Further Project Update: May 2007

This is an update on the research project carried out in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park. Selection of Buffer Zone Community Forests (BZCFs), group meeting and questionnaire survey had been accomplished. Five BZCFs were selected in such a way that three from Bardia district and two from Banke district due to the criteria fixed by the park staffs, local people and several line agencies (NGOs/CBOs) with in affected community. The main thrust of the study was to assess the impacts of buffer zone Program in the socio-economic indicators of the local communities (women, poor and disadvantaged groups (DAGs) and biophysical indicators of the buffer zone forest. Various tools of PRA including semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions were applied to collect the data. Simple qualitative method was used for data analysis.

Almost all the users have the positive responses toward the BZCF Program. Skill, attitude and performance of the users have positively improved after the formation of BZCF. Out of the five BZCFs, Rammapur BZCF was found more decision power, effective fund rising mechanism and poverty focus programs rather than four. Index of Relative Ranking (IRR), Index of Perceived Analysis (IPA) and x2-test was used to check the people perception toward BZCF. Index of Relative Ranking (IRR) was received the maximum value 0.9 on biodiversity conservation activities. It is the indication of increasing awareness level on biodiversity conservation due to different trainings and seminars conducted by NP office, CARE/Nepal, WWF/Nepal, etc. Although poor have the lower extension or approach in livelihood capitals than better off, their livelihood have been progressively increasing after the BZCF so natural capitals have gradually increased and more effectively implemented among five livelihood capitals in the present situation. Program focusing on poor, women and dalits should be launched effectively and efficiency way in the near future. Free distribution of benefits among the poorest, encouraging the income generating activities and fair and equitable benefit sharing should be implemented for the better mechanism of reducing the poorest of the poor people in an area. Therefore, the management system of BZCF should be further boosted by providing economic, institutional and moral supports by the park and donor agencies so as to develop the well institutionalized local stewardship in conservation.