Nepal’s Conservation in Crisis: Empowering People to Secure Natural Resources

Abstract

Nepal’s decades of conservation efforts are at risk due to armed conflict in the country. The conservation model based on the foundation of strict protection has been found insufficient during present political crisis as protected areas enjoy no or little public support. Many protected areas are showing 'paper park syndromes'. Crisis also offers a great opportunity to conservation agencies to reassess their policies, practices, and priorities and identify better options that can withstand difficult circumstances. This paper presents an overview of present crisis in biodiversity conservation and suggests some alternative mechanisms for long-term conservation of biological resources of the country.