Landscape level conservation could promote a special category of protected areas.

Personal Authors: Khatri, T. B., Sigdel, E. R.Author Affiliation: Editors: No editorsDocument

Title: Banko JanakariAbstract:

Nepal's commitment to biodiversity is clearly reflected with the creation of an impressive network of protected area system. However, the protected areas are now turning out to be an island in the midst of human dominated landscapes. Therefore, an approach that seeks to reconcile the needs and aspirations of people without jeopardizing the conservation ethics turns out to be the most pragmatic approach to conservation. Biologists, economists, sociologists and conservationists have now realized that conservation cannot happen in isolation and a growing number of conservationists have chosen this moderate path that benefits both communities and supports development. This convergence approach of viewing conservation in unison among different stakeholders shows a significant departure from the conventional way of insular approach.

Landscape level conservation is not new to Nepal, as many successful lessons have been learnt through our experience in community forestry, conservation areas and buffer zone programme. Development of biodiversity landscape through a holistic and integrated approach by incorporating all the ingredients of a landscape namely; national parks, reserves, conservation areas, buffer zones, national forests, community forests, farmlands, wetlands with supportive policy regimes and plans would pave the way towards achieving the landscape level conservation.Publisher: Department of Forest Research and Survey (DFRS)