न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Nov 4: Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary said the wildlife and biodiversity conservation should be emphatically advanced together with local people's livelihood and economic development. 
Addressing a programme organized here today to mark the 47th establishment day of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Minister Chaudhary said conservation and development should complement each other and local communities should come up with leadership in conservation.
She informed that Nepal's 13 national parks, wildlife and hunting reserves, six conservation areas, and buffer zones cover about 23.39 percent of the country's total land area. 
Highlighting that around 1,400 civil service employees, over 8,000 Nepali Army personnel, local communities, and conservation partners contribute to the management of protected areas, Minister Chaudhary emphasized that professional skills, honesty, and institutional commitment are necessary to make conservation efforts effective. 
She noted that Nepal has achieved remarkable success in the conservation of tigers, rhinos, snow leopards, cranes, gharials, and swamp deer, and stressed participatory conservation systems  to sustain these achievements. 
She said that the highest standards of conservation must be maintained in national parks and wildlife reserves, and there should be no compromise in protecting biodiversity, ecological integrity, and natural heritage. 
Minister Chaudhary stated human–wildlife conflict as a major challenge in protected areas while noting its mitigation should not be limited to just relief distribution, but should also include early warning systems, risk reduction, safe habitats, alternative crops, rapid response, insurance, and scientific management measures. 
She emphasized that the development and livelihoods of local communities in buffer and protected areas should be prioritized, creating an environment where sustainable use of natural resources can bring economic benefits. 
Minister Chaudhary noted that promoting ecotourism, developing homestays, and sustainably collecting and adding value to medicinal herbs and non-timber forest products can help create local employment and reduce poverty. 
The minster also stressed that attention should be given to the conservation of biological corridors, forests, rivers, and wetlands outside protected areas.