CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY & DELIVERING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

(Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri)
Some facts and figures
AREA: 10,600 ha
PROTECTION STATUS: National Park
CONSERVATION STATUS: high pressures, unfavourable state, medium response
MAIN METHODS FOR ASSESSING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: stakeholder workshop (1), key informant
meetings, rapid appraisal, carbon transects (24), household surveys (251), water modelling
SURVEY STAFF: 5
SURVEY TIME: 56 person days
The Site: This Important Bird Area (IBA) was declared as a Protected Area in 1976 due to its unique natural beauty and the
desire of the late King Mahendra to protect it. In 2006, a buffer zone was also declared. It is an important site for the
conservation of the globally threatened Cheer Pheasant and harbours other charismatic species such as Red Panda and
Clouded Leopard.
The Issues: Although Protected Areas are often highly effective in reducing the pressures on biodiversity and conserving
species, there are often negative impacts on local people. Rara falls within the districts of Jumla and Mugu, which are two of the
poorest in Nepal and resources are often scarce. There is already intense harvesting of timber from some areas of the buffer
zone and various non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are also harvested in this area, with some permitted (as well as increasing
illegal) extraction from the core zone of the park.
This study: The benefits that people receive from carbon storage and sequestration, harvested wild goods, cultivated goods,
nature-based recreation and water services were assessed by comparing the core zone of the National Park, its buffer zone and
the surrounding area. The study suggests that resource use in the buffer zone is unsustainable, resulting in the rapid
degradation of its forests and increasing encroachment into the core zone.
Interpreting the results: To ensure the long-term wildlife value of the forest and sustainability of harvested wild goods for
local people, a better forest management model is required. Restoring the 41 Community Forests that existed prior to the
creation of the buffer zone could help to achieve this. In Nepal, buffer zones have been established around most of the National
Parks to provide some financial compensation to communities for this loss of access. At a site where annual revenues are low
(Rara currently has the lowest revenue of all the 10 National Parks in Nepal) the net additional financial benefit to living within
the buffer zone is currently negligible, so investment in engaging local people in the developing tourism industry, and
encouraging other income-generating activities is recommended.