Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Human wildlife conflicts are an increasing phenomenon in Nepal which is having serious impacts on the livelihoods of rural communities. Several studies have tried to understand what drives this change with different angles and focuses. By using a more holistic approach and broader theoretical framework with political ecology, this minor field study tries to untangle and better understand the complex nature of HWC. Situated in the mid-hills of Nepal, Khimti and Chyasku were selected as study sites to collect primary data by conducting qualitative research and interviews. The results show that wildlife is a growing problem for both villages, with the key difference of which animal is the most problematic. Khimti had a larger problem with monkeys, closely followed by deer, while Chyasku was the opposite. However, both villages reported the same intensity of losses and subsequently the same pressure upon their livelihood. The analysis of the data further revealed that HWC indeed is a complex problem relating to outmigration, labor change dynamics, community forestry and policies regarding both forestry and wildlife conservation.
There is a clear clash between both international and national wishes to preserve wildlife and forests and the livelihoods of the rural communities. There is a need for policies to change, but more research is needed in this field to enable decision-makers to make informed decisions that benefit all actors.