Ecotourism near Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal (2)
Case Study C0072
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| Date | 1998 |
| Agency | King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) |
| Donor/support agency | Biodiversity Conservation Network WWF US |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Nepal |
| Locality | Royal Chitwan National Park, Terai area, at the foothills of the Himalyas |
| Biodiversity focus | Species, habitat |
| Development focus | Specific villages (Bagmara and Kumrose) |
| Conservation goals | Promote the conservation of RNCP's biological resources |
| Poverty reduction goals | Direct between 30 to 50%of revenues earned from tourism taxes to local communities |
Summary
Although Royal Chitwan National Park is one of Nepal's major tourist destinations, the increasing demands on the park by tourists, as well by those who live on the edge of the park, jeopardize the park's environmental integrity. A large part of the problem is that in the past, communities living in the park's buffer zone did not directly benefit from the park (see case study n°71).
In 1994, a new community-based microenterprise approach to ecotourism was developed by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature (KMTNC), with support from the Biodiversity Conservation Network and the WWF-US, and in collaboration with the villages of Bagmara and Kumrose. This enterprise led an effort to draft and pass legislation to share 30 to 50% of revenues earned on tourism taxes with local communities.
Village user groups now decide how the money can be used to the communities' greatest benefits. In addition, the project involved the creation of woodlots in the park's buffer zone to reduce wood collection within the park and to provide more habitat for fauna including rhinos. By benefiting from the park revenues, and having their needs for fuelwood met, local communities now realize the advantages of conserving the park's diverse biological resources and are willing to participate in conservation.
Today, the work of KMTNC/BCN program is cited as an example of successful community based conservation by both the local and national governments. At the local as well as at the national level, government has appreciated the work and wants to extend the program. Now, all 36 Village Development Committees (VDC) on the edges of the park are forming User Group Committees to assess and implement their own opportunities. The Chitwan experience has been one of success breeding success through replication.
Conservation impact
The integrated conservation and development program restored over 16,5 Km2 of wildlife habitat, which was recolonised by 43 endangered rhinoceros and 5 tigers. In addition, the number of people sneaking into the park to collect these has decreased by almost 30%.
Poverty reduction impact
As of 1998, shared revenues from ecotourism contributed roughly $400,000 per year to local development within a 750 Km2 buffer zone of RCNP.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Revenue sharing
Reference 1
http://www.worldwildlife.org/bsp/bcn/learning/ar97/97_chitwan2.htm
Reference 2
Bookbinder, M.P., Dinerstein, E., Rijal, A., Cauley, H., and Rajouria, A., 1998, 'Ecotourism's Support of Biodiversity Conservation', Conservation Biology 12(6):1399-1404
Related records above this one:
- WWF US (Organisation O0117)
Similar record to this one:
- Ecotourism near Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal (1) (Case study C0071)