Jailab Rai ForestAction Nepal
(www.forestaction.org)www.forestaction.org Tribhuvan University,
Nepal (www.cdsatu.edu.np)www.cdsatu.edu.np Jailab Rai ForestAction
Nepal (www.forestaction.org)www.forestaction.org Tribhuvan
University, Nepal (www.cdsatu.edu.np)www.cdsatu.edu.np
Slide 2
How Cultural Sites are Complementary to the Protected Areas in
Nepal?: Innovations for the Ground
Slide 3
Outline of the Presentation Indigenous Peoples in Nepal;
Protected Areas (PAs) in Nepal; How Cultural Sites/Territories are
Managed and Conserved by IPs in Nepal; How Cultural Sites of the
Indigenous peoples are complementary to the PAs in Nepal;
Challenges and Opportunities. Indigenous Peoples in Nepal;
Protected Areas (PAs) in Nepal; How Cultural Sites/Territories are
Managed and Conserved by IPs in Nepal; How Cultural Sites of the
Indigenous peoples are complementary to the PAs in Nepal;
Challenges and Opportunities.
Slide 4
Indigenous Peoples in Nepal 125 Caste and ethnic groups
identified/ listed by National Census 2011 59 IPs officially
recognized (in 2002) Other 23 recommended by High Commission for
the Study of IPs in 2011 (total 81) IPs cover about 37 % of total
national population Scattered but in particular geographical
regions or areas 125 Caste and ethnic groups identified/ listed by
National Census 2011 59 IPs officially recognized (in 2002) Other
23 recommended by High Commission for the Study of IPs in 2011
(total 81) IPs cover about 37 % of total national population
Scattered but in particular geographical regions or areas
Slide 5
Protected Areas in Nepal 20 protected areas (PAs) 23.23% of
countrys territory covered by PA 4 types of management categories
(5 including Buffer Zones) Diverse issue and concerns of IPs out of
PAs in Nepal (livelihood, cultural recognition and dignity ) 20
protected areas (PAs) 23.23% of countrys territory covered by PA 4
types of management categories (5 including Buffer Zones) Diverse
issue and concerns of IPs out of PAs in Nepal (livelihood, cultural
recognition and dignity )
Slide 6
Forms of IP Conserved Areas in Nepal Forms Sacred landscapes
Grazing and rangelands etc. Wetlands Ponds Lakes Community forests
Religious Forests Landscape Connectivity Ramsar Forms Sacred
landscapes Grazing and rangelands etc. Wetlands Ponds Lakes
Community forests Religious Forests Landscape Connectivity Ramsar
Size Large Medium Small Location Within formal PAs (23.23%) Outside
the formal PAs Geography -Mountain, -Hill and -South Plain (Terai)
Size Large Medium Small Location Within formal PAs (23.23%) Outside
the formal PAs Geography -Mountain, -Hill and -South Plain
(Terai)
Slide 7
1. Khumbu Sherpa (Serwa) Conserved Area More than 50
communities, more than 120 grazing lands, Location: within
Sagarmatha National Park (1976) in East eastern Mountain
Conservation: Beyouls- God gifted territory, hidden valley,
non-sacrificing culture Management : customary laws and practices-
Singi-Nawa - Village assembly as decision making body (for grazing
lands, forest..) We are conserving these territory since long
history but state do not give us recognition (Tenzing Tashi
Sherpa-local leader) 1. Khumbu Sherpa (Serwa) Conserved Area More
than 50 communities, more than 120 grazing lands, Location: within
Sagarmatha National Park (1976) in East eastern Mountain
Conservation: Beyouls- God gifted territory, hidden valley,
non-sacrificing culture Management : customary laws and practices-
Singi-Nawa - Village assembly as decision making body (for grazing
lands, forest..) We are conserving these territory since long
history but state do not give us recognition (Tenzing Tashi
Sherpa-local leader)
Slide 8
2. Pungmo Village as IP Conserved Area Two villages- divided
into more than 4 customary grazing clusters Location: Western
Mountain, inside Shey-Phoksundo National Park (1984) Conservation:
Through religious belief and practices (Bompo religion:
non-sacrificing culture) Management: Customary practices
(rotational grazing system) The biodiversity of our area is
conserved through our religious belief and practices (Ang Bahadur
