The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

The Protected Landscape Approach: Linking Nature, Culture and Community
Nepal has been adopting a
protected landscape approach
in most of its protected areas,
integrating conservation and
traditional resource use
practices.
Elizabeth Hughes/ICPL
about 18% of the total surface area of the country. Despite several problems and constraints,
Nepal has achieved some significant successes in the protection and management of its
biodiversity (HMG/MFSC, 2003). The populations of many endangered and globally sig -
nificant species such as the greater one-horned rhinoceros, tiger and Indian bison have been
revived. For example, government statistics suggest that the population of rhinos has increased
five-fold in four years (from just over 100 in 1976, to 612 in 2000).
The protected area systems not only protect biological diversity but also contribute to the
conservation of cultural and religious heritage. There are a number of centuries-old settlements
and religious sites inside mountain national parks where various ethnic groups with rich and
diversified cultural practices have been living in harmony with nature. For example, Sherpa,
Bhote, Rai, Tamang and Gurung are the major ethnic groups in the mountain areas whereas
Tharus – indigenous inhabitants of Terai – and hill migrants occupy the surrounding area of
national parks and reserves in Terai. Annapurna Conservation Area is the home of eleven
different ethnic peoples. Sherpa communities in Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park
believe that animals, plants and even rocks have spirits, and as Buddhists, they follow traditions
of non-violence that make hunting abhorrent to them (Stevens, 1997).
There are also many cultural, religious and archaeologically important sites in and around
protected areas. Some of the important religious and cultural sites are Tengboche Gomba
(Monastery) in Sagarmatha National Park, Shey Gomba in Shey Phoskunda National Park, Lo
Monthang, a medieval walled city made of mudbrick in the trans-Himalayan region of Mustang
in Annapurna Conservation Area, and Balmiki Ashram in Royal Chitwan National Park. The
Balmiki Ashram, which lies on the western side of the Royal Chitwan National Park, dates back
to 300–200 BC and has been mentioned in the Ramayana epic (Paudel, 1997). Similarly, many
mountain cave systems in Mustang are believed to be prehistoric. A recent discovery of
approximately 30 naturally mummified bodies in one of these cave systems is believed to be
from circa 400BC to 50AD (Alt et al., 2003).
While Nepal is extremely rich in natural, cultural and spiritual wealth, it is also home to
many poor mountain communities. Biodiversity conservation has been a challenging task as
these poor people depend on biological resources for their subsistence. For example, forests
provide 81% of the total fuel and about 50% of the fodder requirements of households in Nepal
(WECS, 1997). As a result, conservation in Nepal has been responsive to this social context and
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