Promotion of Tourism in Millennium Trekking Route

A Proposal Prepared
for
Promotion of Tourism in Millennium Trekking Route

Ek Raj Sigdel


Introduction
On the first day of New Millennium 2000, the government of Nepal commissioned a team of expert to carry out a feasibility study of a trekking route extending from Dhorphirdi of Tanahun to Majkot of Syangja for tourism development. According to the study, the route was feasible for trekking tourism. Following the study recommendation, some ground works for tourism promotion and human resources development have already been initiated. However, as in the other parts of the country, the route also got into a trap of insurgency and shadowed from the mainstream tourism development activities in the ensuing years.

Trekking Trail Features
The 80 Km trek starts from Dulegaunda, which is located some 30 Km east of Pokhara and passes through a multitude of different environmental features, including boulder-stream, river gorges, dense vegetation, beautifully carved terraced fields, myriad of pinnacles and ancient temples. The five days and six nights long trekking Route starts from Bajasthala of Tanahun and ends at Majkot of Syangja. The route passes through nine village development committees, including a population of about 1, 00,000. The trekking route links Dhorphirdi, Firfire and Raipur in Tanahun and Kolma Barahchaur, Rangbhang, Pelkachaur, Banethok Deurali, Majhkot Shivalaya and Manakamana VDCs in Syangja. Every village in the route offers tourists with distinct cultural experiences, which attributes to the uniqueness of the trekking route.

Attraction
The trekking route is a superb combination of natural and cultural attraction. Visitors can have the opportunity of viewing Ganesh Himal towards the north and terai region towards the south. Budakot is the highest point on the route that is located at 7,000 feet from the sea level and locals say that Bhimsen tower of Kathmandu could be seen from the peak on a day with clear weather. Millennium cave, natural greenery, Bajasthala River, water falls are other natural attraction of the route. The trek gives an opportunity to become acquainted with the unique Nepalese tradition, culture and way of life. In addition, tourists can join traditional dances like Chutka, Koara, Soradhi, Krishan Charitra, Ghantu and Bhajans along the route. Dhorbahari temple, Tibetan refugee camp, ancient palaces like Majh Fort, Kolma Fort and Budha Fort are other major cultural and historical attraction of the route.

Culture Based Tourism
Tourists can have a chance of experiencing local culture and traditional way of life. They will have chance of enjoying local dishes, which are totally organic and locally produced. The cultural program, including traditional dance and songs can be organized in every stopover. According to the locals no tourist-standard restaurants or hotels would be allowed to operate along the route. The visitors can be accommodated in different households as home-stay tourists in a rotational basis. The lodging of tourists would be decided by a committee constituted in each of the villages on a rotation basis so that each household will have chance to receive tourism income. In this way, the route has a tremendous potential in contributing to rural income through tourism promotion, which is also the main objective of the 10th five year development plan of the government of Nepal. The present government has also emphasized on the pro-poor tourism to be promoted in rural areas of the country.

Promotional Activities
With the objective of promoting community based pro-poor tourism, a tourism management committee has already been formed called Dhorphirdi - Majhkot Rural Tourism Development Committee (DMRTDC). Some local youths from six VDCs of Syangja district have already got training on conversational English, sanitation, and cooking. A few years back, a three-day tourism festival was also organised near the Phewa Lake at Pokhara. Some houses along the trekking routes have already constructed bathrooms, toilets and additional kitchens for the tourists.

According to DMRTDC chairperson, “tourists shall be treated as family and shall be free to join any household activities like cooking, cow milking, weaving, farming, cattle herding etc”. He adds that the visitors shall be welcomed at a community hall with welcome drink, garland and local musical band. In addition, tourists can have chance to learn about the local schools, farming practices, and cuisine. For adventurous tourists there are very good sites for paragliding as well, which needs to be further explored. The Millennium cave and waterfall are other attraction of the route.

Issues
The route is in the need of promotional as well as infrastructure development support. The route could not be functional as par the expected level due to inadequate promotion and publicity. Similarly, implementation of tourism environment awareness program at local and national level is felt necessary. Likewise, it is important to produce promotional brochure, erecting hoarding board in strategic locations and carrying out workshops and seminars. The promotional activities are to be carried out in consultation with Pokhara based tourism entrepreneurs and Nepal Tourism Board. Moreover, it is wise to carry out again a small study focusing private sectors, community groups, Nepal Tourism Board on the feasibility of promoting tourism in the route in the changing political context.

The route still needs to construct basic infrastructure facilities, like suspension bridges, cultural buildings, sightseeing centres, cultural houses, improvement of trails, and conservation of cultural heritage, basic health services, and related trainings for the sustainable development of tourism along the route. Likewise, in partnership with local NGOs, VDC and DDC the basic infrastructure facilities should be developed.

Objectives
To increase the income and employment opportunities of local communities and safeguard the rich biodiversity resources that falls under the Millennium Route

Strategies
Promotional activities at national and international level shall be undertaken. In this regard, as an entry point, some basic promotional activities like hoarding and arrow boards shall be erected in strategic places. Similarly, a promotional brochure shall be produced and shared with wider communities. The work will be carried out by Dhoreli Samaj, a NGO dedicated for the development of local communities in Millennium Trekking route. While implementing the activities, a working a strong working relationship shall be maintained with the concern VDCs and DDC and initiation will be taken for integrating the trek in Tourism Plan of Tanahun District, which is under preparation. The DMRTDC will also be informed and sensitised.

Expected Outcomes
The activities will be a milestone for sensitising local communities, local authority, civil society, private sectors and government line agencies on the need of promotion of Millennium Trekking route for the benefit of local communities and biodiversity and cultural resources conservation of the area.

Activities
A total of three activities are proposed. All the activities will be carried out by two months period effective from the agreement signed date. After completion of the work, financial and technical reports shall be submitted to the donors.

Erection of hoarding boards

Erection of Arrow boards
Production of brochure
Production of video documentary

Interaction with private sector about the tourism promotion strategy in the changing political scenario

Budgets: A total of Rs. 200000 is proposed to carry out the aforementioned activities.

