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Sharda Sapkota, a resident of Gaidakot Municipality-11 in Nawalpur district, had planted bamboo and lilac trees on her private land. About two years ago, she cut the trees to prepare the land for farming. However, Nepali Army personnel deployed for the security of Chitwan National Park arrested her, accusing her of cutting trees illegally. Her house and land fall within the buffer zone area.

According to Govinda Subedi, ward chair of Gaidakot-11, many people living in the buffer zone had settled there even before the buffer zone was declared. “They live on private land, but their ownership rights are not fully recognized,” he said.

In another incident, Govinda Paudel of Gaidakot-11 was arrested while thatching the roof of his cowshed. Subedi said restrictions in the buffer zone have severely affected local livelihoods. “Bote and Majhi communities are not allowed to go fishing. People are not allowed to cut grass growing on their own land. 

They cannot dig for soil in their fields, and even for registering animal husbandry, they are forced to go to Kasara for approval,” he said. “So much so, marginalized communities living near the forest cannot even collect firewood washed away by rivers.”

Nepal has 13 national parks and seven conservation areas, including the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary. The government introduced the buffer zone program in 1996 to increase community participation in conservation. “Buffer zones around parks and reserves are designed to maintain ecological integrity and ensure community participation in biodiversity conservation,” said conservation biologist Babu Ram Lamichhane.

Under the Buffer Zone Management Regulations, 1996, the government can declare areas surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves as buffer zones. Nepal has about 5,602 square kilometer in 13 buffer zone areas, where nearly 1.2 million people live.  

‘Remove buffer zones’

Although the concept of buffer zone was introduced to balance conservation and local livelihoods, residents in some areas have been demanding delisting of their respective areas as buffer zones over the past five years. 

Hemanta Acharya, chairman of the Bardiya National Park Buffer Zone Area Management Committee, said people are angry because restrictions have become as strict as inside national parks. “People’s daily needs have been increasingly restricted,” he said.

Residents of Gaidakot Municipality have submitted signatures to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, demanding that their area be removed from the list of butter zones. 

Deputy Mayor Shanti Koirala said opposition to the buffer zone has grown because people are being punished for felling trees they planted themselves, which they see as an obstacle to development.

Tara Kaji Mahato, mayor of Madi Municipality in Chitwan district, stated that local communities had hoped that the declaration of their area as a buffer zone would make lives easier for them, to little avail. “But the reality is quite far from the promises made during the buffer zone declaration,” she said, “Floods enter the villages and create serious problems, but we are not allowed to do anything to protect ourselves. The buffer zone has made our lives far more difficult.” 

Earlier, people’s protests were limited to areas around national parks. Now, the protests have formally reached Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

On Jan 14, people from Bardiya district, who are living in Kathmandu, staged a protest, demanding a solution to buffer zone-related problems. “Our demand is not to kill tigers, but the buffer zone has created many problems at the local level,” said Roshan Pandey, a resident of Bardiya. “We want to exercise our basic rights, but nobody listens to our problems.”

Affected communities have also submitted a memorandum to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the Ministry of Forests and Environment, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), demanding a concrete solution to the issue.

Conflict over natural resources

Another dispute has emerged between national parks and local governments over the use of natural resources in buffer zone areas. Tara Kaji Mahato said local governments are not allowed to extract river materials such as gravel and sand without permission from national parks.

“We should be allowed to use natural resources from rivers and streams in the buffer zone as per the Local Government Operation Act, 2017,” she said. “The Act gives local governments the authority to collect and sell stones, gravel, sand, soil, timber and other natural and mineral resources, and to collect export fees.”

However, Ganesh Raj Panta, warden of Chitwan National Park, said the park administration must follow the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029. “We have to follow the law,” he said. “Sometimes, without understanding the legal process, national parks are blamed for populism and unrealistic demands. Good governance should involve communities and all concerned authorities, not only national parks.”

The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029, prohibits the extraction of gravel and sand from rivers and streams flowing through buffer zones without permission. Such materials can be extracted only after approval from the park administration and the payment of prescribed fees.The Chitwan National Park Regulations, 2030, state that no one can dig, search for, or remove soil, stones, sand or other mineral materials within the park area without prior approval.

Consumers and stakeholders from buffer zone areas have demanded changes to existing laws, policies and regulations that contradict each other. A common agenda was endorsed during the “Shared Voice for Equality” program, Community Practices for Strengthening Equitable Governance in the Buffer Zones of Nepal’s Protected Areas-organized by RECOFTC Nepal in Sauraha, Chitwan.

