Socio-economic Impact of Shivapuri National Park on Local Community: A Case Study of Budhanilkantha Area

Abstract

Shivapuri National Park was established in 2002. Earlier, Shivapuri was the main source of fuelwood, 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 project under the guidance and supervision of Shivapuri Development Board. Again the area was gazetted as Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve (SWWR) in 1983. In February 2002, the reserve was declared as National Park. Hence, the practices of local people for years and their access to natural resources of Shivapuri have been undermined.

Keeping in mind the above-mentioned situation, Budhanilkantha area inside the Shivapuri National Park was selected for the study. The general objective of the study is to assess the socio-economic impact of the Shivapuri National Park on the livelihoods of the people living nearby. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the socio-economic condition of the local people, to estimate the demand and supply of firewood in Budhanilkantha Area, to find out the components of conflicts between the local people and National park. The descriptive research design has been adopted. Primary and secondary data have been equally used. A sample of 103 households has been taken using the purposive sampling method under non-probability sampling design. A questionnaire using both closed and open-ended types of question was prepared and administered in Nepali language.

It has been concluded that the majority (93%) of the respondents are satisfied with the establishment 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 resources which are although in good condition and in reasonable distance for resource collection.

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, Sixty- two percent of the respondents still collect fodder/grass from the farm land. The local people’s demand for firewood for the energy purpose is not fulfilled by the Park and sometimes the people steal required the firewood 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 resources to the local people and help minimize the present resource related conflict. Moreover, the local people should be involved in all processes of the conservation strategy.