Yews are threatened across the globe by over-exploitation, as their barks, leaves, and trunk contain a compound ‘Taxol’ with proven cancer curing benefits. However, there is little data about wild yew populations and the sustainability of different harvesting methods, especially in Nepal. While the project purpose is to ensure the use of T. mairei in communities of Nepal is sustainable based on the current population, the project objectives are, 1) to estimate the wild population and access conservation status of T. mairei in Central Nepal, 2) to assess the sustainable harvesting methods of Taxus spp., and 3) to develop capacity-building programs to support the long term sustainable harvest and conservation of T. mairei by local communities. This project is the first of its kind that aims to estimate the wild population of T. mairei in Nepal including exploring the impacts of different harvesting techniques adopted by local communities.

Project partners: Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS) University of Oxford, Conservation Leadership Programme

Project period: 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019