Socio Economic Impact of Shivapuri National Park on Local Community (A Case Study of Budhanilkantha Area)

Abstract

Shivapuri National Park and was established in 2002. Earlier Shivapuri was the main source offuelwood, fodder and timber for the local people. In 1975, HMG of Nepal tried to check theproblems of deterioration of Shivapuri ecosystem and established development project on theguidance and supervision of Shivapuri Development Board. Again the area was gazette asShivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve (SWWR) in 1983. In Feb. 2002, the reservewasdeclared as National Park. Hence, the practices of local people foe years and easy access tonatural resources of Shivapuri have been undermined. Keeping in mind the above mentioned situation Budhanilkantha area inside the ShivapuriNational Park wasselected for the study of socio economic impact of local community. The general objective of the study is to assess the socio-economic impact of the ShivapuriNational Park on the livelihoods of the people living nearby.The specific objectivesof the studyare toexamine the socio-economic condition of the local people, to estimate the demand andsupply of firewood in Budhanilkantha Area, to find out the components of conflicts between thelocal people and National park. The descriptive research design has been adopted. Primary andsecondary data have been equally used. The total 103 sample populations have been abstractedthrough a purposive sampling under non-probability sampling design. The questionnaire havebeen constructed as closed and open ended type and administered in Nepali language. It had been concluded that it had been concluded that the majority (93%) of the respondents aresatisfied with the establishment of the Shivapuri National Park but the local people living in andaround the Shivapuri National Park have no legal access in all available natural resources as theirdemand although quality is in good condition and has reasonable distance for resource collection. Livestock rearing is one of the main sources of income of the local people.Although,fodder/grass and grazing have banded by Parks, 62% of the respondents are collect fodder/grassboth from the farm land and park area. The demand of firewood of the people for the energypurpose did not fulfill by the Park. Sometimes, people steal the firewood and the fodder/grassfrom Park. The better way could be the creation of buffer zone which will provide the resources to the localpeople and help to minimize the present conflict. Moreover, the local people should be involvedin all level of conservation strategy.