Lama-local leader) 2. Pungmo Village as IP Conserved Area Two
villages- divided into more than 4 customary grazing clusters
Location: Western Mountain, inside Shey-Phoksundo National Park
(1984) Conservation: Through religious belief and practices (Bompo
religion: non-sacrificing culture) Management: Customary practices
(rotational grazing system) The biodiversity of our area is
conserved through our religious belief and practices (Ang Bahadur
Lama-local leader)
Slide 9
3. Chum Valley Conserved Area More than 3700 HHs in two
villages (upper/Chumchet and lower/Chekampar) Location: inside
Makalu Conservation Areas (1989) spreads up to China boarder
Conservation: Through religious belief and practices (Buddhist
religion-non-sacrifice), formally declared as non-sacrifice
territory in 1921 by the villagers (Rimpoche as a prist)
Management: Customary practices (hidden valley, sacred place),
awareness and proactive roles by local communities People of our
area are real conservationists but state has not recognized and
respected our practices yet (Neema Lama-local leader) 3. Chum
Valley Conserved Area More than 3700 HHs in two villages
(upper/Chumchet and lower/Chekampar) Location: inside Makalu
Conservation Areas (1989) spreads up to China boarder Conservation:
Through religious belief and practices (Buddhist
religion-non-sacrifice), formally declared as non-sacrifice
territory in 1921 by the villagers (Rimpoche as a prist)
Management: Customary practices (hidden valley, sacred place),
awareness and proactive roles by local communities People of our
area are real conservationists but state has not recognized and
respected our practices yet (Neema Lama-local leader)
Slide 10
4. Sikles as a Conserved Area One of the oldest/traditional
settlement area of Gurung indigenous people Inside Annapurna
Conservation Area (ACA) (1986) in Western hill Conservation:
Through religious belief and practices Management: Customary
practices (Chiwa system-decision through village head[s]) of
grazing land and forest resources Our ancestors conserved and
managed all these areas. We also can do the same but existing PA
laws and legislations do not give us this rights (Man Bahadur
Gurung, Chiwa). 4. Sikles as a Conserved Area One of the
oldest/traditional settlement area of Gurung indigenous people
Inside Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) (1986) in Western hill
Conservation: Through religious belief and practices Management:
Customary practices (Chiwa system-decision through village head[s])
of grazing land and forest resources Our ancestors conserved and
managed all these areas. We also can do the same but existing PA
laws and legislations do not give us this rights (Man Bahadur
Gurung, Chiwa).
Slide 11
5. Panchase Religious Forest Meeting points of 9 VDCs and 3
districts in Western Hill of the country (Gurung IPs) The
government has declared it as Protected Forest (in 2011) Pilgrim,
wildlife corridor to connect south plain and north mountain/ACA in
More than 589 plant species, shelter of the various types of animal
species Conservation: Through religious belief and practices
Management: Panchase Development and Management Committee We are
conserving this forest for our historically rooted religious
beliefs. But recently, the government has declared it as PF which
made us confused and discouraged in our initiatives and practices
(Gopal Gurung- local leader). 5. Panchase Religious Forest Meeting
points of 9 VDCs and 3 districts in Western Hill of the country
(Gurung IPs) The government has declared it as Protected Forest (in
2011) Pilgrim, wildlife corridor to connect south plain and north
mountain/ACA in More than 589 plant species, shelter of the various
types of animal species Conservation: Through religious belief and
practices Management: Panchase Development and Management Committee
We are conserving this forest for our historically rooted religious
beliefs. But recently, the government has declared it as PF which
made us confused and discouraged in our initiatives and practices
(Gopal Gurung- local leader).