The existing policy requires that 30–50 percent of national park revenue be allocated to buffer zone committees. However, they have not received this share since last year. As a result, consumers and stakeholders have demanded that the funds be provided in accordance with the law.

Bed Kumar Dhakal, deputy director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), said the department agrees that local governments should be given rights to use natural resources such as gravel and sand from rivers near settlements in buffer zones by amending existing laws and regulations.

“Since 1990, the buffer zone regulations have not been amended, which is regrettable,” he said. “It is time to revise the regulations. Issues related to settlements should be handled by local governments, while national parks focus on forest and conservation areas. Our main conflict is over resource use, but we are not saying these resources should be completely restricted.” 

Marginalized communities left out

Marginalized groups such as indigenous peoples, Dalit communities and other disadvantaged groups have a direct relationship with natural resources. They depend on forests to meet their daily needs, yet they remain excluded from the mainstream, especially from leadership positions in various consumer committees.

Because these communities are kept out of decision-making, real, ground-level problems often go unheard. Bikram Chaudhary, a member from Kohalpur, said that people who are directly dependent on natural resources have so far been unable to reach leadership positions. “Those who understand the forest best are not in decision-making roles,” he said.

The Chitwan Declaration has emphasized the need to ensure the participation of Dalit, women, Indigenous peoples, marginalized and affected communities in benefit-sharing mechanisms. It calls for amendments to existing policies and laws to guarantee their meaningful participation.

However, representation of women, Dalit, indigenous and marginalized communities in buffer zone consumer committees remains very weak. Consumers and stakeholders have demanded that participation be ensured as envisioned in the Forest Policy 2076.

Pradeep Budhathoky, deputy director of RECOFTC Nepal, said that meaningful participation of women, Dalit, indigenous, and marginalized communities strengthens biodiversity conservation. “When those most connected to natural resources are involved, conservation becomes more effective and sustainable,” he said.

RECOFTC Nepal has been implementing the Shared Voice for Equality program—Community Practices for Strengthening Equitable Governance in the Intermediary Areas of Nepal’s Protected Areas. The program aims to strengthen equitable governance by enabling indigenous peoples and local communities to actively and meaningfully participate in conservation management.

Bed Kumar Dhakal of DNPWC acknowledged that women, Dalit, Indigenous, and marginalized communities have not been adequately represented at committee levels.

“We agree that participation of target groups must be ensured,” Dhakal said. “We have drafted a new Act to better represent community forests, indigenous peoples living along park boundaries and communities such as the Bote and Majhi. The issue of resource distribution will also be addressed. We plan to hold consultations with stakeholders within the next two to four months.”

Govinda Prasad Subedi, ward chair of Gaidakot Municipality–11, said laws and regulations should be people-centred. “Our concern is how to provide relief to people,” he said. “But the state often focuses on making strict laws and controlling resources. This is where conflict begins.”

“Conservation cannot succeed without people’s participation,” Subedi added. “No matter how strict the rules are, people will continue to extract resources to meet basic needs. That is why participatory conservation is essential.”

Nepal has declared its first natural fish sanctuary in the lower Karnali river, marking a significant step toward freshwater biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries management. The sanctuary was jointly declared by Rajapur Municipality of Bardiya and Tikapur Municipality of Kailali during a formal public event held on the banks of the Karnali River on Thursday.

The newly declared sanctuary covers a 4.8-kilometer stretch of the river with a total area of approximately 3.9 square kilometres, spanning the territorial jurisdictions of both municipalities across Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces. Local authorities said this is the first time a river section in Nepal has been formally designated as a natural fish sanctuary.

According to officials, the protected river stretch serves as a critical breeding, spawning and nursery habitat for several indigenous fish species. It also provides important habitat for nationally and globally significant aquatic fauna and birds, including the river dolphin, gharial and smooth-coated otter. 

With the declaration, fishing activities in the sanctuary area will be regulated. Fishing will be prohibited during breeding seasons, and permits will be required for fishing at other times, local governments said. The sanctuary has been established under the Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Act of the local governments, following decisions endorsed by the municipal executives of both Rajapur and Tikapur municipalities and public consultations at the ward level.

