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Conflict and Conservation
The book highlights how conflict has affected Nepal ’s conservation efforts
By A CORRESPONDENT
In the last three decades, Nepal has made some remarkable achievements in the area of nature conservation. From wildlife conservation to natural resource management, Nepal has taught a lesson to the world on how to successfully launch sustainable conservation works.
Although Nepal has lost almost all prominent figures last September in helicopter crash in Taplejung, the concept of conservation propounded and implemented by them is still hailed in international conservation world. In the last twelve years, Nepal ’s conservation was badly affected also by the conflict.
Edited by Mangal Man Shakya and Anil Chitrakar, the book is first of its kind which highlights various sectors of conservation. Based on the reporting conducted by the journalists of various newspapers, the articles included in the book are intensive and provide real picture of the affected areas.
The book depicts the eleven conservation areas pointed out in the reports on each of these conservation areas and the problems faced by them during the conflict. The reporters covered all major national parks of Nepal visiting the sites and meeting the people at ground level. From field trip to analysis, the reporters have done all kinds of field based research.
T opics range from environment, peace and international security by Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf to impact of armed conflict and impact of removal of armed forest guards in organization and national forest protection of Nepal by Prem Narayan Kandel, the book is full of many other articles. Other important aspects include impact of Maoist activities on the forest sector.
The report also explains the influence of the Maoists and their movements since 1999. “The journalists have depicted the physical action undertaken by the Maoists that has affected conservation and development projects and have indicated that illegal wildlife poaching and tourist visitation is negligible,” write editors Shakya and Chitrakar. “They have reported information on the geological positions, rare wildlife assets, and fatalities of violent conflict on wildlife, effects of conflict on tourism, the security position and illegal poaching inside the park.”
Reporters were assigned to report on Shivapuri National Park , Manaslu Conservation Area, Bardia National Park , Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Shuklaphata Wildlife Reserve, She-Phokshundo National Park , Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Rara National Park , Chitwan National Park , Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and Sagarmatha National Park . Journalists Ram Prasad Dahal, Bindu Kant Ghimire, Shiva Raj Yogi and Prem KC, Yam Pradhan and Bijaya Santoshi Rai, Karna Bohara, Ajaya Bam and Pushkar Thapa and Gopal Tiwari, N.K. Dahal and Ganesh Chowdhury covered various national parks.
From state of wildlife species to the plants, the journalists discussed all issues in detail. Although the government and Maoists have signed the peace accord in bringing the long lasting peace, it will take decades to compensate the damage done by the decade-long conflict in the area of conservation.
In translating the book into English, editor duo Shakya and Chitrakar have contributed to enlighten the global community how conflict can destroy the successful conservation efforts like in Nepal .
Written in two parts, the book has both experts view as well as the field reporting of the journalists. This combination of theoretical and practical approach is worthy to study. The book is interesting and useful to those who work in conservation areas. Registered as a non governmental organization in 2002, the Wildlife Watch Group has already carried out number of training classes to journalists on wildlife conservation.
Cost of Conflict On Nepal ’s Conservation Efforts
Editors: Mangal Man Shakya and Anil Chitrakar
Published by: Wildlife Watch Group (WWG)
Price: NRs. 700 and US$10
Pages: 238
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