The government’s plan to introduce tourism activities inside protected parks of the country for revenue generation has alarmed conservationists who say such interventions could cause massive degradation of biodiversity.

 

The government has drafted a new working procedure with a view to promoting and regulating tourism inside all the protected areas of the country.

 

The new working procedure will pave the way for entrepreneurs to enter the conservation areas where they will provide jungle safari, ultra-running, cycling, rock climbing, hiking, boating, canopy walk and paragliding, among other adventure sports and activities to attract tourists.

 

Conservationists say while revenue generation is essential for covering expenses of such protected parks, government authorities should be careful about the adverse impact they can have on wildlife and the environment.

 

“National parks cannot sustain with what they earn, especially in countries like Nepal where the government has a list of priorities other than conservation,” Yadav Ghimirey, a conservation biologist at Friends of Nature, told the Post. “Therefore, protected areas should develop some mechanisms to earn revenues without much negative impact on their resources and wildlife.”

 

However, as happens in Nepal all the time, said Ghimirey, such moves could go horribly wrong if favouritism and nepotism prevail during any stage of the process.

 

“If that happens, it will be the start of a painful time for the wildlife inside the national parks,” he said.

 

Nepal’s protected areas with coverage of over 3.4 million hectares of forest are also home to rich biodiversity and a source of environmental services. These conservation areas also shelter valuable wildlife like tigers, one-horned rhinos, elephants, hundreds of mammals and birds species. Growing human pressure—which often results in human-wildlife conflict—and shrinking and fragmentation of their habitat have already posed threat to wildlife.

 

In recent years, Nepal has shown an exemplary role in the overall conservation of green cover, biodiversity and its wild animals. Now, the country wants to capitalise on its available natural resources to generate income for the country.

 

“So far, we have succeeded in conservation. Now it’s time to reap the tangible benefits for all. Revenue generation from protected areas and tourism is also the goal of the government,” said Man Bahadur Khadka, director general of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation.

 

But according to Uttam Babu Shrestha, an expert on biodiversity, such intervention, for example, in the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) will have three major consequences on ecosystem services, biodiversity and communities living inside the park.