Home stay tourism for poverty alleviation through cultural conservation

Ek Raj Sigdel

Home stay tourism is becoming very famous all around the world. Some people believe that the home stay scheme can address the issues of poverty. However, other, especially who pay more attention towards the income poverty argue that the home stay tourism can not help lowering poverty. I believe that, the home stay tourism can support empowering local communities through preserving their majestic culture, which is considered as one of the major components of the economy. In addition, the positive impact – indirect and induced – of home stay tourism can be seen in the income of rural poor.

The home stay program educates visitors to the local culture, wisdom and traditional way of life. The culture includes religion, vibrant customs, weaving, games, musical instruments, dress, architecture, picking fruits in the orchard and involving in farming etc. Similarly, the wisdom includes the local history, fables and knowledge on traditional herbal medicines and other indigenous resource management system. Home stay program is for those who wish to gain a greater understanding of each others customs, culture and way of thinking through involving and experiencing the daily lives of local people. It creates an opportunity to aware tourists on socio-economic and cultural issues of the destination sites. Thus, the strategy ultimately supports for conservation of the destination culture, which has been considered as one of the major components of the local economy (HMG, 2004) .

The home stay tourism does not seek to address the question; "how can communities benefit more from tourism, it seeks instead how tourism can contribute to the process of cultural conservation?" (Suansri 2003). Promoting community pride and preserving the unique character and culture of the local area should be the prime objective of home stay programme. Home stay is a special package, where one can have the opportunity to stay with farmers and gain the experience pertaining to farmers' and villagers' unique daily activities such as exploring village, participating in different farm activities, witnessing farming practice etc. In addition, tourists have an opportunity of enjoying the warm hospitality of the host family and be a part of the household members by joining them in their daily activities. It allows tourists to discover the origins of village and rich history it holds.

Home stay may not impact directly to the poor but indirect and induced impact can be expected. Home stay features, generally require a home with, at least one extra room, bedding, pillow, mosquito net, laundry service, a desk for study, desk lamp, safe heater in their room, etc. Proper sanitation, hospitality and hygiene are important components of home stay tourism, which we can not hope from the poor family, at least for a short run in Khumbu region. It is widely reported that the higher benefit of home stay tourism in Sirubari Village has been reaped by the well-to-do families. The programme has been initiated by British Gurkha Families, having unusual level of prosperity, education and English language (Choegyal 2002).

In addition, home stay programme should be considered as an incremental income and livelihood opportunity from the incremental activity to the local community. Pro Poor Tourism strategies often involve the development of new products, particularly based on local culture, but these should be integrated with the mainstream products if they are to find markets (ODI 2001). Trekking could be the mainstream product in the case of Sagarmatha National Park. Transforming home stay households towards lodges and hotels could not serve the purpose of conserving local culture. Home stay gives consumers more choice and authentic cultural experience, than lodge and hotels. We should think over the fact that the Pro Poor Tourism is a long term investment (ODI 2001). Therefore expectation of locals should not be raised considerably.

Home stay is a delicate social and cultural issue for the community. It requires a change of perspective from generously offering accommodation to unexpected guests or relatives to suddenly requesting a fee for service. Social and cultural relationships, cultures of hospitality, can become degraded and economically oriented. For this reason it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons before developing a home stay as an accommodation option (Suansri 2003).

Income poverty, which we are paying more emphasize has been considered as the only one component of poverty issues in Nepal (NPC 2004). According to the 10th Five Year Plan, poverty is a complex and multi – dimensional phenomenon; and income poverty is only one aspect of it. Human poverty is one of the important dimensions of poverty issue. It is therefore essential that efforts contributing to human poverty reduction be geared concomitantly with reducing income poverty. The Economic Survey 2004, identifies empowerment as one of the four pillars of human development. Thus, poverty alleviation can be possible by duly addressing the empowerment issue. Similarly, developing cultural capability is prerequisite for empowering the local communities (HMG, 2004). Thus, it can be inferred that addressing cultural aspect could directly address the poverty agenda in Nepal.

A home stay should not focus merely on providing accommodation for profit while ignoring cultural exchange and respect for the hosts culture. Generosity and hospitality should be emphasized above providing 5 stars service. To do otherwise would devalue the host at the expense of the guest (Suansri 2003. Often only wealthier households have a chance to provide accommodation and will collect benefits for themselves, except in the case that there are rules ensuring part of the profits contributed to community projects.

In order to promote the home stay tourism, it is important to educate the local communities that the scheme is not equivalent to the other lodges and hotels. They should be educated about the higher value of their way of life, dress and architecture, tradition knowledge and wisdom. Poor people can be mainstreamed in the home stay tourism activities by being tourists guide, community guide, community resource person and supporting accommodation and food etc.

In conclusion home stay tourism could be developed as an instrument to preserve the local culture in a long run in the Khumbu Region. Conservation of local culture, one of the essential components of local economy, supports for lowering the poverty issues in Nepal. However, caution should be taken towards not raising the expectation of local communities. Communities should be informed that the home stay programme, in addition to contributing local income, supports for conserving their magnificent culture. Community should understand that the home stay tourism is not the hotel or lodge type of accommodation but flourish on the traditional way of life.


References
Choegyal L 2002: Ecotour Products, Their Distribution and Sales Promotion, Paper presented at International Ecotourism Conference, Okinawa
HMG, 2004: Economic Survey Fiscal Year 2003 / 2004.
NPC, 2004: Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System, Framework Document
ODI, 2001: Pro – Poor Tourism Strategies: Expanding Opportunities for the Poor; Pro-poor tourism briefing No 1. April 2001
Suansri P. 2003: Community Based Tourism Handbook, Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project

Electric fencing: new hope for minimizing park people conflict in Bardia National Park

Ek Raj Sigdel

With the objectives of protecting representative ecosystems and conserving tiger and its prey base, the government of Nepal established the Bardia National Park in 1984. The park harbors a herd of 50-60 wild elephants regularly. However, during the winter season it refuges over 100 wild elephants. The increased number could be due to seasonal migration of Wild Elephants from Corbett, Rajaji and adjoining Dudhuwa National Park of India.

