Kathmandu, August 8:

Experts on nature conservation today sought cooperation between the government and non-governmental agencies to manage protected areas through public-private partnership.

Speaking at a meeting on conservation they said awareness programmes should be launched among locals to make sure that they do not flout government rules and regulations on wildlife.

The meeting was organised to update all concerned on the emerging concept and approach on protected area management and governance issues in Nepal.

Recalling that the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Programme of Work calls on parties to the convention to achieve full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, Dr Uday Raj Sharma, vice-chairman of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) South Asia, said, “We have to recognise and promote various types of governance of protected areas in line with national law and applicable international obligations.”

“Nepal has earned reputation for progressive, community-based conservation in its protected area management practices. The government has recognised several forms of community-based conservation within its protected area system and has handed over considerable management authority to local institutions in conservation areas and in buffer zones,” said Dr Annapurna Nand Das, director-general at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

The participants dwelt on several key issues in the conservation sector, including opportunities and risks associated with recognising protected area as a community conservation area (CCA), the effectiveness of participatory governance mechanisms and the context-specific nature of equity.

The meeting provided an opportunity for diverse protected area management professionals and stakeholders to share perspectives and seek solutions to the most challenging issues confronting protected area management and governance.