Biodiversity Under Threat

In an era marked by the disastrous impacts of climate change, the voice calling for the urgent conservation of biodiversity echoes all over the world. Hailed as one of the biggest defenders against climate change, biodiversity is said to provide essential ecosystem services like clean water, food, and climate regulation – services that are indispensable for the survival of various species, including humans. 

A thriving biodiversity also ensures the long-term stability of natural systems. So, protecting biodiversity is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for all inhabitants of the Earth. Endowed with attitudinal variations from the lowlands of Madhes to the highest peak in the world, Nepal is uniquely positioned to nourish a staggeringly diverse biodiversity. Because of the widely varying climatic conditions, the flora and fauna found in Chitwan National Park are starkly different from those that call Sagarmatha National Park their home. 

Madhes Province, for example, hosts 163 species of fish, 24 species of amphibians, 95 reptiles, and 578 species of birds, which accounts for about 64 per cent of Nepal's total bird population. However, according to a recent major study, these are now under threat due to human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, illegal hunting, and environmental degradation, particularly outside the conservation area.  The study also found twenty-two mammal species to be globally threatened, while 31 were nationally threatened.

The study has identified illegal trapping and sale of farmland birds, especially during winter, as a serious issue that must be addressed without delay, with more than 100,000 birds reportedly hunted each year and sold subsequently. It recommends urgent steps to conserve biodiversity,   including controlling illegal hunting and bird trapping, restoring wetlands, improving fire management and simplifying the compensation process for conflict victims. Blessed with large swaths of arable land, Madhes is the breadbasket of the country. The foods produced here feed the entire country. However, should this degradation of biodiversity continue, the agriculture sector is sure to take a hit, imperiling the country's food security. 

The experts who were part of the study have highlighted the urgent need to address habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflicts, and unplanned urbanisation – all of which are jeopardising the province's rich biodiversity. The conservationists have also urged cross-border cooperation with India to manage species migrating on both sides of the border, calling for the relocation of species like blue bull from farmlands to protected areas. They have also suggested developing wildlife corridors between Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve via key rivers and promoting wildlife-friendly infrastructure such as safer roads and bridges.

Though awareness of the criticality of conserving wildlife has seeped into the consciousness of a large section of Nepalis, there is still no shortage of people who are eager to kill wildlife deemed a threat to human life or agriculture, such as tigers, leopards and snakes, among others, that inadvertently venture into human settlements. If we are to leap forward in the conservation of biodiversity, the tendency to treat wildlife cruelly needs to undergo a radical transformation.  One way to do this is to train people living in the vicinity of wildlife habitats to immediately call a wildlife rescuer who has the needed expertise to not only safely rescue the animal but also keep people safe from harm that such wild beasts pose. In addition, raising awareness through community education and incorporating conservation into school curricula are also vital long-term solutions.