With the increasing number of wild elephants, people abut to the national park are facing a problem of crop damage and even human casualties. According to the National Park record, over the last one year a total of 7 people were killed by the wild elephants around the Bardia National Park. In the absence of wild life compensation mechanism and lack of effective devices for chasing away of the problem animals, people in the buffer zone have been suffered a most. Various indigenous technologies like watch tower, ditches, walls, and solar fencing have been tested. But, no devices were found effective to get rid of the problem of the seasonal migrants.
Because of the escalating problems of wild elephants, people in the buffer zone have ventilated their dissatisfaction over the national park by organizing rally, and making delegation to the national park authority and at the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. They have a demand of policy that mandates at least one million rupees as compensation for a bereaved family. Likewise, they had a demand of free treatment for the wildlife victims and income and employment opportunities for the survival. In addition, they demanded electric fencing on the border between the national park and its buffer zone.

In response, as an immediate measure, the National Park, with the financial support of Western Terai Landscape Complex Project (WTLCP) has recently erected a two lined electric fence in some parts of the border area between the national park and buffer zone that extends about 10 km. It is estimated that the electric fence will benefits to a total of 1730 households, including 11081 people of Ward No 5 of Thakurdwara and Ward No 2 of Shivapur VDC.

Electric fencing could be one way of managing problem animals in order to reduce conflict between people and animals. Other ways may be just as effective, for example, physical barriers which were in practice such as ditches and walls, and solar fencing which have had limited success but they were not easy to construct and were costly too. Compensation payments could be made but were difficult to assess and tend to be unfair and sometimes abused. Electric fencing as a practical solution is working well in the private sector in African Countries. However, its use under public land has yet to be fully demonstrated. Therefore if it works well in the Bardia National Park, then it would be a model for the entire wild elephant conflict prone protected areas.

The fence has been constructed following a very simple technology and hence any one having interest in the electricity can manage the machine very properly. Being established close to the park head quarter and adjacent to the buffer zone settlements; regular monitoring can be ensured by the Park Officials as well as buffer zone communities. As the construction involved clearing of bushes, it has worked as a fire line between jungle and the settlements. Further, as it was to respond the community need, it is likely that the parogramme would get a continuous support and cooperation from the buffer zone communities and hence it leads towards a success. According to the local people, they will not face the problem of wild elephants in the future as in the previous days.

While observing the fencing and interacting with local communities, it was realized that to some people the fences has represented a physical and psychological barrier to their use of resources behind the fence. To others they represent a solution to the conflict between people and wild elephants. In fact, the fencing projects must have reconciled these differing views if they were to be successful.

Maintenance is the number one problem with any type of wildlife fencing. A fence is only as good as its maintenance, which has to be continual. Vigorous growth of vegetation underneath of the fence line in the growing season could be a perennial problem. Vegetation contact causes power leakages and overgrowth conceals the fence from being an obvious barrier to elephants.

To ensure a long term management of the electric fencing, local communities need to be well aware on its objectives. Also, school children who play around the fences should be informed on the importance of the fencing timely. In this regard, the park authority in partnership with the buffer zone community should conduct awareness raising campaign on the importance of managing the electric fencing. Moreover, in consultation with the park impacted communities, the buffer zone management committee should be mobilized to prepare a fencing maintenance plan. The plan should include details about daily maintenance, tools and components required, clearing of underneath vegetations, role and responsibilities of stakeholders, and sustainable financing mechanism. It can be hoped that, if the project get success, then the new hope can be expected for resolving ongoing park and people conflicts in the near future in the Bardia National Park.

In conclusion, the electric fencing is a milestone activity of the Bardia National Park to respond the buffer zone communities' demand. If the strength and opportunities of the fencing are up scaled and weaknesses are minimized timely, then the project, no doubt will be one of the successful programs in protected landscape that help minimizing park people conflicts. Ultimately, it provides an opportunity for replicating similar kind of project in other parts of the wild elephant people conflict prone areas.

Sustainable Tourism development: Opportunity for conserving mountain environment and contributing to poverty alleviation in Nepal

Ek Raj Sigdel
Programme Officer, TRPAP

Having immense natural and cultural value, Nepal’s Mountain can be termed as the ‘Land of Paradise’ for tourists, trekkers and expeditionary. Fragile mountain environment and subsistence agriculture are causing to the degradation of the mountain ecosystem. The consequences are aggrandizing the poverty situation in the mountain regions. In order to address these diverse issues, development of sustainable tourism base would be the only viable option for the long term conservation of environment and thereby contributing to betterment of the mountain communities.

The mountain environment of Nepal, by virtue of their inaccessible nature, has narrow scope for modern development in a cost effective way. Subsistence agriculture and livestock are the main economic source of mountain people. Migratory works elsewhere in Nepal and India is the complementary source of income to these people. The economic condition of the majorities of people in mountain is marginal. Likewise, the agriculture land is limited by the steep topography.

Including the Mt. Everest, Nepal houses eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains. The country has 79% of its area under mountainous topography. Similarly, out of 118 Nepal’s ecosystems, 38 are in Mountain region. The mountain region is the meeting point of the major geographical realms of the world – the palaearctic and Indo-Malayan.

The series of the mighty Himalayan ranges separated by some of the deepest gorges are the striking attractions for tourists. While trekking in Nepal, one can see the fantastic snow capped peaks along with the beautiful lakes and smiled faced people. Unique flora and fauna are other potential tourist attractions in the mountain environment. Moreover, traditional village, historical sites, culture and architecture of local people deserve special attractions for tourists.

Realizing the higher tourism value, the government of Nepal opened its border for foreigners in 1950s. Since then, the flow of tourists has been in an increasing trend. No doubt, the growing tourist number has contributed a lot to local and national economy of Nepal. For instance, the people in Khumbu, Annapurna Conservation Area and Langtang National Park and adjoining areas has been enjoying significant tourism benefits for many years. It has been reported that, because of well-managed tourism, once declined cultural value of Sagarmatha region has been revived through local initiatives. Monasteries Management Committees, Youth Group, and Youth Club are actively engaged in conserving cultural and natural heritage in this region. Because of the concerted efforts, the environment of Sagarmatha National Park seems to be improving for the last few years.

