New Hope for Encroachment Minimization

Ek Raj Sigdel
Kailali District is endowed with rich biodiversity resources. However, the valuable properties are facing unprecedented challenges for their survival. The ever increasing population pressure followed by unplanned settlement has aggravated the problem of deforestation and degradation in Kailali. Because of this the prime habitat of globally endangered wildlife species including tiger, elephants and rhinoceros are disturbed heavily. On the other hand, in the absence of easy access of food, and security situations the lifestyles of the real poor who infringe the forests resources for settlement and cultivation are leading towards more miserable livelihood. Therefore, finding an amicable solution that contributes to biodiversity conservation and supports to uplift the socio-economic condition of the real poor is the need of the hour.

Kailali district located between Bardia National Park in the east, Laljhadi and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in the west, and Dudhuwa National Park of India in the south is considered as a store house of biodiversity resources. The big chunks of Kailali forests like Basanta, Bhadtal and Baraban provides dispersal habitat for the globally endangered wildlife species. Likewise, Ghodaghodi Lake, a Ramsar Site in Kailali houses many migratory bird, tortoise and fish species. In addition, the fragile Chure that covers more than 40% of the total of 200,000 hectare forest land of Kailali deserves high watershed value which supports livelihood of the entire Kailali communities.

Forest encroachment for cultivation and settlement expansion is common in Kailali District. To date, some 30,000 households encroaches 19,443 hectare forests land of Kailali. Many of the encroachment are being done in the name of landless people, freed bonded labors, and flood victimized communities. Many of these infringe lands are located in the high biodiversity value areas, like Basanta Corridor, Bhadtal Jungle, Chure foothills, and around Ghodaghiodi Lake. Because of the growing human pressure the prime habitats of the wildlife species are fragmented and it resulted in disintegration of the wildlife populations. If the encroachment issues are not addressed timely then the very resources will be loss for forever from the Kailali Forests. On the other hand, the condition of poor will be further deteriorated.

A solution that contributes to biodiversity conservation and diversifies the livelihood opportunities of local community is necessary. Two pronged strategies should be adopted timely. Firstly, the corridor and connectivity settlements are to be evacuated as soon as possible. In the mean time, the genuine poor should be identified and compensated fairly. Secondly, the government in consultation with central to field level stakeholders should promulgate land use policies that discourage settlement, at least in high biodiversity conservation value areas.

The District Forest Office staff members should be made more resourceful in terms of knowledge, skills and equipment. Community forest user groups and their federations should be oriented to discourage encroachers in high biodiversity values forests. It is interesting to note that the district level political parties of Kailali are reiterating their commitment for discouraging encroachment in the high conservation value areas through making frequent appeal and joint field monitoring visits. They are equally concerned about the well being of the poor people, specially freed bonded labors who have attachment with forest resources since immemorial times.

The recent decision of Kailali District Forest Coordination Committee (DFCC) meeting to form a special task force to evacuate encroached settlement of Kailali is an upper level commitment of political parties and stakeholders towards conserving biodiversity resources of this district. The committee represents District Forest Office, Police Office, Chief District Office and local stakeholders. The committee is also planning to work with District Freed Bonded Labor (Kamaiya) Management Commission (DFBLMC) mainly to address the issue of freed bonded labors, poor and marginalized communities.

Now, it can be hoped that if the political commitment is really translated into action and community forest and their association supports whole heartedly to the mission of encroachment evacuation, and DFO staff are fully equipped for effective law enforcement then it can be hoped that in a near future the large part of the encroached forest areas will be recovered. Similarly, only a close coordination between DFCC and DFBLMC will help finding a viable option to ensure the sustainable livelihood of poor and marginalized communities including freed bonded labors.