Our project, "Wildfire Impact on Amphibians: A Community-Engaged Conservation Initiative in Nepal," is supported through the Targeted Amphibian Research and Action Program of the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), and partially funded by the Fonseca Species Conservation Fund of Re:wild and the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund. The project focuses on three focal amphibian species — the Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus), Annandale's Bush Frog (Raorchestes annandalii), and Swan's Burrowing Frog (Sphaerotheca swani) — which occupy distinct ecological niches and provide valuable insights into the impacts of wildfires across different amphibian habitats.
Among the project's most significant achievements has been the restoration of a historic breeding wetland for the Himalayan Salamander in Nayabazar, Ilam. Once a thriving breeding site, the wetland had been completely lost to siltation following a landslide more than a decade ago. Through a community-led restoration effort, the project successfully revived this critical habitat, giving one of Nepal's most threatened amphibians a renewed opportunity to breed and thrive.
The Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) is one of Nepal's most remarkable amphibians. Restricted to a narrow range in the eastern Himalaya of Nepal and adjoining India, it inhabits cool, marshy wetlands at mid-to-high elevations where adults migrate each breeding season to lay eggs.
The species is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with populations declining because of habitat loss, infrastructure development, pollution, and increasing human disturbance. Unlike widespread amphibians that can colonize new habitats, the Himalayan Salamander relies on a limited number of suitable breeding wetlands. Consequently, the loss of even a single breeding site can significantly reduce local population resilience.
Site Selection
The project team evaluated more than ten potential sites across the known range of the Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) in the districts of Ilam, Panchthar, Dhankuta, and Morang. Each site was assessed for habitat condition, restoration feasibility, historical records of salamander breeding, and community support through field surveys and consultations with local stakeholders.
Tarebhir Kalika Community Forest emerged as the most suitable site based on two key criteria. First, the wetland had well-documented historical importance as a breeding site for the Himalayan Salamander before it was degraded by siltation. Second, the Community Forest User Group (CFUG) demonstrated strong institutional commitment, having long recognized the species' decline and expressed a willingness to contribute labour, local knowledge, and long-term stewardship to the restoration and protection of the site.
Communities Bringing a Wetland Back to Life
The restoration effort relied on one essential ingredient: community participation.
Working alongside researchers, members of the Tarebhir Kalika Community Forest User Group and local residents came together to restore the historic breeding habitat. Rather than creating an artificial pond, the team focused on recovering the wetland's original ecological function.
Sediment that had accumulated over many years was carefully removed to recreate shallow breeding pools. Dense invasive and overgrown vegetation was cleared to allow sunlight to reach the water surface. Water flow within the marsh was restored to improve water quality and reduce stagnation, while retaining the natural characteristics of the wetland.
Every stage of the work was carried out with the active involvement of local people, whose knowledge of the site's history guided restoration decisions. Their participation transformed the project from a short-term intervention into a shared conservation effort with long-term local ownership.
Restoration Design and Implementation
The restoration was undertaken with formal approval from the Division Forest Office, Ilam, and implemented through a collaborative effort between the project team and the Tarebhir Kalika Community Forest User Group (CFUG). The intervention was designed with two complementary objectives: to restore a functional breeding habitat for the Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) and to create a permanent water source that could help suppress forest fires and maintain moisture in the surrounding forest. This integrated approach demonstrates how amphibian habitat restoration can also contribute to climate resilience and wildfire risk reduction.
Restoration work was completed over two consecutive days (16-17 April 2026) by 17 CFUG volunteers working alongside researchers from the Nepal Conservation and Research Center and the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, Nepal. To minimize environmental impacts, all construction materials were sourced locally and the restoration design retained the wetland's natural character.
The restoration activities included:
- Removing accumulated silt and dense vegetation that had buried the historic breeding wetland.
- Constructing a bamboo-and-sandbag retaining wall along the southern edge to stabilize the excavated substrate.
- Building a low earthen embankment reinforced with mud-filled sacks to retain water.
- Installing a 5-inch overflow pipe to regulate water levels and safely discharge excess water during the monsoon season.
Following restoration, the wetland measured approximately 30 × 20 feet (irregular in shape) with a maximum water depth of about 30 cm at its center, creating suitable shallow-water conditions for salamander breeding. A follow-up inspection one week later, undertaken by five CFUG volunteers, confirmed that the embankment remained stable, the overflow system was functioning effectively, and the restored wetland was retaining water as intended.
Community Engagement
Community engagement was central to the restoration effort. An on-site conservation workshop brought together 20 members of the Tarebhir Kalika Community Forest User Group (CFUG) to build local capacity for the long-term conservation of the Himalayan Salamander (Tylototriton himalayanus) and its habitat.
The workshop covered the salamander's conservation status, ecology, habitat requirements, and the impacts of forest fires on amphibians. Participants also learned about wetland restoration, community-based fire prevention, and practical actions to protect the restored breeding site. Educational posters, including Impact of Forest Fire on Local Wildlife and Mountain Frogs of Nepal, were presented and distributed to reinforce key messages beyond the workshop.
By combining habitat restoration with conservation education, the project fostered local ownership and equipped the CFUG with the knowledge needed to monitor, protect, and sustain the restored wetland for the future.
Post-Restoration Monitoring
A follow-up monitoring visit was conducted in early July 2026, approximately three months after restoration, with participation from volunteers from the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF-USA). The restored wetland showed rapid ecological recovery. Water depth had increased from approximately 30 cm to nearly 1 m (3 ft) following seasonal rainfall, and submerged and floating aquatic vegetation had begun to establish, providing early evidence of successful wetland regeneration.
Although no Himalayan Salamanders (Tylototriton himalayanus) were detected during the visit, the monitoring was conducted at 11:00 a.m., outside the species' peak activity period, making their absence unsurprising. Encouragingly, an active breeding chorus of Annandale's Bush Frog (Raorchestes annandalii) was recorded, indicating that the restored wetland was already supporting amphibian activity.
As the habitat continues to mature, the wetland is expected to benefit a diverse amphibian community, including Nanorana liebigii, Nanorana annandalii, Ombrana sikimensis, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, D. himalayanus, Polypedates himalayensis, and Zhangixalus smaragdinus, further enhancing its conservation value within the eastern Himalayan landscape.
A Shared Success
The recovery of this Himalayan Salamander breeding site is far more than a habitat restoration project. It is a testament to what can be achieved when local communities, researchers, conservation organizations, and international partners work toward a common goal.
A wetland that had remained functionally lost for more than a decade now has a second chance. With continued stewardship from the local community, it can once again support generations of Himalayan Salamanders. Sometimes, conservation is not about discovering new places to protect, it is about bringing forgotten places back to life.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank the Tarebhir Kalika Community Forest User Group (CFUG), especially its President Mr. Bikram Adhikari, and all CFUG members for their dedication, hard work, and long-term commitment to restoring and safeguarding this important Himalayan Salamander breeding habitat. Thanks to Abhishek Simkhada for joining the field survey to select an appropriate restoration site and coordinating CFUGs. We are grateful to the Division Forest Office, Ilam, for granting permission and supporting the restoration initiative.
We also extend our appreciation to the volunteers from the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF-USA) — Ashlynn, Jeff, Rajendra, Madi, Erin, and Alex — for their enthusiastic participation in post-restoration monitoring.
This restoration was made possible through the Targeted Amphibian Research and Action Program of the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), generously supported by the Fonseca Species Conservation Fund of Re:wild and the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, whose commitment to amphibian conservation continues to inspire and enable community-led conservation action in Nepal.