Amendment to National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 sought

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Dec. 26: The Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) and the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) have jointly demanded an amendment to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029.

Speaking at a programme organised on Sunday, the officials of both the FECOFUN and NEFIN handed over the suggestions and position papers to the Secretary of the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Deepak Kumar Kharal. 

According to them, the existing laws have not been able to address the demands of indigenous and local citizens, and they need timely amendments.

Along with the Act, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Regulations 2080, Procedures for Construction of Infrastructure in Protected Areas 2080, Standards for Professionally Keeping, Breeding and Utilisation of Wildlife 2080 and Guidelines for Relief and Distribution of Damages Caused by Wildlife 2080 have been submitted.

Their demand is not to displace the indigenous and local communities living around the protected areas in the name of protected areas. The indigenous leaders asked the officials to address the legitimate demands of the communities, which have been using the resources since ancient times.

The government of Nepal should immediately commit that conservation of biological diversity will be done through community-based protected areas and customary institutions, including community forests,” the demand letter stated. They are also demanding the draft of a new law related to the management of protected areas in consultation with the indigenous people living around the national parks and addressing their rights.

Since citizens are suffering from wild animals in the protected areas, they have also arranged for proper compensation for all those who lost their lives in the attacks of wild animals. 

Gelje Sherpa, president of NEFIN, demanded the creation of a protected area only after ensuring the rights of the people. He said that the life of wild animals could not be greater than the people, he asked to ensure the rights of the local people first.

Chairman of Indigenous Commission Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar said that indigenous people should not be displaced as their lives are connected with land and forest.

Informing that the commission has received complaints about the displacement of many indigenous people by parks and hydropower projects, he said that he would discuss with the government and stakeholders and try to find a solution.

Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said that there should be arrangements according to the wishes of the people in a democracy. 

He said that the Act has already been amended five times and further amendments may be made in the future. He said that the government should also protect the knowledge, skills and customs of the indigenous communities.