Plain Tales from the Grasslands: The Utilisation of Natural Resource in Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal

Abstract

"This paper examines the use of grassland products from the Royal Bardia National Park in the Western Terai of Nepal. This area has been appropriated as state property from previously being an area of agricultural use less than two decades ago. However, the management of the area for nature conservation relies on human disturbance in the form of grass cutting. This is currently corned out through permitted extraction of resources for a ten day period each year. The extent of the extraction of different grass species and their uses is outlined, and the importance of the various products to local households is discussed Prospects for the sustainable utilisation of the grasslands, optimising the benefits of biodiversity conservation, tourism, and the livelihoods of local people are explored. The current policy includes the establishment of a Buffer Zone adjacent to the National Park, and user groups will be set up to involve local people in the management of the Buffer Zone and the Park. Some implications for use and access to resources are discussed."