Buffer Zone Resources and Socioeconomic Status in Meghauli Village Development Committee, Chitwan National Park

Abstract

To understand ecology, conservation practice and social strata in buffer zone, Meghauli Village Development Committee of Chitwan National Park was examined as a case study. Methods applied were stratified random sampling of households and analysis of vegetation and land use change. Resources such as fuel wood and fodder extraction were higher than the sustainable supply. The annual demand and supply of fuel wood and green fodder from the buffer zone community forest did not match, and the deficits were met mainly through the national park. The buffer zone community forest fulfils only about 11 % of each fodder and fuel wood demand if extraction was sustainable.

The average annual surplus of agricultural production on the study area was 5.66 months which was equivalent to Rs. 12,228.83. However there was more than eight months deficit for landless and more than three months of deficit for caste/ethnic group Majhi/Mushar/Bote. Remittance was the major alternative for the deficit management, followed by wage labor.

Effective alternative energy utilization was poor; only two sampled households had the access to bio gas plant and both of them fall under big farm by land holding size and Brahmin/Chhetri/Thakuri by caste ethnic group. None of the landless were involved in buffer zone management and resources distribution was not in favor of poor as most of the community forests distribute fuel wood by calling tender among the member households of user groups. Due to this fact, crop deficit facing poorer households were willing to harvest resources from the Park even it was illicit activity.

All these suggest that buffer zone communities were not self reliant and had on- going impact on the park resources. Efforts of Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP) via buffer zone management were seemed to be less compatible in meeting the twin goals of conservation and development in Meghauli Village Development Committee.

Key words: Biodiversity conservation, Socio-economy, land use, buffer zone community forest, rhino.