BUDHA Prem Bahadur, Nepal
Abstract
In terms of biological diversity, the Himalayan region is one of the world's richest ecosystems and has been identified as a "biodiversity hotspot." Nepal is located in the center of the Himalayas and it is a transitional zone between the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan biogeographical regions. Thus, flora and fauna of these two regions overlaps in Nepal resulting an unique and rich biodiversity in the world, however, many taxonomic groups are yet to be discovered.
Inadequate data and information management is regarded as a biodiversity conservation threat by Nepal's biodiversity strategy plan. Databases on molluscs in this region exists only for Eastern Himalayan (Assam, Darjeeling, Arunachal, Meghalaya, and Burma) and Western Himalaya species (Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Gahrwal) exluding Nepal. Reports from these areas show that the Himalayan region contains 94.6% and 47.9% endemic terrestrial and freshwater molluscs respectively. But taxonomic work remains to be done in Nepal due to lack of trained nationals. We can expect numerous new species species from many unexplored microhabitats within the extreme altitudinal gradient (60 to 8848 masl) in a country that is on average only 193 km wide).
Training location : Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels.
Gained personal capacity: In a recent survey Mr BUDHA acknowledged that the training he received in Belgium began his taxonomic career on Nepalese mollusks and that it allowed him to continue his studies. His taxon specific tutor, Dr Th. BACKELJAU of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and professor at the University of Antwerpen, now (jointly wth Dr F NAGGS of the Natural History Museum in London) supervises his PhD. Mr BUDHA was also one of the main contributors to the Darwin Initiative Project 15/018 (Developing land snail expertise in South and Southeast Asia), which ended in October 2009.
Prem also participated in the World Congress of Malacology (WCM) held in Antwerpen (Belgium) from15 to 20 July 2007 where his poster was awarded the WCM-Award of the King LEOPOLD III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation.
Gained institutional capacity: Mr BUDHA is involved in teaching at Tribhuvan University, Nepal, which allows him to pass his gained knowledge to junior students. He is also improving the museum of the Zoology Department by depositing type specimens in its collection. Prem also continues his work for the Center for Biological Conservation Nepal (BCCN) which is a non profit making research organization in natural sciences that is registered under the government.
Selected Output
After completing his GTI training, Mr BUDHA effectuated a series of field trips to collect samples from different parts of Nepal. Many of the collected species of snails and slugs taxa are to be considered new to science. Their formal description will soon be available in a series of scientific publications.
The following scientific papers of his hand have already appeared:
Budha, P.B. 2005. Nepalese malacology trails behind. "Catch up!". Himalayan Journal of Sciences 3: 9-10
Budha, P.B. & Naggs, F. The Giant African Land Snail Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich) in Nepal. The Malacologist 50
Documenting the rich, but underestimated, molluscs of Nepal.
