RAJBIRAJ: Koshi-Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) administration today said that it alone can not solve the problem of gradual encroachment in the reserve. Speaking at an interaction programme held here in Rajbiraj today, Nilambar Mishra, conservation officer, KTWR, said nearly 100,000 people were dependent on the reserve that spreads over 175 square kilometre of area. He said, “Growing human activity in the adjoining areas has posed a serious threat to conservation efforts of the reserve.” Mishra said that though the concept of buffer zone was implemented in 2004, the encroachment of the reserve was on the rise due to the dependence of the people on the reserve for fire-wood, grass and grazing areas. He also insisted on the need to concerted actions of all the concerned stakeholder for the conservation of the highly endangered species of birds and animals in the reserve. The reserve which is also called a ‘heaven’ in Nepal, houses 490 species of birds, 19 of them endangered. Renu Yadav, chairperson, Buffer Zone Development Committee, said three community forests among 21 in the reserve area had been destroyed. She said, “The people who migrated from other areas have been encroaching the land and grazing their cattle. Such activities have posed a challenge in conserving the reserve.” In the programme, wetland project officer Deep Narayan Shah also lamented that the wetland project which was implemented form 2008 was also facing numerous challenges, due mainly to the growing human activities such as cutting grass, hunting and grazing of the cattle. Shah said that the growing use of fertilisers and pesticides in the adjoining farms had also adversely affected the birds. He also said felling trees for constructing dam in the flood- affected areas of West-Kushaha had also affected the bio-diversity of the reserve. He said, “The effort of the forest ministry alone is not sufficient in conserving the area. Concerted action from other line ministries is necessary.”