National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Nepal’s Gains Ignored

Despite unstable geology, unpredictable weather and political instability, Nepal has made enormous progress in sustainable management of resources

By KESHAB POUDEL

Responding to massive deforestation and the concomitant decline in natural resources in the 1970s and 1980s, the government came up with a scheme of community forest management and resource conservation through public participation. Initiated in 1986 by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has transformed the Annapurna region and has received worldwide recognition as a model project for eco-tourism.

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ACAP has evolved from an experimental integrated project to the largest protected area covering 7,629 square kilometers. The ACAP model of integrating conservation and development through people’s participation has been replicated in many parts of the country.

The upsurge in user groups in forest management is another success story in the area of conservation and use of resources through people’s participation. Micro-hydroelectricity, biogas and now solar power are instances of cheap and clean energy Nepalese have adopted. The people have retained the success of the 1980s development model even amid today’s hostile conditions of political instability and violent conflict.

On the eve of World Summit on Sustainable Development in the South African city of Johannesburg, Nepal faced flash floods, causing heavy damage to life and property. But the effect is still nominal compared to the previous decade. This shows how conservation of forests can minimize the effects of such disasters. This is a key lesson rural Nepalese have learnt in the last decade.

With conservation of forest resources, Nepal’s rural population has seen much visible transformation in their day-to-day life. Experience has shown that poverty alleviation and successful resource management are interlinked, as only equal distribution of resources can help reduce poverty. As the forest is the lifeline of rural areas, villagers require sustainable harnessing of forest resources to uplift the economy.

With more than 12,000 users group managing large portions of community forests, the rural population has seen drastic changes in living. In the areas along the Annapurna and Mansalu, people have enjoyed the benefit of eco-tourism. Community forestry has helped to make the rural people self-sufficient in fodder and fuel wood. According to studies, sustainable resource management system has increased farmer’s productivity, reduced the time required for collecting fodder, grass and reduced deforestation and landslides.

Nepal’s conservation efforts are not problem-free. But the problems are sorted out as soon as they appear. After the declaration of buffer zone in the national park, the conflict between man and wild animals has been drastically reduced.

Whether it is conservation projects or community forestry or micro hydroelectricity plants, all of them have shown that they sustainable. Micro-hydro and small hydro projects, along with biogas, have reduced the people’s dependency upon the forests as well as improved the health of the rural population.

Despite the increase in the number of micro-hydro and biogas plants, more than 80 percent of the population is yet to have access to the modern energy. As more and more people become attracted to solar energy, the dependency on the forest can be further reduced.

As forest cover is increasing, the people have started to utilize the resources for the broader interest. How can they preserve the forests amid internal conflict? More than a dozen of small and micro-hydro power stations have been destroyed and many other infrastructure built by the people are under threat. If the situation does not improve, community users group would be compelled to dismantle conserved areas. New schemes like buffer zones in national parks and alternative energy projects will suffer, pushing the country behind several decades.

From community forestry to conservation of resources through local participation to producing clean energy, Nepal has developed its own models for sustainable resource management. At a time when Nepal’s conservation efforts have secure international acclaim, Nepalese leaders failed to project our successes at Johannesburg.