Slide 12
6. Dhampus a Community Conserved Area Location: inside
Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) (1986) in Western Mountain,
Conservation: Through religious belief and practices, religious
forest (Baraha, Deurali, Gumba ) Management: Conservation Area
Management Committee (CAMC) 6. Dhampus a Community Conserved Area
Location: inside Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) (1986) in
Western Mountain, Conservation: Through religious belief and
practices, religious forest (Baraha, Deurali, Gumba ) Management:
Conservation Area Management Committee (CAMC)
Slide 13
7. Akaladevi Community Conserved Forest Location: Homelands of
the Chepang IP in Mid hills, Conservation: through religious belief
and practices (forest as shelter/home of the forest goddesses,
misfortune if any one cut down the forest), Chiuri tree for
cultural values (gift for daughter when marry) Management: Village
Users Committee We are conserving this forest for our forest
goddess. So, our goddesses protect us from misfortune (Pancha
Bahadur Chepang-Local leader). 7. Akaladevi Community Conserved
Forest Location: Homelands of the Chepang IP in Mid hills,
Conservation: through religious belief and practices (forest as
shelter/home of the forest goddesses, misfortune if any one cut
down the forest), Chiuri tree for cultural values (gift for
daughter when marry) Management: Village Users Committee We are
conserving this forest for our forest goddess. So, our goddesses
protect us from misfortune (Pancha Bahadur Chepang-Local
leader).
Slide 14
8. Bajhrabarahi Religious Forest Newar Indigenous Community
Conserved Religious Forest inside Kathmandu valley, Rich in
biodiversity: about 168 types of plant species and shelter of 48
bird species Location: about 12 KM South east in Kathmandu Valley,
Conservation: through religious belief and practices (misfortune if
any one use piece of plant/tree of the forest) Management:
Conservation through local management committee 8. Bajhrabarahi
Religious Forest Newar Indigenous Community Conserved Religious
Forest inside Kathmandu valley, Rich in biodiversity: about 168
types of plant species and shelter of 48 bird species Location:
about 12 KM South east in Kathmandu Valley, Conservation: through
religious belief and practices (misfortune if any one use piece of
plant/tree of the forest) Management: Conservation through local
management committee
Slide 15
9. Tau-Daha a Community Conserved Wetland Small pond located
in10 KM West in Kathmandu Valley Conservation: through religious
belief and practices (misfortune if any one pollute water of the
pond)- belief about the shelter of serpent-god, rain-god
Management: Conservation through local management committee 9.
Tau-Daha a Community Conserved Wetland Small pond located in10 KM
West in Kathmandu Valley Conservation: through religious belief and
practices (misfortune if any one pollute water of the pond)- belief
about the shelter of serpent-god, rain-god Management: Conservation
through local management committee
Slide 16
Common Features of IP Conserved Area Cultural meaning and
values of the land and territory Socio-cultural Association with
traditional land and territories Interrelation between cultural
diversity and biological diversity Customary laws and practices not
only related with traditional livelihoods but also contribute to
the biodiversity conservation
Slide 17
Challenges of IP Conserved Areas in Nepal Identification and
recognition of diverse practices Political instability and
political polarization Misconception, misunderstanding and
miss-interpretation of the rights of IPs Lack of enabling policy
environments Lack of awareness, capacities, skills (different
levels and actors)
Slide 18
Opportunities for IP Conserved Areas in Nepal Recognition
through: International legal context (WPC 2003, CBD COP 7-PoWPA
2004, IUCN/PA Categories 2008, CBD COP 10 in Nagoya Japan, ILO 169,
UNDRIP) Strengths form the international movements, campaigns, and
networks National Legal context (recent progressive policies, NG as
party to ILO 169, Constitutional provisions, adoption of states
inclusive policies) National campaigns, movements and networks
Recognition through: International legal context (WPC 2003, CBD COP
7-PoWPA 2004, IUCN/PA Categories 2008, CBD COP 10 in Nagoya Japan,
ILO 169, UNDRIP) Strengths form the international movements,
campaigns, and networks National Legal context (recent progressive
policies, NG as party to ILO 169, Constitutional provisions,
adoption of states inclusive policies) National campaigns,
movements and networks
Slide 19
Innovation for the Ground: Why Recognition? Identification of
diverse practices and initiatives Respect and reward local
initiatives Self-identity and self-respect Strengthen collective
efforts Sustainable biodiversity conservation Reduces states burden
to the biodiversity conservation Strengthen local democracy Culture
of respecting cultural diversity and identity Increases the size
and number of biodiversity conserved areas