Nepal's Draft Interim Constitution Could Benefit Environment

By Deepak Gajurel

KATHMANDU, Nepal, August 9, 2006 (ENS) - Conservation activities in Nepal have been hampered by difficult security conditions as Maoist and government forces struggled for control over the past decade. Patrols have not been able to monitor wild animals and forests in most national parks and wildlife reserves due to security concerns, but now that a panel has finalized a draft for a temporary constitution, conservationists are hoping the situation will improve.

The draft constitution will be submitted to the multi-party government and rebels later today, said former Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal, who heads the 15 member Interim Constitution Drafting Committee.

Former Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal and the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee are presenting a draft that WWF says includes biodiversity safeguards. (Photo courtesy BLCN)

Nepal's mainstream political parties and Maoist rebels agreed to a ceasefire in May, after mass demonstrations forced King Gyanendra to relinquish power. In June, the two sides agreed to establish an interim government, guided by the interim constitution that is now being drafted.

In July, WWF Nepal, CARE Nepal, the IUCN, and three mountain conservation groups took advantage of this window of opportunity to help shape the future policies of Nepal with regard to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. They presented the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee with a set of joint recommendations.

Up to 40 percent of Nepal’s total land shall be maintained under forest cover for all time, and up to 20 percent of Nepal’s total land shall be maintained under a protected areas system, the groups recommended.

Recalling Nepal’s "leading role as innovator in biodiversity conservation such as community based nature conservation, community forestry, rural energy development, revenue sharing in protected areas and buffer zone management," the groups recommended that international commitments to environment and biodiversity conservations made by the monarchy be met.

Some of the world's estimated 5,000 remaining wild tigers inhabit Nepal. This one was caught on film in a WWF-Nepal camera trap in the Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. (Photo courtesy WWF-Nepal)

The set of recommendations was well received, says WWF, and the committee assured senior representatives of the groups that they would be incorporated in the draft constitution.

Meanwhile, officials at the Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in western Nepal say that security concerns have made monitoring in the reserve difficult, but they have perservered. "The employees are scared by insecurity. But it does not mean that we are not doing anything," says Senior Ranger Chandra Bahadur Chand.

Though reserve employees and security guards are unable to frequently patrol the jungle, wildlife poachers are also scared to enter the jungle, reserve officials say.

"Two poachers were killed in a landmine blast in the Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve two years ago. No poachers are seen in the reserve since then," says a game scout at the reserve who declined to be identified by name. The landmine is believed to have been planted by Maoist rebels.

"Not a single incident of wildlife poaching has been recorded in Suklaphanta since last two years. We have not encountered any poachers in the Reserve during these couple of years," says Chand.

The forests of the Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve have been avoided by rangers and timber smugglers alike. (Photo © Deepak Gajurel)

A habitat restoration program within the reserve, habitat extension and species conservation are all underway in Suklaphanta, and Chand says these efforts have shown encouraging results.

Wild animals like Royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant and one-horned rhinoceros have started movements across the Nepal-India border. These and other wild species frequently cross the Nepal-India border into India’s Lagga Bagga Conservation Area from Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and vice versa, according to reserve officials.

The animals in Suklaphanta do not have to go far in search of water, said Suklaphanta Chief Warden Tika Ram Adhikari.

"We are conserving the natural ponds and lakes within the reserve area," he said. "In addition, several new ponds and canals have been constructed. These sources provide year-round water supply to wild animals."

Deer graze newly planted grasslands in the Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. (Photo credit unknown)

Because of the increased availability of prey and food, larger animals like tigers, rhinos and elephants are making their permanent habitats in the reserve, Adhikari observes.

WWF Nepal has been monitoring the tiger population in this protected area. "A tiger counting program through camera trapping is ongoing in Suklaphanta Reserve, and 16 adult tigers have been camera trapped during 2005," said Trishna Gurung, communication officer at WWF Nepal.

At least 23 adult Royal Bengal tigers roam the reserve, while six one-horned rhinos have made their homes here, according to official figures. The reserve also has six resident adult elephants.