Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu May 28

“National Parks should employ local people rather than security personnel, for the nation needs more troops to crush the rebels,” suggested secretary of ministry of forest and soil conservation Chandi Prasad Shrestha while inaugurating the 18th warden seminar on Tuesday.

Praising the incomparable contribution of the army for improving the condition of the national parks throughout the country, he said that in the long run, local people should take lead in the conservation efforts. He also suggested the participants to find a way out by discussing the matter in-depth.

Phanindra Khanal, warden of the recently declared Shivapuri National Park thanked the government for its sustainable conservation efforts. The project was declared the National Park in the gazette on 18 February 2002. Though the participants said the park harbours only a number of boars, Khanal speaking to The Himalayan Times said that it’s because of their ignorance in the knowledge on biodiversities but the park is rich in species. “It is the habitat of Cheetah, Barking Deer etc in animal whereas different species of Pheasants also live inside the park,” he added.

Among the participants were the Chairmen from two of the VDCs lying inside the Park who were satisfied by the gradual awareness in peoples residing at their VDCs. Uddav Khanal, chairman of the Chapali VDC commenting the consequences of the park said that the villagers comments that the boars around there went through their crops damaging it. Both Khanal and Bal Krishna Shrestha of Bishnu VDC informed that in the beginning people used to fear for their properties would be taken by the park but now they are realising that all the conservation efforts are for the benefit of themselves.

Deputy director general of National Park Department affirmed that all the participants, with years of experience, are determined to conserve the natural resources. He also informed that the success gained by Nepal is commended by the peoples from elsewhere. “Our security options should be in line with the modern era,” he added.