Yet against this backdrop, concentration of tourism pressure in limited mountain areas has been posing various challenges. Every year hundreds of tons of firewood are used for cooking and camp-fire. Signs of massive deforestation in some of the trekking sites of Nepal are evident. The destruction of scant vegetation in the alpine regions of Nepal also leads to frequent mudslides, landslides, creep and rock falls as well as silting of the river. The country is experiencing severe inequalities of wealth, low living standards, high unemployment, uneven economic dev elopement, as well as heavy dependence on foreign investment and foreign aid. Some high altitude plant species, such as Abies spectabillis, Tsuga dumosa and Rhododendron nivala, are under intense economic pressure aggravated by the tourist pressure. If the present trend continuous, the degradation of the mountain environment may cause irreversible damage to the mountain fragile ecosystem and lifestyle of the people.

Recognizing the higher conservation value of mountain ecosystems, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has established 7 Protected Areas (PAs) all along the border of the China, covering 78.54% of total PAs in Nepal. These PAs represent 30 of the 38 ecosystems of the highland. Though, it is relatively less diverse in flora and fauna, they possess a significant number of endemic species. Mountain, endowed with the rich biodiversity, provides an excellent source of revenue for His Majesty’s Government of Nepal through eco-tourism management. The most important regions for mountain tourism in Nepal are Annapurna, Khumbu, Sagrmatha and Langtang-Helambu. The three regions, namely Sagarmatha, Langtang and Annapurna Conservation Area combined accounts around 95% of all mountain trekking permits issues and the remaining 5% of trekkers visit Rara National Park, Dolpo, Humla, Makalu and Kanchanjunga. Similarly, about 43% of all international leisure arrivals in Nepal go for trekking.

The relationship between tourism and environment is one of a delicate balance between sustainable community development and safeguarding the environment. Tourism where it has been allowed to run free, has really caused more disaster to the natural beauty of the surroundings, destroyed traditional value system, greatly helped accelerating the deforestation and has not really helped population in true, rather it has exploited unmercifully.

To maximize the tourism benefit to the Mountain people and environment, the government should undertake various activities in a planned way. Firstly, locals should be trained on lodge management, tour guide and interpretation skills. Secondly, in order to develop appropriate tourism facilities and services, a credit facility for local entrepreneurs should be in place. Most importantly, locals should be aware on the importance of maintaining the village architecture, traditions, and wildlife management. Finally, trans-boundary tourism across the trans-border areas, such as Nagpa-la, and Chhentang - Kimathanka should be promoted.

The efforts of HMG of Nepal in establishing the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves in the country are the very appropriate strategy towards developing sustainable tourism in Nepal. Integrated mountain environment conservation, community development and tourism promotion is the only option for the betterment of people. It warrants the immediate need of formulating Integrated National Tourism Master Plan and a separate Mountain Development Policy.

Cooperative: emerging tool for linking conservation and livelihood

Ek Raj Sigdel

Western Terai Landscape Complex Project (WTLCP) has been in implementation in the Far and Mid Western Terai of Nepal since January 2006. It aims at conservation and sustainable use of globally significant biodiversity of these regions. The project was a joint undertaking of the government of Nepal, UNDP, GEF, SNV, Bioversity International, NARC and LIBIRD. To achieve the goal, the project has adopted two pronged strategies, I) increase productivity of the natural resources base, including maintenance of biodiversity resources and ii) ward off the pressure of local communities on the nearby forest resources for their subsistence need.

Pressure of the locals could be diverted only when they were provided with a viable source of alternative income and employment generation opportunities. Realizing the fact, WTLCP has been supporting the forest dependent community with the scheme of soft loan as seed money to undertake various income and employment generation activities through local forest user group and committees. As these community forests based organizations had experiences mainly in conserving forest resources, their engagement in alternative income generation activities was not found satisfactory at par the expected level. Therefore, a separate community based institutions that facilitate distributing and recycling of the soft loan on the one hand and on the other help to garner community support in conservation through raising their income was felt necessary. With this, WTLCP has initiated establishing and strengthening at least one cooperative in its each working Village Development Committee (VDC).

So far, a total of two cooperative have been established in the WTLCP productive landscape. Initiation of establishing cooperative was taken from Baisebichuwa VDC of Kanchanpur district. In this regard, at the outset, a gathering of villagers was organized and sensitized them on the objectives of a cooperative. Then, after a long deliberation, all the people were reached in a consensus of establishing a cooperative in their VDC. Also, they were agreed upon encompassing the representatives of local forest user groups and committees in the cooperative. Moreover, they were convinced on distributing WTLCP supported money solely to the poorest of the poor community as soft loan. With this objective, a cooperative was established at ward number 8 of Baisebichuwa, Kanchanpur and registered in the Kanchanpur District Cooperative Office in April 2007.

Within a span of six months, the number of shareholders reached over 700 households. The women lead cooperative executive committee members comprises of 11 people, representing 5 women and 6 men. It also includes 6 indigenous communities and 1 dalit in the executive committee. Before and immediately after formation of the cooperative, the executive committee members underwent training on cooperative management. A study tour was also organized for them to Dodhara and Chadani VDCs of Kanchanpur where a successfully managed cooperative was in operation. In addition, a micro fund mobilization guideline was prepared and handed over them for facilitating their daily saving and credit work.

To ensure the access of WTLCP benefits to the poorest of the poor communities, WTLCP has been adopting a positive discrimination approach from the very beginning of its implementation stage. In this front, poorest of the poor communities were identified by adopting a participatory well being ranking exercise. After identification of the target groups, 9-day training on entrepreneurship development was conducted for the poorest of the poor communities. Then as per the requirement, the trainees were provided with seed money to carry out various incomes generation activities through the cooperative.

