IUCN'S REGIONAL CONSERVATION FORUM
Call
For
Sustainable Conservation
Passing through a phase of fragile democracy, difficult peace process, effect of climate change and scarcity of water, Nepal is in the complex position to strike a balance between the development and environment. At a time when Nepal's successful stories of sustainable conservation and development like buffer zone project, national park management, wildlife protection and community forestry are in critical stage, IUCN (The World Conservation Union)'s decision to hold 4th Asia Regional Conservation Asia
in Nepal is very significant.. Devastated by twelve years long internal bloody conflict, Nepal’s nature conservation is also in a very critical phase of recovery. Compared to its geographical space, Nepal has unique combination of bio-diversity and cultural diversity and the challenge now is to maintain balance. Even after signing the peace agreement, it is still uncertain how long the peace will last
By KESHAB POUDEL
Although they are regarded as unique examples of sustainable environment and development programs, Nepal's community forestry and community participation in the national park management and wildlife conservation programs are all at a very critical stage now.
Devastated by twelve years long bloody conflict, it will take a lot of time before there is recovery and revival of public enthusiasm in the sustainable management of Nepal's bio-diversity. Thanks to the conflict, community forestry is now at the process of destruction and deteriorating law and order has encouraged poachers to hunt wild animals from national parks.
Thanks to the growing population in the adjoining areas of national park and greater demands for food and feeder, the conflict between the man and wild animals continue to grow. In the last one year alone, more than 3 dozen one-horned rhinoceros were killed. People continue to cut trees in the forest areas to clear way for their settlement.
Conservation in Nepal
The consequence of unpredictable weather is worrisome. Although it is it yet to make detail study, Nepal's glacier lakes are under the constant threat from rising temperature due to global warming.
Due to the unpredictable hostile weather, Nepalese this year have seen one of the worst floods in the last thirty years which caused huge losses in terms of man and materials. All these incidences indicate that Nepal's nature conservation is not in good shape and that Nepal will have to face more difficult days ahead.
With the population living below poverty line at 31 percent; there are greater demands for the resources to bring the change in their livelihood. As agriculture contributes 39.2 percent of GDP, with high rate of under employment and unemployment, Nepal needs to follow the balanced policy to achieve success.
Nepal's past experiences have shown that bio-diversity conservation diversifies rural income and reduces burden of women and children for access to water, enabling children and women to reduce their collection time and use for education.
The availability of sustainable biological resources, including non-timber forest products, resource management through community forestry and agro-biodiversity have already contributed to address poverty.
At a time when Nepal is making efforts to revive its past successes and implement the programs to support them, the four days gathering of experts from around the world and region in the IUCN's conference was a significant event.
"I believe this conference will encourage us to maintain our conservation reputation and to move forward in partnership with world conservation community. As you all know, Nepal suffered a decade long People's War. However, we are proud to announce that now we are in the peace process to build more prosperous, democratic and socio-economically and environmentally rich country," said Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Dev Gurung.
Endowed with rich biological, cultural and economic diversity, forest and cultural diversity including crops, vegetables, trees, herbs, birds and animals have sustained the livelihood of Nepali people.
"The commitment expressed by politicians is important achievement in the area of natural conservation. From climate change to other environmental problems, all the issues are now being debated," said Surendra Shrestha, regional director UNEP ROAP.
Protected areas in Nepal have now entered a significant phase of development. With the expansion of protected areas, it also addresses the issues of bio-diversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Communities living in the adjoining areas of national parks and wildlife reserve are sharing benefits through the buffer zone initiatives.
"The delegates can learn many things from Nepal including the living in harmony as Nepalese have been living in diversity. People of Nepal have shown that nature and culture can go together," said Prabhu Budhathoki, country representative IUCN-Nepal.
Situated in the small stretch of Himalaya, Nepal is known as a country of rich bio-diversity as well as a pioneer of some of the important successful stories of sustainable environmental management. With the growing population and results of bloody conflict, Nepal's bio-diversity is under a serious threat now.
The challenges Nepal face now is how to put the situation right on the track. " Nepal is a pioneer country in developing various modalities of community based natural resources management systems. The community forestry and protected area management systems can be seen as success stories where over one third of Nepalese people are engaged in some or other way in managing and sharing benefits of such resources," said minister Gurung.
"Unlike our successes in the conservation field, we have yet to develop and demonstrate sustainable models of physical, social, economic and cultural development to suit our needs and hope of our people."
From combating poverty to environmental problems and consequences of climate change, Nepal has been facing all kinds of problems. The community forestry has shown how participation of community in the forest management protects the forest areas and benefits local communities.
