Stakeholders have stated that climate change is adding challenges to wildlife habitats. In a discussion today with representatives from the provincial government’s forestry ministry on policy issues related to national parks, the participants highlighted problems such as drying water sources and forest fires caused by climate-related events, which are affecting habitats.
Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Sudurpashchim Province, Laxman Kishor Chaudhary, pointed out that the inability to regulate forests and national parks policy-wise is causing issues. He also mentioned that conflicting federal and provincial regulations are challenging the resolution of problems and hindering revenue growth and job creation in the province.
“When forest regulations are enforced strictly, citizens face unnecessary issues related to forests. Since there are no protected areas in the province, we haven’t been able to carry out wildlife conservation efforts, but human-wildlife conflict complaints are rising. There is a need to control predatory wildlife in protected areas,” Minister Chaudhary said.
Dr. Kedar Baral, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment in Bagmati Province noted that the recent crises caused by climate change have affected wildlife habitats and food sources. As water sources in forests dry up, wildlife has been entering settlements due to a lack of drinking water, and the shortage of food has led 28 to 30 percent of wildlife to depend on domestic animals for food.
Secretary Baral emphasized that the government should stop focusing only on wildlife in national parks and reserves and neglecting wildlife in other forest areas. Committee Chair Maya Prasad Sharma mentioned that the issues raised in the discussion could be included in amendments to the National Park Act.
