Speaking of National Conservation Day, we are reminded of the conservationists who died in a helicopter crash at Ghunsa in Taplejung in 2006. Twenty-four people were killed in that heartbreaking accident.
The nation will not be able to get its compensation even for years. It may be recalled that in the accident, senior staff of the World Wildlife Fund, forest ministers and representatives of donor agencies, media persons, local conservationists and foreign guests were killed unexpectedly.
To commemorate the contribution of the deceased conservationists in the same accident, the National Conservation Day has been celebrated at the joint initiative of the National Wildlife Department, Forest Department and other national and international non-governmental organizations led by the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal.
Confused role and accountability
Even after the promulgation of the new constitution in Nepal, there is a situation where elected people’s representatives have been established in various levels of government, local, state and federal governments and democratic republicanism is being practiced.
This naturally leads to a discussion on the distribution of rights over biodiversity and natural resources, benefits and opportunities, and the managerial challenges arising from them, especially on wildlife conservation and its sustainable management, as well as who has the necessary accountability at various levels.
Because of the various wildlife conservation policies formulated at the central level, It is important to be clear about the strategies and the extent to which the local and state governments are accountable to the state bodies and local bodies that follow them.
The Local Bodies Operation Guideline 2074 and the constitutional rights granted to local bodies, including the extent to which local bodies exist, will be a management challenge rather than a tourist opportunity for local bodies, especially biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
Yes, such confusion is seen in the local body and community forest, intermediate forest management officials. In this context, I asked here whether wildlife conservation is a challenge or an opportunity for local bodies. I have tried to consider that. I look forward to your feedback in this regard. Intermediate forest management officials are seen.
In this context, I asked here whether wildlife conservation is a challenge or an opportunity for local bodies. I have tried to consider that. I look forward to your feedback in this regard.
Provisions related to legal and statutory structure
Pursuant to Article 56 of the Constitution of Nepal 2073 BS, the basic structure of the state of Nepal has been determined to be three tiers of central, state and local. In this context, it is clear what the responsibilities of the National Parks and Intermediate Zones will be towards the local, state and central governments.
However, other questions and challenges remain unanswered. It is unclear whether any full or partial liability will be borne by the community, intermediate or confessional forests under the local body or the national park under the central government if any risk is posed by the wildlife roaming the community forest and confessional forest through the national forest or biological route.
While the constitutional system allows national parks to remain under the central government and community, Intermediate and concessional forests have been arranged to be within the jurisdiction of local bodies. The nature of the wildlife, the area in which it roams, its survival bases are spread to more than one local body, the state.
According to the political structure of the state, 156 of the divided local bodies fall in the Terai perimeter area alone, including 2 metropolitan cities, 7 sub-metropolitan cities, 57 municipalities and 90 village municipalities.
The Terai landscape includes five national parks and intermediate areas, as well as other important biological routes and national and community forests. These areas are home to important ecosystems, wetland Ghodaghodi Lake, Bisahjari Lake, Jagdishpur Reservoir and biological routes, which are very important in terms of wildlife habitat and reproduction.
Most biologically, community, Intermediate and concessional forests fall under the jurisdiction of local bodies. This raises questions about the survival of wildlife in areas outside the park’s jurisdiction, as well as the protection of the affected community’s right to live in a healthy and safe environment, and who and how is responsible for managing human-wildlife conflict.
According to the current structure, there will be only civilian police in the local bodies and the national army, which has been playing an important role in wildlife conservation, will be under the jurisdiction of the central government.
Similarly, to what extent the central, state or local bodies have the right to the tourism income generation opportunities from the conservation of wildlife biodiversity, If the revenue of the park is to be raised by the central government, it seems necessary to be more clear on whether the central government will be responsible for the local level human-wildlife conflict.
It needs to be clarified that 50 percent of the park’s current income is being managed through local bodies or through the Intermediate Zone Management Committee. Exercising the powers vested in them now, local bodies will be able to collect and use additional tourism charges from tourism entrepreneurs in the intermediate zone and around the park as their source of income.
On the other hand, the possibility of such double charges is likely to make the tourism business more risky and costly due to double taxation. Similarly, the question of how to distribute income and manage risk is still unanswered when the same intermediate zone is expanded and divided on the border of two bodies.
Increasing poaching and smuggling of wildlife parts
Similarly, wildlife has been found unsafe in the area as it is easy for poachers and wildlife smugglers to hunt illegally when the rare wild animals come out of their habitat, especially when they come out of the park.
The environment is becoming more conducive to wildlife smugglers and poachers due to the irresponsible political situation towards liquid and conservation work, lakdaun due to corona infection and limited youth mobilization activities against poaching by local bodies, community forests, intermediate forests.
The recent seizure of skins, skins and bones of red pandas, squirrels and goldfish caught in places including Jajarkot, Myagdi and Ilam, Sindhupalchowk Gorkha District has protected the activities of wildlife smugglers in the protected area. It seems to be concentrated outside the park and intermediate areas.
Naturally, there are no security patrols. There is no anti-poaching program or network activity and local bodies and their elected representatives are embroiled in political squabbles and inter-party squabbles and the people of the community have limited knowledge of the ecosystem, environment and habitat of these invaluable endangered species.
Smugglers are also taking advantage of the liquid situation due to lack of identification. The recent incident in Jajarkot has confirmed the involvement of the elected representatives. This shows how the network of poachers and smugglers is spreading. Where there is no security patrol.
There is no anti-poaching program or network activity and local bodies and their elected representatives are embroiled in political squabbles and inter-party squabbles and the people of the community have limited knowledge of the ecosystem, environment and habitat of these invaluable endangered species.