To ensure access of the loan for the WTLCP's target communities, the cooperative has made a provision of 8% interest rate for WTLCP trained communities as against the others who receive the loan on 12% interest rate. In addition, those who are entitled to receive seed money from WTLCP can pay back the loan within 24 months while others had to pay the loan within a six months period. So far, 65 households have received the loan from WTLCP through the cooperative in Baisebichuwa. The loan has been utilized in various income generation activities, including goat farming, buffalo farming, pig farming, poultry farming, vegetable farming, establishing retail shops, purchasing sewing machines, investing in lather shoe making, running vegetable and hair cutting business, among others.

According to Ms. Prem Lata Gautam, chairperson of the Cooperative, the community based organization is running very successfully thus far. It has a very good linkage with district cooperative office and receiving technical support from all the quarters. She added that the organization has been evolved as a mile stone institution for reducing poverty as well as contributing to biodiversity conservation in Baisebichuwa VDC. She informed that large pie of money which was floated in different local organizations is also gradually streamlined in the cooperative. It has evolved as a platform where people gather regularly and discuss on the wide range of issues, including conservation and development work in the village, she added.

Mr. Chnadra Bahadur Bhandari, a local man, recently received a loan of Rs. 2500 to upscale his mobile pushcart shop. He has successfully run the business in Baisebichuwa and has been able to reap a net benefit of Rs. 7000 - 8000 per month and has been able to continue schooling for his three daughters. He is confident with his business and says, "I don’t need to go to the jungle for firewood now". But, except a few, other trainees were not confident to run their business citing to the problem of lacking adequate skills and money to become a shareholder of the cooperative.

In conclusion, the cooperative has been emerged as an effective tool for linking biodiversity conservation criteria with livelihood opportunities in WTLCP intervention areas. As it warrants frequent meetings of its shareholders, institutionalization of saving and credit mechanisms, it could be a strong social mobilization tool, which is necessary for integrated conservation and development work in the WTLCP working areas. As a follow up, to ensure the participation of the poorest of the poor communities in conservation work, the interested trainee should undergo a follow up skill enhancement training and find out the mechanism to ensure their participation in the cooperative as a shareholder.

Beyond boundaries:The landscape approach to biodiversity conservation

Ek Raj Sigdel
NTTR, April, 2007

Nepal has experienced various biodiversity conservation models over the last 30 years. Since the 2000s, the country has been testing a landscape level approach to biodiversity conservation. Some people argue that the landscape approach requires the establishment of more protected areas, while others believe that the approach neither demands additional protected areas nor excludes people from being mainstreamed in conservation. In fact, Nepal is adopting a participatory integrated ecosystem management approach, which espouses peoples' participation in conservation and sustainable use of biological resources.

Nepal has put a lot of effort to conserve its rich biological resources after the promulgation of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973. As per national and international commitments, Nepal has designated over 19% of its relatively small land mass as protected areas. Initially the management emphasis was given exclusively to conserving biodiversity resources in which local people were not included. There is no doubt that within a short span of time, the country succeeded in witnessing a growing number of the, once declining, wildlife, like the rhinoceros and the tiger in the Terai protected areas.

However, given the human and financial resource needs, the remarkable success resulting from a strict conservation policy could not sustain in the long run. Realizing the need of involving local communities in protected area management, the government introduced the concepts of conservation areas and buffer zones. In addition, provision for sharing protected area revenue with local communities was also made. As a result, the number of wildlife species in protected areas has been on the raise.

Based on the studies carried out by various researchers, particularly in the lowland Terai; it has been found that none of the protected area, is capable of sustaining a viable population of mega fauna, such as the tiger, rhino and elephant, on their own. Additionally, not all the ecosystems, flora and fauna of Nepal are represented in the existing protected area system. Because of the ever increasing population, poverty and local communities' dependency on forest resources for subsistence, the forests outside the protected areas are degraded and fragmented. Because of this rampant deforestation outside protected areas and the prevailing uncontrolled poaching activities, the survival of many migratory animals has emerged as a big question mark.

Given this backdrop, a new conservation modality, which can address the basic needs of local people and restore and maintain biodiversity in protected as well as productive lands is the need of the hour. Accordingly, policies and programme are being formulated and implemented in this direction. Nepal's Tenth Five Year development plan recognizes the landscape approach to conservation, as a practical tool for addressing the issues of conservation and sustainable use of biological resources as well as poverty reduction. The Nepal Biodiversity Strategy, Terai Arc Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan have been formulated and gradually being implemented to support this broader landscape level conservation approach in Nepal.

As guided by these policy documents, various institutions are implementing conservation and development activities simultaneously. The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation has implemented the Rhino Tiger Project in Chitwan, while the World Wildlife Fund Nepal Program has implemented the Terai Arc Landscape Programme across the Indian and Nepali borders. The programme aims to restore and maintain critical corridors and bottlenecks between protected areas so as to facilitate free movement of wildlife species from protected areas to productive land and vice versa. To support this concept UNDP, with the support of various partners, has been implementing the Western Terai Landscape Project in three districts of the Western Terai - Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

It has been noted that resulting from the concerted efforts, within a short span of time, some of biodiversity outside of the protected area boundaries are being maintained and restored and have become a safe haven for wildlife species. Barandabhar in Chitwan and Basanta forest in Kailali has become home for rhinoceros and wild elephants respectively. Similarly, implementation of income generating activities, like Non Timber Forest Product management, ecotourism, vegetable farming program etc. local communities’ support for biodiversity conservation has been on raise. In fact, based on a few years' experiences, the landscape approach to conservation does not necessitate the establishment of additional protected areas. Instead, the concept takes people as an integral part of the ecosystem and, therefore, advocates community based management of biodiversity.

However, there are some challenges still to be overcome for the effective implementation of this novel concept in Nepal. The existing intervention has given more emphasis on species conservation, instead of giving due attention to the overall management of biodiversity resources, including ecosystem services, and floral and faunal assemblages in the landscape complexIn case if some umbrella species like the elephant and rhinoceros are declined by some unknown reasons, then the overall value of the landscape could be diminished.

