Nepal has been relatively successful in conserving its wildlife by pioneering innovative approaches to conservation, such as benefit sharing in protected area buffer zones and landscape-level conservation approaches. However, compared to other areas of Nepal, the biodiversity of the southeast has received less attention, both in terms of research and conservation. The objective of this study was to use local knowledge as an indicator of wildlife presence and abundance across the forests of southeastern Nepal. Based on 114 focus group discussions with communities in eleven districts between March 2014 and January 2015, we identify potential wildlife hotspots, areas with more prey species to support tiger, areas of species loss, and areas with species of special interest (endangered and data deficient). Our results provide the contours for further study of the presence and distribution of wildlife across the eleven districts. For example, our results suggest that forests in the middle of the study area have higher levels of wildlife diversity, prey species for tiger, and species of interest, while the eastern side of the study area shows more species loss. We do not suggest that these results are an accurate or reliable representation of mammal diversity in southeastern Nepal. However, they can help to prioritize areas for conservation and for further research, as well as build a foundation for working with local communities to conserve wildlife of southeastern Nepal.

中文翻译：

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利用社区知识确定尼泊尔东南部哺乳动物多样性的潜在热点

尼泊尔在保护野生生物方面取得了较大成功，它率先采用了创新性的保护方法，例如在保护区缓冲区和景观一级的保护方法中分享利益。但是，与尼泊尔其他地区相比，东南部地区的生物多样性在研究和保护方面都受到较少的关注。这项研究的目的是利用当地知识作为尼泊尔东南部森林中野生动植物的存在和丰富度的指标。根据2014年3月至2015年1月与11个地区的社区进行的114个焦点小组讨论，我们确定了潜在的野生动植物热点，支持虎类的猎物种类更多，物种损失的地区以及特别关注的物种（濒危和数据不足的地区） ）。我们的结果为进一步研究11个地区野生生物的存在和分布提供了轮廓。例如，我们的结果表明，研究区中部的森林具有较高的野生动植物多样性，老虎的猎物和感兴趣的物种，而研究区的东部则显示出更多的物种流失。我们不建议这些结果是尼泊尔东南部哺乳动物多样性的准确或可靠代表。但是，它们可以帮助确定保护区的优先级和进行进一步研究，并为与当地社区合作保护尼泊尔东南部野生动植物奠定基础。我们的研究结果表明，研究区中部的森林具有较高的野生生物多样性，老虎的猎物和感兴趣的物种，而研究区的东部则显示出更多的物种流失。我们不建议这些结果是尼泊尔东南部哺乳动物多样性的准确或可靠代表。但是，它们可以帮助确定保护区的优先级和进行进一步研究，并为与当地社区合作保护尼泊尔东南部野生动植物奠定基础。我们的研究结果表明，研究区中部的森林具有较高的野生生物多样性，老虎的猎物和感兴趣的物种，而研究区的东部则显示出更多的物种流失。我们不建议这些结果是尼泊尔东南部哺乳动物多样性的准确或可靠代表。但是，它们可以帮助确定保护区的优先级和进行进一步研究，并为与当地社区合作保护尼泊尔东南部野生动植物奠定基础。