Officials described the initiative as historic, noting that it is largely community-driven in a region where indigenous communities, particularly the Sonaha and Tharu, rely on fishing for their livelihoods and cultural practices. Local representatives said reaching the decision required extensive consultations to ensure community consent and understanding of the long-term benefits of fish conservation and sustainable resource use.

The sanctuary will be managed under a co-management framework involving the two municipalities, river-dependent communities and relevant government line agencies. Community River Stretch Management Groups have been formed to support monitoring, management and awareness activities in coordination with the Division Forest Office and security agencies.

Officials and conservation partners said the lower Karnali fish sanctuary is expected to serve as a model for community-led freshwater ecosystem conservation in Nepal, contributing to biodiversity protection, sustainable livelihoods and long-term stewardship of river ecosystems.

“This sanctuary is a decision jointly initiated, endorsed and fully owned by Rajapur and Tikapur municipalities. It reflects our responsibility to lead conservation from the ground up, guided by the voices of our river-dependent communities. This is a decision taken by the people of Rajapur and Tikapur for our own future,” said Tikapur Mayor Ram Lal Dangaura Tharu.

He also said the community should not rely solely on fishing for their livelihood, but should explore alternative income opportunities, adding that the municipality is always open to supporting capacity-building initiatives for local people.

“By taking full municipal ownership of this declaration, we affirm that protecting the lower Karnali is our shared duty. This marks the beginning of long-term stewardship driven by local governments, communities and coordinated action,” said Rajapur Mayor Dipesh Tharu. “This is an exemplary initiative, and other local governments should follow suit in conservation efforts.”

Ghana Shyam Gurung, country representative of WWF Nepal, said local municipalities had demonstrated bold leadership by declaring the Sakhi Fish Sanctuary with the aim of conserving, promoting and sustainably using natural resources. “In this region, fish are not only central to local livelihoods but are also interwoven with cultural and religious life. This initiative also has the potential to strengthen nature-based regenerative tourism by protecting the river ecosystem that sustains iconic wildlife such as gharials, otters and dolphins. When we protect fish, we protect water; when we protect water, we protect life; and when we protect life, we secure our future,” he said.

According to fish expert Suresh Wagle, the Karnali River is home to 197 fish species, of which 136 are found in the lower Karnali. He said the number of species has been declining, making the establishment of a fish sanctuary in the Karnali particularly important.

A local resident of Rajapur, Binod Chaudhary, said the community is positive about fish conservation as people now understand that sustainable practices are vital for future generations. “Fish is an important part of our livelihood, but fishing without proper methods ultimately harms the community,” he said. “Fishing during the breeding season reduces fish stocks in the river and disrupts the ecosystem. Ultimately, if fish numbers decline, we will be left with nothing.”

Nepal concluded its participation at the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with a very small team of around 20 negotiating officials. 

From securing global recognition for mountain ecosystems to amplifying the voice of vulnerable nations, Nepal’s delegation—though small—played a strategic and coordinated role throughout the two-week summit in Belém, Brazil.

According to Maheshwar Dhakal, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment and Nepal’s national focal point for the UNFCCC, the country’s presence at COP30 was marked by “strong leadership, intensive engagement, and historic outcomes” for its long-pursued mountain agenda.

COP30 opened with a series of preparatory sessions starting Nov 4—LDC Group meetings on Nov 4–5, Leaders’ Summit on Nov 6–7, and G77 and China consultations on Nov 8–9. The main negotiations ran from Nov 10–21, with discussions extending unofficially until Nov 22.

Nepal’s delegation, led by Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Madan Prasad Pariyar participated in a number of engagements. Supported by senior officials including MOFE Secretary Rajendra Prasad Mishra, OPMCM Secretary Govinda Karki, MoALD Secretary Deepak Kharal, and Nepal’s Ambassador to Brazil Nirmal Kafley, the team included representatives from government, civil society, academia, and the media.

The highlight of Nepal’s COP30 engagement was the successful global recognition of the mountain agenda, an advocacy effort pursued jointly with Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan.

Nepal held two rounds of consultations with the COP30 Presidency, resulting in three major achievements. First on agreement to hold an Annual Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change, beginning at SB64 in June 2026. The second one on inclusion of mountain ecosystems in the Global Mutirão (Mutirão) decision text, the main outcome document of COP30.

And the third on recognition of the mountain agenda in the preamble of the COP30 cover decision, as well as in the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) text.