Therefore, if the management interventions are not modified in a timely manner, then this new initiative could result in failure. Hence, it is recommended that local people be made aware of the overall value of biodiversity resources, instead of merely highlighting on the conservation of the rhino, tiger and elephant. If this were to be so, then all the efforts put in and the achievements made so far would have been in vain and the government’s conservation agenda likely to come back to square one!

Landscape Approach to Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal

Ek Raj Sigdel
February, 2007

Abstract
Nepal has put utmost efforts to conserve her rich biodiversity resources. The conservation history begins formally after promulgation of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act in 1973. National Parks and Wildlife Reserves were established across the country during the 70s. By realizing the need of people participation in the conservation initiatives, the country has tested the concept of different types of protected areas such as conservation areas, buffer zone and landscape approach to conservation over the years. Landscape approach to biodiversity conservation has been adopted since 2000s. In this front, among others, Western Terai Landscape Complex Project has been implemented in the Far Western Development Region of the country since August 2005. Within a short span of time the project with an integrated conservation and development activities, has been able to change people's attitude towards biodiversity conservation and simultaneously the conservation value of biodiversity resources has been enhanced. In addition some lesson has been learned, which could be useful for national and international stakeholders.


Biodiversity value of the country
Because of altitudinal and climatic variances in short geographic distance, Nepal is endowed with rich biodiversity resources. The country comprises only 0.1% of the worlds land masses, but it harbors high share of biodiversity. A total of 118 ecosystems have been identified in Nepal, with 75 vegetation types and 35 forest types (HMGN/MFSC, 2002). Species richness among floral diversity comprises lichens 465 species (2.3 % of the global diversity), bryophytes 853 species (5.1%), and angiosperms 5,856 species (2.7%). Likewise, faunal diversity includes butterflies 640 species and moths 2,253 species (together 2.6%), birds 852 species (9.3%) and mammals 181 species (4.5%) (GoN/MFSC, 2006). The country has established an impressive network of protected areas (national parks, wildlife reserve, hunting reserve, conservation area, and buffer zone) to safeguard her rich biodiversity resources. Over 19% of the land masses of the country are occupied by the protected area network, including 3.45% buffer zone.

Conservation initiatives
Nepal's conservation history can be tracked back from 1950. Conservation initiatives have been taken through establishing a Rhino Sanctuary in Chitwan in 1956. The main objective of the Sanctuary was to protect the one horned rhinoceros. The conservation efforts took momentum when the country established extensive protected area system during 1970s. National Parks and Wildlife Reserves were established during this decade. The objective of the protected areas was to protect wildlife species, including endangered rhinoceros, tigers, and wild elephants.

During 80s, people-centered approach in protected area management was evolved. Himalayan National Park Regulation promulgated in 1979 has made the provision of incorporating local peoples' needs into national park's management goals. The regulation allows access to fuel-wood, fodder and litter of protected areas to local communities. Similarly, annual thatch grass harvesting provisions in all lowland National Park and Wildlife Reserves was introduced to response traditional resource use right of local people. During this period, the government also added conservation areas in protected area network, which seeks higher people participation in conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area emphasizes people's participation in resource management and utilization, and provides high priority to development, was initiated in this period (Sharma 1995).

During 90s, the government introduced the policy of sharing part of the protected areas revenue with adjoining communities by establishing buffer zones. With this, the traditional species conservation approach has shifted towards ecosystem based approach of biodiversity conservation. The concept of buffer zone in and around protected areas was introduced in 1993 following the realization that sustainable wildlife conservation is possible only by active participation of local people (Maskey 2001). Fourth amendment was made on National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and introduced the regulation of sharing up to 50% annual income of protected areas with buffer zone communities. The government envisioned conservation areas and buffer zone management regime aims at achieving effective management of National Parks and reserves, while at the same time giving due regard to the local communities (Sharma 2001).

Nepal has been embarking towards landscape approach to conservation in the new millennium. The landscape approach to conservation includes the integration of conservation and sustainable use concept in various interwoven land use systems across human and biodiversity landscape. It advocates for conservation of biodiversity resources beyond protected areas and people are considered as an integral component of an ecosystem.

In summary, the conservation paradigm has shifted from top down approach to bottom up planning. Initial management approach of command and control through mobilizing armed force has been replaced gradually by community based anti poaching operations. Similarly, the early emphasize was placed on species conservation followed by ecosystem and landscape approach to biodiversity conservation. Moreover, the role of government has been shifted from implementer to facilitator, monitor and regulator.

Conservation commitments
Nepal's commitment towards biodiversity conservation can be exemplified by being signatory of various international conventions, establishment of well functional institutional framework at national level, promulgation of innovative legal and policy agenda and implementation of different types of programs in and around protected area system.

At the international arena, Nepal affirmed its commitment to conserve biodiversity resources by ratifying the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994. It is also a signatory of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). As per the commitment, with the support of UNDP-GEF, the country has prepared Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and Nepal Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plan. Likewise, four wetlands are enlisted in Ramsar Sites. Similarly, a CITES unit has been established in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, Buffer Zone Regulation 1993, Himalayan Park Regulation 1979, Annapurna Conservation Regulation 1993 are the major legal framework for conserving biodiversity resources of the country. Similarly, Self Governance Act 1995 empowers local authority to manage natural resources at local level. Likewise, Forest Act 1993 encourages development of various types of forest management models, including community forest, collaborative forest, religious forest, private forest and national forest.

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation discharges the conservation activities through Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation office. Department of Forest under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation also involves conserving biodiversity resources mainly outside of the protected area network. Ministry of Agricultural Development has also stake in biodiversity conservation.

Landscape approach conservation initiatives
Nepal has to adopt landscape approach to biodiversity conservation for various reasons (Bennett, 2001). Firstly, Nepal has a number of protected areas of outstanding value for the protection of biodiversity at a global scale. Like, many other countries, however, these areas are likely to be inadequate on their own to ensure the long-term conservation of the flora and fauna that occurs within the country. The protected areas system does not fully represent all components of biodiversity, and many known areas of importance for the flora and fauna lie outside the reserve system. Secondly, individual protected areas are often inadequate to meet the ecological requirements of a number of species, particularly large sized animal species.

