Stakeholders have urged a coordinated and inclusive approach to conserve the Mountain Torrent frog in Nepal, highlighting the importance of collaboration among local communities, local governments and conservation agencies.
The call was made during a workshop organized by the Environment Protection and Study Center (ENPROSC) at Baneshwor, Kathmandu to share the findings of the project titled “Promoting Conservation of Mountain Torrent Frogs.”
Project team members, representatives of national and international conservation organizations, researchers, students and journalists from various media houses participated in the program.
Mountain Torrent frog (Amolops mahabharatensis) is a newly described species, first reported in 2020 by herpetologist Janak Khatiwada from the Hattibang area of Ichhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan district.
Despite being newly identified, the species is already listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Dr Khatiwada has reported rampant exploitation of the species in its native habitat.
The species faces growing pressure due to collection for consumption, prompting the project’s focus on awareness and behavior change among local communities and youth.
Prabin Lama, secretary of ENPROSC and a project team member, said the project succeeded in delivering conservation messages to local communities.
He noted that many residents became aware of frog conservation efforts through school-based programs.
Paudel added that several students expressed willingness to stop consuming amphibians and promote conservation messages within their families.
Participants at the workshop stressed the need to sustain eco-clubs beyond the project period and called for stronger coordination with local governments to integrate conservation concerns into local policies.
The workshop was chaired by ENPROSC president Narayan Niraula, who said the project was an extension of Croaking Monsoon, a citizen science initiative of ENPROSC focused on studying and conserving frogs in Nepal.
The project was carried out with the financial support of Stiftung-Artenschutz, a German conservation foundation.
