Photo by Chandra Shekhar Karki/CIFOR
CIPRED has been working among Indigenous communities in Nepal, who have been displaced from their ancestral homeland in the name of national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas to amplify their critical voices, which must be heard by the relevant agencies including Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) in Nepal. Despite Nepal's adoption of a federal structure that grants greater powers to local governments, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation NPWC Act, 1973 remains unchanged, continuing to promote fortress conservation. As a result, the displacement, eviction, and migration of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands persist. These communities, once thriving with abundant land and resources to sustain their families, are now among the poorest, often forced to seek employment in nearby cities or abroad. This ongoing situation has devastating effects on the survival of Indigenous Peoples' customary self-governance systems, which are vital for the preservation of their traditional knowledge, cultural values, and sustainable livelihoods.
CIPRED has been actively working with the Tharu Indigenous communities in Shuklaphanta National Park, Bardiya National Park, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, and the Loba Indigenous communities in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. The Tharu people, one of the largest Indigenous groups in Nepal, make up 6.2% population. However, many Tharu communities have been severely impacted by the establishment of national parks and wildlife conservation areas, which have disrupted their ability to sustain their traditional livelihoods within these protected areas. As a result, they face numerous challenges in maintaining their customary governance systems, spiritual values, and cultural practices. Displaced from their ancestral lands, they are forced to live in distant settlements with little or no land for agriculture, leading to a struggle for survival in a hand-to-mouth existence. Every day, the Tharu communities live under the constant threat of wildlife attacks, particularly from tigers and elephants. Tragically, there has been a growing number of fatalities due to these attacks while working in farms or collecting fodder from the buffer zones, often without fair compensation for their losses.
CIPRED has conducted extensive research and documentation to capture the lived experiences and stories of Indigenous communities, focusing on key themes such as land territories and resources, customary governance, human rights, traditional knowledge, cultural practices, meaningful participation, free, prior, and informed consent, and livelihoods. This information has been instrumental in supporting evidence-based policy advocacy at both local and national levels, promoting rights-based conservation that recognizes customary institutions, ensures access to resources, sustains traditional livelihoods, establishes equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and guarantees fair compensation. Additionally, CIPRED has worked to empower Indigenous elders, youth, and women, strengthening the continuation of their customary institutions, traditional handicraft skills, and Indigenous enterprises. The initiative also engaged students from the Master’s program in Indigenous Education and Development (MIED) at Kathmandu University, who participated in a rights-based conservation research study, approached through Indigenous worldviews, in our project areas.
CIPRED conducted 20 trainings and workshops that significantly increased the awareness of 733 Indigenous leaders, youth, women, and relevant agencies about the crucial role of Indigenous customary governance systems, emphasizing the need for their promotion, protection, and recognition at both local and national levels. Through these activities, Indigenous leaders and youth have gained the passion and determination to preserve their traditional values and practices, advocating for their inclusion in the regulation and management plans under the DNPWC Act, despite the ongoing challenges posed by the fortress conservation model.
The project also organized a national-level dialogue on rights-based conservation, bringing together 113 participants from 35 different organizations, representing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. This dialogue resulted in a common position paper of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, which played a pivotal role in influencing the government to scrap a controversial new law that would have allowed infrastructure development inside protected areas.
As part of the research, a comprehensive 1,995 household survey, 45 Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews, and 20 case studies were conducted, all of which are currently being compiled for wider dissemination at various levels. Additionally, CIPRED published a training manual on Community-Based Monitoring and Information Systems (CBMIS), specifically aimed at Indigenous youth and women, to empower them for sustainable, self-determined development and to live with respect and dignity in their own landscapes. The documentation of these research findings, detailing the current situation and key concerns of the communities, has become the foundation for evidence-based policy advocacy to address the issues faced by Indigenous communities.
CIPRED also engaged 11 students from the Master’s program in Indigenous Education and Development (MIED) at Kathmandu University in research on rights-based conservation from Indigenous worldviews. Their work was showcased at the International Conference on Indigenous led Research and Education, organized by CIPRED in 2024, giving their efforts a global platform for visibility and impact.
The fortress model of conservation, as shaped by the NPWC Act of 1973, remains one of the primary challenges preventing Indigenous Peoples in Nepal from accessing their resources and continuing their traditional governance systems, livelihoods, knowledge, and cultural practices. As a result, many Tharu Indigenous youth and women, with little hope for the continuation of their traditional skills and livelihoods, are increasingly forced to leave their communities in search of income opportunities in cities or abroad to support their families.
While there has been some positive progress in the recognition of customary governance systems by local laws, significant challenges persist. The provisions in the Badhgar and Bhalmansa Customary Acts, which apply to Tharu communities in Bardiya and Kanchanpur districts, lack the full authority needed to ensure self-determination over their resources. Similarly, the Jewar Menjan customary governance systems of Tharu communities in Saptari and Udayapur districts are on the verge of disappearing, despite the tireless efforts of both youth and elders to revive and gain recognition for them through local laws.
The awareness of the vital roles and contributions of Indigenous Peoples, their customary institutions, and their cultural values in sustaining biodiversity, managing resources, and promoting development remains low among relevant government agencies and key stakeholders. This lack of awareness continues to hinder Indigenous Peoples' access to fair benefit-sharing mechanisms, resources, and recognition of their customary institutions within their ancestral domains.
