Role of Protected Areas in Sustainable Livelihood of Local People: A Case Study of Shivapuri National Park, Kathmandu

Abstract

Protected areas are those areas that are established for conservation of nature,environment and biodiversity. In recent years, due to depletion of biodiversity with the degradation of environment there is an imbalance in nature. The livelihood of people, adjacent to such areas is vulnerable. The conflict between such areas and people is arising day by day for the use of natural resources.Protected areas can be known in various forms,i.e.,National Parks Buffer zones,Strict Nature Reserves, Wildlife Reserves, Conservation Areas, and Hunting Reserves. Depletion of biodiversity affects the existence of human life, so establishment of protected areas plays significant role in the conservation of nature and existence of mankind in this planet. Shivapuri National Park is a new park and was established in 2002. It was the main source of fuel wood, fodder and timber for the local people before the declaration of Wildlife Reserves. The Government of Nepal tried to check the problems of deterioration of natural ecosystem in 1976 and established development project in guidance and supervision of Shivapuri Development Board. Later, the area was gazetted as Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve in 1984. This is only one of Nepal’s Protected Area that lies entirely within the Middle Hills physiographic zone. This study relates to the Mulkharka area of Sundarijal VDC in Kathmandu district.Itanalyzesthe policies and programs relating tothe Shivapuri National Park: The survey was conduced in 36 households by using simple random sampling method.Group discussion,observation and interview were applied for data collection. The literacy rate of surveyed households is 58.07 percent.The primary occupation of the respondents is agriculture which comprises 58.33 percent and other respondents are engaged in livestock rearing, small business and labour.Maize, millet and wheat are the major crops in the study area.The people in the study area heavily depend up on the traditional farming and livestock rearing so there is no significant positive change on their livelihood. Crops are also damaged by wildlife. People do not get any compensation from park authority. Total respondents are dependent on firewood for fuel. Only one household has constructed bio-gas plant. Most of the respondents prepare alcohol, so consumption of firewood is very high. Over 33 percent of the households consume fire wood up to 300 kg per month and 30.56 percent consume between 600-900 kg per month. The knowledge about alternative source of fuel is very poor in the local people. This study shows that the livelihood of local people of Mulkharka is becoming more vulnerable due to loss of access to the resources. In the present situation,there is no program of Shivapuri National Park for participatory conservation and mutual co-existence. Conservation is not possible with the exclusion of the local people. Hence, the policy and program should be launched in favour of local people, which meet demand of the local people as well as conservation objective of the park and government as well. The alternative sources of fuel should be found and promoted for sustainable livelihood of local people. The buffer zone should be declared as soon as possible for participatory conservation and sustainable utilization of resources which will minimize the conflicts between park and people and assist in the sustainable development of the whole nation.