Smugglers are also taking advantage of the liquid situation due to lack of identification. The recent incident in Jajarkot has confirmed the involvement of the elected representatives. This shows how the network of poachers and smugglers is spreading. Where there is no security patrol.
Growing conflict between human and wildlife
In recent times, wildlife attacks have been on the rise. Especially when the people of the community go to the community and intermediate forests for grass, firewood, sawdust, sottar etc. for subsistence livelihood and from among those forests on their way to another village, service center, market school, animals like elephant, tiger, leopard, bandel are attacked and injured.
The incident is also coming to Sunin. Due to the increasing number of wildlife and limited suitable habitat, wildlife in search of food, migration, feeding on nearby protected forests as well as local farms, barns, Incidents of retaliation against wildlife due to harmful activities are on the rise.
Similarly, the recent death of three people in a house in Bardiya due to an electrical trap set for wildlife indicates that the affected locals are becoming indifferent to conservation due to the increasing conflict between human and wildlife and favorable opportunities for smugglers and revenge against wildlife.
In this situation, it has become imperative for the local bodies to pay attention to the environment of wildlife conservation in its perimeter area as well as its conflict management and poaching control.
Possible Opportunities
The rights to operate local bodies as provided in the current constitution clearly state the rights of the local level in relation to forests, wildlife, birds, water use, environment, environment and biodiversity.
It has 23 different points related to the implementation and regulation of related local policies, laws, standards, plans. Of these, points 3 and 11 are especially important. This does not seem to be an obstacle for the local body to promote tourism and employment at the local level by maintaining the quality of wildlife and its food and habitat.
As mentioned in point 3, community, confessional and religious forest management under the intermediate zone and as mentioned in point 11, non-governmental organizations with local bodies in human-wildlife conflict management, The potential for partnerships with civil society and the private sector seems to have increased. Similarly, Article 57 (4), (5), 221 (2), 226, states that local bodies can enact and enforce laws within their jurisdiction without conflicting with federal and state laws.
It seems to be easy to do. Taking advantage of this statutory opportunity, local bodies can mobilize local youth groups in the community, intermediate and confessional forest areas under their jurisdiction.
Illegal poaching resistance groups operated by non-governmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservation Fund, The security guards of community forests and intermediate forests, i.e. foresters, have been brought through the thematic committee under their municipality and some suitable facilities and opportunities have been provided to them as incentives to contribute to the conservation work.
This opportunity can also be a suitable opportunity for local body representatives and political activists to win the hearts of the locals. These activities and the established provisions of these local bodies are likely to have a long-term positive impact on the conservation of rare wildlife.
Until now, these activities have been said to be the responsibility of the park, intermediate zone and forest administration, but now this sub-section has also ensured the right of local bodies to manage human-wildlife conflict, which is a great opportunity for community, private, non-governmental sector and local bodies.
Similarly confessional forest, community, religious, It has been said that the policy law will be implemented and regulated in relation to intermediate and private forests without conflicting with the central law.
For this, various committees can be formed under the municipality and a separate sub-committee can be formed to look after the management of natural resources, agriculture, wildlife conservation under the forest committee, poaching and human wildlife management and conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources.
Wildlife and natural resources can be protected and managed by forming a separate sub-committee to look after poaching and human wildlife management. Similarly, it has been clarified that tree planting, forest and greenery enhancement and protection will be done on roadsides, rivers, vacant lands, barns etc.
This will, to some extent, help to diversify the community’s pressure on wildlife habitat. Wildlife and natural resources can be protected and managed by forming a separate sub-committee to look after poaching and human wildlife management.
Similarly, it has been clarified that tree planting, forest and greenery enhancement and protection will be done on roadsides, rivers, vacant lands, barns etc. This will, to some extent, help to diversify the community’s pressure on wildlife habitat.
Long Term Solution
The current question for wildlife conservation is how to manage the wildlife within the Terai landscape, the quality ecosystem required for it, how to manage human-wildlife conflict at the local level along with food and security, and whether there is technical capacity to manage at the local level. Looking at the livelihoods of the people living around national parks, biological routes and national, intermediate and other community forests, most of them are subsistence based on forest, tourism, agriculture, animal husbandry and wages.
Therefore, the legal rights that exist among all service providers and stakeholders, including the current local bodies, to protect and manage the growing human-wildlife conflict, the grievances of the affected classes and their right to live in safety, It is very important to end the confusion of duties and responsibilities. This is how national strategies and plans for wildlife conservation can be incorporated into local body action plans.
Rising wildlife numbers, limited and declining habitats, migration out of habitat in search of food, and the growing of wildlife in national and community forests outside parks and intermediate zones are adding to their conservation challenges. Opportunities have also been provided to local bodies.
For sustainable solutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in conservation should expand their activities beyond parks and intermediate areas to coordinate local bodies and strengthen the network against poaching, income generation, By identifying tourism-related livelihood opportunities and incorporating them into the local body’s periodic and annual thematic plans, its responsibilities can be discharged; The statutory provision of which has been clearly mentioned by the local body operation 2074 as mentioned above.
This requires a one-stage intensive interaction between the concerned provincial government and local government stakeholders, service providers, civil society and the affected sections.
Otherwise, there will be confusion as to which body or community has the role or responsibility to formulate the plan in the traditional style. This can have a long-term impact on the survival of the affected class and other wildlife, including tigers and rhinos.
Therefore, as mentioned above, elected local body officials, intermediate zone, community, confessional and religious forest user committee officials, concerned national park officials, In-depth discussions and interactions are required at the local level between representatives of the provincial government, representatives of the affected classes, local stakeholders and civil society representatives.
This will eliminate the legal dilemma between them regarding their responsibilities, jurisdiction and duties and will help in the sustainable conservation and livelihood of the wildlife.