Dhakal noted that this was “the strongest visibility that mountain issues have ever received at the UNFCCC,” indicating that years of persistent diplomacy had finally begun to pay off.

Nepal backed three key declarations proposed by the COP30 Presidency. Tropical Forest Facility Forever, Integrated Fire Management Declaration, Sustainable Fossil Fuel Management Declaration are on the list. Officials said these positions align with Nepal’s commitments to forest conservation and climate-resilient development.

Minister Pariyar delivered Nepal’s national statement at the high-level plenary, emphasizing the urgent need to protect vulnerable communities in the Himalayas. He also participated in 11 high-level events, including Nepal’s flagship program, “Sagarmatha to Belém”.

MOFE Secretary Mishra spoke at the Leader Summit and presented a joint statement on behalf of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan at the opening plenary, highlighting the shared vulnerabilities of Himalayan and South Asian nations.

OPMCM Secretary Govinda Karki addressed climate finance during a ministerial dialogue, calling for stronger global support to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

Nepal’s non-governmental actors and media delegates also remained active throughout, engaging in pavilion events and side discussions with development partners.

In its closing remarks, Nepal underscored the existential threat posed by global warming to Himalayan ecosystems: “For Nepal, keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C is not just a number in an agreement—it is a matter of survival.”

Nepal welcomed the Mutirão decision, commitments to adaptation and loss and damage funding, and the new annual mountain dialogue. It also expressed gratitude to Brazil for its hospitality and congratulated Turkey and Australia for being selected to co-host COP31, and Ethiopia, the first LDC to host COP32.

Nepal expressed appreciation for the COP30 Presidency’s leadership in negotiating the mountain text. “As climate impacts intensify, the urgency to respond to the unique challenges faced by mountain regions is greater than ever,” Nepal said, while expressing hope that a formal agenda item on mountains could be secured in the future.

Despite limited numbers, Nepal maintained high internal coordination through regular meetings and media briefings. Dhakal said the quality of Nepal’s interventions, the unity among delegates, and strong collaboration with other mountainous nations were widely appreciated.

He added that Nepal’s mountain agenda is now “close to the establishment phase,” with further efforts needed in the lead-up to COP31 and SB64.

As COP30 concluded, Nepal’s delegation returned home preparing for a formal debrief. With COP31 set to be hosted jointly by Turkey and Australia, and COP32 by Ethiopia, Nepal aims to continue building momentum toward securing formal recognition and sustained support for mountain regions, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable ecosystems.

In Dec 2023, COP28 held in Dubai passed an ambitious plan to dramatically cut the use of petrol, gas, and coal by 2050, expand the use of renewable energy, and bring fossil-fuel emissions down to net zero. A total of 198 countries signed the agreement.

However, shortly after signing, countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, and India backtracked on their commitments, arguing that the continued use of fossil fuels was necessary to meet global energy needs.

The United States, which had played a crucial role in securing signatures during COP28, has shown little interest in the issue after Donald Trump returned to the presidency. Trump has labeled climate change “the biggest hoax in the world.”

This time, he did not send any official federal delegation to Belém. At Belém, more than 80 countries from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa expressed the need for a clear roadmap to implement the COP28 commitments. But under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, countries like China, India, and Russia blocked progress on the agenda. As a result, the final agreement made no mention of fossil fuels at all.

International media also reported COP30 as a flop. “This year’s UN climate conference in Brazil had many unique aspects that could have been part of an historic outcome,” AP wrote adding, “The final decision announced Saturday, which included some tangible things like an increase in money to help developing nations adapt to climate change, was overall watered-down compared to many conferences in the past decade and fell far short of many delegates’ expectations. It didn’t mention the words ‘fossil fuels’, much less include a timeline to reduce their use.” 

Instead of being remembered as historic, the conference will likely further erode confidence in a process that many environmentalists and even some world leaders have argued isn’t up to the challenge of confronting global temperature rise, which is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events like floods, storms and heat waves, it said.

Reuters said that Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had launched the summit calling for countries to agree on a ‘roadmap’ for advancing a COP28 pledge to shift away from fossil fuels.

“But it was a road to nowhere at this summit, as oil-rich Arab nations and others dependent on fossil fuels blocked any mention of the issue. Instead, the COP30 presidency created a voluntary plan that countries could sign on to—or not,” it wrote. “The result was similar to Egypt's COP27 and Azerbaijan’s COP29, where countries agreed to spend more money to address climate dangers while ignoring their primary cause.”

