• Master’s Degree in forestry/ environment science/ natural resources management/ IWRM or related discipline
• At least 7 years of working experience in conservation sectors
• Should have knowledge on river stretch management
• Strong analytical skills
• Knowledge on fish sanctuary values will be added advantage

3. Sociologist/Gender and Social Inclusion expert

Qualification and competency of Sociologist

• Master’s Degree in sociology/ gender/ environment science/ natural resources management/ IWRM or related discipline
• At least 5 years of working experience in gender and social inclusion in natural resources management sector 
• Should have knowledge on environment and social safeguard
• Strong analytical skills
• Knowledge on fish sanctuary values will be added advantage

4. Policy expert with knowledge of environmental laws and regulation

Qualification of Policy expert:

• Master’s degree in Environmental Policy, Law or related field
• At least 3 years of experience in environmental policy or regulatory affairs
• Proven experience working with government agencies and NGOs

5. GIS analyst with experience in environmental data management and analysis with proficiency in Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial analysis.

Qualification of GIS specialist/Environmental analyst:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in GIS applications in environmental contexts
• Familiarity with remote sensing and ecological modeling tools

5. Budget 

Interested VAT registered individuals/organizations should submit a financial proposal that includes a detailed breakdown of total activities and budget: Expert fee, meeting cost, travel cost, communication costs and other cost, if any. (including of 13% VAT.)

6. Consultant Selection Process

Consultant will be selected based on the technical and financial proposals, following SBS Nepal’s standard procedure for procuring consultancy services.

7. Proposal Submission Details

Interested VAT registered individuals /organizations are requested to submit technical and financial proposals via email by 30 December 2024.

i. Mode of Payment

The payment will be made as per Sonaha Bikash Samaj norms and upon submissions of satisfactory deliverables. Note that payments are subject to tax deduction as per prevailing government rules. 

Annex 1: The financial proposal should be submitted along with:

1. Organization Registration, and latest renewal - applicable to NGO
2. VAT registration certificate
3. Latest tax clearance certificate (for private company)
4. Registration with Social Welfare Council for I/NGO 
5. Tax Exemption Certificate, if applicable
6. Latest curriculum vitae/s of all Experts
7. Authorization letter from the current employer, if working

Note:

While submitting the proposal through email, please keep sbsbardiya@gmail.com in the email loop