Practices of Resolving Natural Resource Conflicts: A Case Study of Okhaldhunga district

Abstract

The broader socio-political system, power dynamics, and local politics affect conflict over natural resources tremendously. All in all, there appears to be little evidence of effectiveness in the existing linear top-down approach of government-instituted organization to resolve natural resources conflicts. In the current system only powerful people and the elite are benefiting. The existing conflict management system in Nepal is not responsive enough to address growing conflict, and deserves prompt action aimed at reformation. We can use formal and informal techniques to resolve the current problems of resource conflict. Pani kadne, Maphi dine, Jariwana tiraune, Jhankri rakhne, Sagun garne are the informal practices of conflicts resolution in Nepal by tradition. But court system, reconciliation, mediation of CDOs VDCs, DDCs, mediation of different organization help to resolve the conflict in formal systems. Land use change in the study settlements has influenced by the development facilities. These settlements are newly established but the pattern of settlement showed it as a human antiquity. It was found that concentration of facilities lured more to immigrate in these settlements, in return of it, there has been taken land use change massively. It was also believed that these integrate to plant the seeds of resource conflicts in the area. The study has been completed on the basis of forty households as the sample of Balakhu settlement of Okhaldhunga district. The data were harbored by using the exploratory cum analytical research design and applying the different tools and techniques along with observation protocol, checklist, structure and unstructured questionnaires map of the VDC. Natural resource conflicts are frequently occurring in the study area due to rapid land use change. Land use change has dominated by the factors of immigration, increasing population, development activities and adoption of new technologies. Fifty seven percent conflicts in the study settlements have been found by the land related conflicts in terms of boundary, demarcation, legal provision and landlessness. In terms of forest resources, the firewood is the major factor which contributed 64 percent. Origins, escalations and resolutions of conflicts are highly influenced by its context, time and location. Historical, cultural, political, economic, institutional and social context, power relationships, norms, values, practices and property rights and ownership issues play crucial roles in conflict. According to this study, it was predicted that both right-based approaches should be observed in contemporary conflict management practices to which UN had already recognized.