Thirdly, substantial areas of forest are still present outside the protected areas. Thus there is an existing basis (in terms of natural resources) for landscape level approach that seeks to maintain biodiversity within the productive landscape. Finally, most communities of people in Nepal have a close dependence on the land and its natural resources for their survival. Consequently, an approach that seeks to extend conservation beyond the reserve system must recognize the place of human communities, and their aspirations and impacts on the land. Landscape ecology is a discipline that explicitly recognizes the place of people in the environment (Bennett, 2001. It seeks to develop solutions for land use that take into account human impacts.

Policy framework for landscape level conservation
National Biodiversity Strategy 2002 and Nepal Biodiversity Implementation Plan 2006 reflect a shift in Nepal's biodiversity conservation management paradigm towards a more holistic, ecosystem – oriented approach to conservation and sustainable use. The Tenth Five Year Plan (2003 – 2008) incorporates landscape approach to conservation and sustainable use as a new strategic and operational direction. Similarly, the government if Nepal, with the support of WWF Nepal has prepared Terai Arc Landscape Strategy (2004 – 2014) and Terai Arc Landscape Implementation Plan in 2006.

Programs
In line with conserving biodiversity resources at Landscape level, the government with the support of various donor communities, including UNDP, GEF, WWF, and SNV has implemented various programs across the country.

With the objective of promoting conservation and sustainable use of natural resources outside of the protected areas and getting support from UNDP, the government of Nepal successfully implemented buffer zone programme in seven protected areas of the country between 1995 and 2006. Community participation, gender integration, poverty reduction, benefits to disadvantaged groups was all important component of this conservation package. The buffer zone management initiatives have enhanced the capacity of both the Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation and the local people to manage the protected area system and improve socio-economic conditions of the people living in adjoining areas.

The notable impacts following the declaration of buffer zones and implementation of conservation and development are the improvement in park-people relationships with growing participation of local people in buffer zone development programmes and the institutionalization of community based organizations such as buffer zone management committees, user committees, user groups and buffer zone forest user groups. Community mobilization adopted by the programme has proven to be the best means to conserve natural resources and biodiversity in the long-run. Based on the experience of this project, conservation succeeds only when people are brought to the forefront of natural resource management and empowered adequately. Mainstreaming women, special target groups and the poor in conservation and development is must for successful implementation of buffer zone programs (DNPWC 2006).

To facilitate the migration of globally endangered wildlife species, like rhinoceros and tiger beyond buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, a world heritage site in Nepal, National Conservation Trust, a national NGO successfully implemented landscape-scale conservation of endangered tiger and rhinoceros populations in and around Chitwan National Park. Similarly, to facilitate movement of the umbrella species, including tiger, rhinoceros and wild elephants, WWF Nepal has implemented Terai Arc Landscape project in 14 districts of Nepal. Likewise, to safeguard the globally endangered wildlife species of Western Terai, the government of Nepal in partnership with UNDP, GEF, SNV, WWF, Bioversity International, Nepal Agriculture Research Council and LIBIRD has implemented WTLCP in Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts of Nepal.


Western Terai Landscape Complex Project
The Western Terai Landscape Complex (WTLC) focuses on conserving the rich biological diversity of the western region of Nepal. This area has been included in the list of WWF's Global 200 Ecoregion. WTLCP occupies a land area of approximately 7,200 sq km and stretches from Brdia National Park (BNP) in the east to Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) in the western edge of Nepal. BNP and SWR lie within 100km distance from each other. Due to the large-scale clearance of forests for agricultural development in the last three decades, SWR and BNP are no longer connected through a contiguous tract of lowland forests.

The WTLC is globally significant with regard to both its faunal and floral diversity. It is home to threatened wildlife species, including tigers (Panthera tigris), rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), wild elephants (Elephas maximus), swamp deer (Cervus Duvauceli), black buck (Antilope cervicarpa). The tigers and elephants are categorized as flagship species for this landscape.

Despite the outstanding value of BNP and SWR for the protection of globally significant biodiversity, they are likely to be inadequate on their own to ensure the long term conservation of flora and fauna that occurs in this region. The main reasons are: 1) these protected areas do not fully represent all component of biodiversity in the area and many known areas of importance for flora and fauna lie outside the protected area system; 2)These individual protected areas are inadequate in meeting the ecological requirements of a number of species, in particular the large mammals,, such as tigers, rhinoceros, and elephants which have large area requirements; 3) based on scientific evidence, isolation of these protected areas from other habitats is likely to lead to progressive loss of species over the long run. To address the above mentioned issues, landscape approach to biodiversity conservation was felt necessary in the western region. The region is characterized high human and income poverty, low human and income poverty, low human development, deep gender disparity, and low gender empowerment.

Conservation challenges
The biodiversity rich forests in this landscape have become increasingly degraded and fragmented as a result of ever increasing population and their growing dependency on forest resources. The immediate cause of deforestation and degradation is dependency of local communities on forest resources for timber, firewood, non timber forest products and agricultural land. Forest degradation and fragmentation in turn have contributed to the loss of habitat connectivity for the flagship species. Habitat fragmentation has the effect of reducing previously extensive mammal populations into genetically isolated sub-populations, many of which now risk falling below the threshold of population viability.


WTLCP Objective
The project is designed to conserve and ensure the sustainable use of globally significant biodiversity in the Western Terai Landscape Complex. The immediate objective is to conserve and ensure sustainable use of biodiversity resources across multiple land uses in WTLC through a landscape approach linked with community based management. The project emphasizes with multisectoral and multi stakeholder partnership to conservation. It advocates for strengthening community based biodiversity conservation by integrating biodiversity criteria with management plan of productive landscape. Similarly, with this programmes the protected area personnel will learn more participatory conservation.

Implementation approaches
Local communities are considered as the principle actor of the landscape level conservation. Hence their participation in project planning, monitoring, evaluation and benefit sharing process has been solicited from the very beginning of the project implementation process. To safeguard community inspiration and fulfill their demand, fullest attempt has been made to coordinate stakeholders ranging from civil society to government line agencies to local authority.

