Socio Economic Relationship with Protected Area: A Case Study of Shivapuri National Park, Budhanilakantha, Kathmandu District, Nepal

Abstract

The study entitled" Socio-economic relationship with protected area (A case study of shivapuri National park of Budhanilkhantha, Kathmandu" district on the basis of primary data collected for which field survey was conducted in April, 2014 and 43 household were selected for study. shivapurinational park was established in 2002.Earlier,shivapuri was main source of fuel wood ,fodder and timber for the local people .In 1975 ,Government of Nepal tried to check the problem of deterioration of shivapuri ecosystem and established development Board. Again the area was gazette as shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve (SWWR) in 1983.In February 2002, the reserve was declared as national park .Hence, the practice of local people for years and their access to natural resources of shivapuri have been undermine. Keeping in mind the above -mention the shivapuri situation, Budhanilkhantha area inside the shivpuri national park was selected for the study .The general objectives of the study is to assess the socio-economic impact of the shivapuri national park on the livelihood of the people of nearby. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the socio-economic condition of the people, to estimate the demand and supply of firewood in Budhanilkhantha Area, to find out the components of conflicts between the local people and national park .The descriptive research design has been adopted .Primary data secondary data have been equally used. A sample of 43 has been taken using the purposive sampling method under non-probability sampling design. A questionnaire using closed and open -ended types of question was prepared and administered in Nepal language. It has been conducted that the majority (90%) of the respondents are satisfied with the established of the shivapuri national park but the local people living in and around the Shivapuri National park have no legal access to all available and required natural recourses which are available and required natural recourses which are although in good condition and in reasonable distance for resources collection. Agriculture and livestock rearing is one of the main sources of income of the local people. Although, fodder /grass collection and grazing have been banned by the park, (39%) of the respondents still collect fodder and grass from land of park. The local people's demand for firewood for the energy purpose is not fulfilled by the park and sometimes the people steal required the fire wood and the fodder/grass from the park. The better way to solve the above problem could be the creation of buffer zone, which could provide recourses to the local people and help minimize the present recourse related conflict. Moreover; the local people should be involved in all processes of the conservation strategy.