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Shifting paradigms for Nepal’s protected areas: history, challenges and relationships

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Abstract

The modern history of protected area (PA) management in Nepal dates back to 1973 when the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (1973) was promulgated and Chitwan National Park was established. In the years immediately following these key events, protected area acts and regulations were strictly applied and the role of local people in managing natural resources was neglected. However with the passage of time, and with changes in the socio-political and economic characteristics of Nepal, management regimes have shifted towards a more liberal model which recognizes more clearly the contributions of people living and working within protected areas. Recently, landscape level conservation models including the designation of multiple use areas have been utilized in the development of management plans for protected areas in Nepal. Conservation agencies have attempted to tackle challenges such as land use conflict, poaching and smuggling of wildlife parts and illegal harvesting of highly valued medicinal herbs through regulation, but these efforts are not always successful. We recommend a holistic conflict resolution approach which recognizes and resolves the different needs of all stakeholders.

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Acknowledgement

We are thankful to three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments which helped to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, #860, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Babu R. Bhattarai & Bhupendra P. Yadav

  2. Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Victoria, Australia

    Babu R. Bhattarai, Wendy Wright & Achyut Aryal

  3. Department of Forest Research and Survey, # 3339, Kthmandu, Nepal

    Buddi S. Poudel

  4. Institute of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Massey University, # 102904, Auckland, New Zealand

    Achyut Aryal

  5. Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, # 12476, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Radha Wagle

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  1. Babu R. Bhattarai
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Correspondence to Babu R. Bhattarai.

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Bhattarai, B.R., Wright, W., Poudel, B.S. et al. Shifting paradigms for Nepal’s protected areas: history, challenges and relationships. J. Mt. Sci. 14, 964–979 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-016-3980-9

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