Management strategy
To address the wide ranges of issues, the Government of Nepal through WTLCP has implemented integrated conservation and development activities in the Western Region of Nepal. The conservation programs includes community based forest management, wildlife species and their habitat conservation, maintenance of habitat connectivity through promoting community forestry, private forestry, collaborative forestry, home garden, road side plantation, forests regeneration, and river side plantation. Likewise community based development activities includes micro-infrastructure development, alternative livelihoods, formation and strengthening of community based organizations and establishment of its linkage with government line agencies and other key stakeholders; promotion of alternative energy resources, institutionalization of participatory planning and monitoring system and implementation of various environment awareness activities.

Achievements
It has been observed that with the concerted efforts, within a short span of time, some of biodiversity resources outside of the protected area are being maintained and have become a safe haven for wildlife species. Barandabhar in Chitwan and Basanta and Laljhadi forests in western terai has become new home for rhinoceros, tigers and wild elephants respectively. Similarly, implementation of income generating activities, like Non Timber Forest Product management, ecotourism, off season vegetable farming program etc. local communities’ support for biodiversity conservation has been on raise.

Due to community based income generation activities, the attitude of local communities towards landscape approach to conservation ahs been changed gradually over the years. As project is working in multiple land use system, the coordination amongst the wider stakeholders is necessary. In this connection district forest coordination committee, which represents local authority, civil society, local non government organizations, and political parties has been formed and strengthened. The project has implemented its activities through government line agencies, local authority, community based organizations and non government organizations, which has helped to capacitate stakeholders towards landscape approach to biodiversity conservation.

Lesson learned / best practices
Project has given high priority to those activities which supports conservation and development work simultaneously. In this regard, micro infrastructure like irrigation pump, drinkable water, road gravelling etc are being supported to local communities. These activities are found very effective for raising local income through farming cash crops in the agricultural lands and making easy access to market. In the mean time through irrigation, local communities are establishing various nurseries, which help to maintain greenery in community and private land.

To sustain the project on financial, institutional, social and physical grounds, the project has undertaken various activities. For instance, project has supported local communities, mainly poor, women and disadvantageous group with seed money for income generation through cooperative scheme. A revolving fund mechanism has been envisioned. The mechanism has been considered as an important strategy to sustain the project activities in a long run.

To sustain the project activities on social ground, attempt has been made to include all the sectors of society, including local communities, poor, and women on project planning and implementation stages. In addition, they are organized into various user groups, user committees and coordination committees. The project has ventilated its objectives and implementation strategies to wider stakeholders through organizing various formal and informal meetings. Within a short span of time, the project has been able to attract heart and mind of local communities. The basic physical facilities supported by project to local communities and government line agencies include, community buildings, maintenance of guard posts, communication and transportation facilities, among others.

In order to bring the benefit down to the poorest of the poor community, the project has adopted positive discrimination approach. Local communities are categorized into various income groups, like rich, middle, poor and very poor through well being ranking exercises. Then, the very poor communities are provided with entrepreneurship development training. Based on their interest to undertake micro enterprises development activities, the project provides seed money to these trainees through cooperatives scheme. The approach has been performing well and stakeholders are appreciating the strategy wholeheartedly.

Local communities, especially outsiders of the protected areas are being convinced on the higher biodiversity value of community forest. The traditional approach of managing forest for timber and firewood has been changed gradually towards managing forest for biodiversity resources. In this regard, local communities are being interacted about the biodiversity consideration criteria in community forests. Some of the criteria have already been worked out. It is hoped that the community forest user groups as well as district forest office will gradually integrate biodiversity criteria in their management and operational plan in the days to come.

Maintenance of transparency on project objective and allocated budget for various activities is most important. In this regards, service providers are encouraged to institutionalize public auditing system. The strategy is working well.

While consulting local communities and other stakeholders, they always put conservation awareness activities in their priority list for making conservation work more effective and efficient. To make conservation work more effective, the project has been mobilizing school teacher and students by forming eco-club and eco-network. Interaction amongst eco-club members and eco-network has been continued. In addition, these organizations are provided with the opportunity of exposure tour, clean up campaign, quiz contest among others.

The project has implemented various trainings to capacitate local communities to undertake various income generation and conservation activities on their own. To make the training more productive, the project has adopted a practice of follow up and review, where service providers, project staff members, trainee and resource person sit together and review the effectiveness of training. Based on the feed back of the follow up meetings, the project revises its training programs accordingly.

Conclusion
To safeguard the country's rich biodiversity resources, Nepal has taken various measures. The protected area management policy and practice has been heading towards more of progressive and participatory management system. Local people are placed in the center of the protected area management system. In this front, various programs, like conservation area, buffer zone and landscape level conservation have been implemented. With the support of various national and international partner organizations, the government of Nepal has implemented WTLCP for two years in the western region of the country, which includes a package of integrated conservation and development activities. Within a short span of time the project has been able to change people's attitude towards biodiversity conservation, even outside of the protected area system. The quality of wildlife habitat at landscape level is getting improved on the one hand and on the other the livelihood options for local communities are diversified.






References
Bennett, A. F. (2001) Nepal Biodiversity Landscape Project. A report to UNDP Nepal and HMG Nepal.

DNPWC / Government of Nepal, (2006) Forging Partnership in Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods. Reflections on Achievements in Participatory Conservation (1995 – 2006)

GoN/MFSC, (2006) Nepal Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plan. Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Singhdurbar, Kathmandu.

HMGN/MFSC, (2002) National Biodiversity Strategy. His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation.

Maskey, T.M. (2001) Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal with reference to protected areas. Protected Area Management in South Asia. Proceedings of WCPA South Asia Regional Workshop on Protected Area Management, Kathmandu, Nepal, pp. 114 – 127.

Sharma, U.R. (1995) Wildlife Conservation Policies and Strategies in protected areas of Nepal. Highlight of the Inaugural Ceremony and the Proceeding of the International Workshop on Sustainable Development and Conservation: The Role of Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, KMTNC, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Sharma, U.R. (2001) Conservation and development should go hand in hand. Park People Bulletin Vol 5, 1-5.