"For this particular important Regional Conservation Forum, there could not have been a better venue than Nepal where we are constantly reminded of this country's rich natural and cultural heritage, some of which is exemplified by the many world Heritage sites in this small country as well as in the more modest, but equally impressive sites all around us. Nepal also has demonstrated leadership in community based natural resources management, in the conservation of flagship species, and in establishing a network of
protected areas," said Julia Maron- Lefevre, Director General, IUCN.
Similarly, through the buffer zone management programs, Nepal has shown how we can avoid the conflict between the human and wild animals living in the protected national park areas.
”With such a bio-diversity, Nepal has great potential as well as challenges for the future in the area of environmental conservation," said Aban Marker Kabraj, regional director IUCN Asia. “ Nepal has some of the most successful programs. As peace process continues and democracy is thriving, Nepal's two neighbors and Asia's two major countries can contribute a lot for Nepal."
IUCN's Forum
As a continent of world's huge resources, Asian region has been facing many challenges for sustainable management as well. There is a tendency of rising gap between the rich
and poor.
The forum showcased Nepal's rich natural and cultural heritage and measures taken for its management. About 400 representatives from IUCN's membership with major stakeholders, including those belonging to the donor community and private sector from as many as 30 Asian countries took part in the seminar.
The participants discussed on the critical conservation and development issue in the region as well as their solution. Emphasis was given to the impact of emerging socio-economic trends in the region during the 21st century. Asian ecosystems support over 50 percent of the world's population and its bio-diversity. As such, it is imperative for member countries as well as the international conservation community to work towards the common goal of a sustainable Asia, not lest because of the inextricable links between human security, peace and environment.
The participants of the seminar discussed on three main regional issues like climate change, energy and environmental security. RCF also focused on three thematic priority areas: conserving bio-diversity for life, climate change and energy and poverty, environment and greening the economy.
"Today, the continent of Asia encompasses many worlds, many realities plus one of the most diverse human and natural habitats on the planet. This forum will contribute to the sustainable environment management and sustainable development," said Kabraji.
Divided into three important sessions, the forum discussed on issues like Future of Sustainability, Alternative Models of Development and Role of Private Sector in Ensuring Sustainability. Experts from different parts of the world presented their papers and discussed about the situation.
Along with discussing other issues, the forum also discussed on conserving biodiversity for life: Integral Bio-diversity Conservation, Climate Change and Energy, Poverty, Environment and Greening the Economy.
"We have learned many important models from other countries of the region as well as we also shared our experiences and achievements with the representatives of other countries," said Dr. K.C. Paudel, chief of the monitoring and evaluation division at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. "It gave us opportunities to learn many things."
Along with sharing the project models of various countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and Republic of Korea, the experts also discussed the way on how to cope with new challenges.
By selecting Nepal as the venue for such a mega conference attended by more than 400
experts from different parts of the world, IUCN provided Nepal an opportunity to show Nepal's real situation and difficulties it is facing.
ROLE OF JUDICIARY
In Constitution Making
At a time when communist-dominated unelected and unaccountable parliament was interrogating nominee of chief justice, lawyers and experts from Nepal, Canada and India discussed various issues on Independence of Judiciary in a Federal System.
Organized by Constitutional Advisory Support Unit, UNDP and the Federal Judiciary Concern Committee of the Nepal Bar Association, the International Commission of Jurists, the three-day seminar discussed various models of judiciary.
Senior lawyer from India, Rajeev Dhavan shared his views regarding the independence of judiciary. He argued that present procedure under which judges are grilled in the parliament committee will definitely harm the independence of judiciary. Only an independent judge can made the judiciary independent.
Sharing the experiences of India, senior lawyer Dhavan said India made its constitution where there was unprecedented level of consensus among all the political forces and intellectuals. "When your society is divided in such a manner, it is virtually impossible to make a good constitution in Nepal," said Dhavan.
On the issue of independence of judiciary, Dhavan said lawyers and politicians have to decide what kind of judiciary they want. Independent judiciary is fundamental element for democracy. “If your country's judiciary is guided by politicians, people cannot get the independent judgments," said Dhavan.
"Without an independence of judiciary, we say, there cannot be the rule of law. And without the rule of law, there cannot be the enjoyment of human rights or the predictability of the consequences of our decisions or transactions," said Yash Ghai of UNDP's Constitutional Advisory Support Unit.
Acting chief justice Kedar Prasad Giir, Justice Meen Bahadur Rayamajhi, and former chief justice Kedar Nath Upadhaya, Trilok Pratap Rana and other various scholars and Canadian political scientist also shared their views at the seminar.