Nepal delivered a strong call for climate justice during the Ministerial segment of COP30, where Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Madan Prasad Pariyar addressed global leaders in Belém, Brazil.

Speaking on behalf of Nepal, Minister Pariyar said the country, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, is suffering disproportionately from climate impacts. He highlighted rapidly retreating glaciers, worsening water and food insecurity, and a series of climate-induced disasters this year alone that claimed more than 300 lives. “Our agriculture, the backbone of our economy, is reeling,” he said.

Pariyar reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to ambitious climate action, noting that the country has submitted an action-oriented NDC3.0 and National Adaptation Plan, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. He also underscored Nepal’s strong conservation record, with forest cover now exceeding 46 percent.

Calling climate finance to Nepal “negligible,” he urged developed nations to fulfill past commitments and deliver simplified, predictable, and grant-based support for vulnerable countries. He welcomed the launch of the Barbados Implementation Modality (BIM) and called for full operationalization of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).

Nepal is now preparing to submit a funding proposal to the FRLD, which recently launched its first call for proposals under the BIM. The milestone marks the Fund’s transition to full operationalization, enabling its first interventions to address climate-related loss and damage in developing countries. An initial $250m has been allocated to support developing nations experiencing economic and non-economic loss and damage from both slow-onset and extreme climate-induced events.

The call for proposals, open for six months from Dec 15, outlines procedures, timelines, and criteria for countries seeking support. The FRLD currently holds $800m but only $250m is allocated as of now. And of $250m, $150m will be available for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Each country may submit proposals ranging from $5m to $25m.

In a virtual press conference organized by Nepal’s COP30 delegation, Joint-secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) Maheshwar Dhakal said Nepal has already begun drafting its proposal and will submit it as soon as possible. Dhakal, who also serves as a board member of the FRLD, said the call would provide a clear picture of global needs for loss and damage financing.

Dhakal also noted that 20 government delegates are representing Nepal in COP30 negotiations. Despite having a small team, he said Nepal is participating with qualitative and a diplomatic approach.

During negotiations, Nepal, speaking on behalf of Bhutan and Nepal, delivered a joint intervention on the mountain and climate change agenda. The statement, which also supported the remarks delivered by Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the Mountain Group, was delivered by Joint-secretary Dhakal.

Nepal and Bhutan expressed appreciation for the convening of the SB60 Expert Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change and the informal summary report prepared by the SBI and SBSTA Chairs. They recommended continuing such dialogues from 2026, facilitated biennially by two Party-appointed co-facilitators responsible for selecting topics and preparing summary reports for the COP.

They also proposed establishing a joint agenda item under the SBI and SBSTA titled “Mountains and Climate Change,” beginning at SBSTA/SBI 64, to address climate vulnerabilities, progress, challenges, and opportunities in mountain regions. They requested SBSTA and SBI to consider the findings from the dialogues and identify actionable next steps to strengthen international cooperation for mountain regions.

In addition, Nepal and Bhutan called on Parties and observers to submit views on strengthening mountain-related climate action—covering adaptation, early warning systems, data and monitoring, resilience-building, and international cooperation—by 30 March 2026. They requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to prepare a synthesis report based on these submissions for discussion at SBSTA/SBI 64.

Addressing the press conference, Minister Pariyar also said the mountain agenda is a “common goal” for Nepal and must be highlighted globally because it is critical not only for Nepal but also for countries like India and Bangladesh. He said the agenda goes beyond physical geography and is tied to communities, livelihoods, and the global benefits derived from mountain ecosystems.

Minister Pariyar also held a bilateral meeting with India’s Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav at the sidelines of COP30.

Pariyar further called for integrating a dedicated mountain agenda into UNFCCC processes, referencing the ‘Sagarmatha Call for Action’ adopted in Kathmandu earlier this year. Nepal, he said, will continue advocating for global recognition of mountain nations’ unique vulnerabilities. He also stressed the need for all countries—including emerging economies—to submit ambitious NDCs, honor treaty obligations, respect scientific evidence, and uphold the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on climate justice.

Nepal also intervened in negotiations to replace age- and gender-disaggregated data with age-, gender-, and disability-disaggregated data, aligning with the country’s Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) framework adopted in NDC3.0 and other national policies.

Earlier, Minister Pariyar attended a session hosted by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, where he outlined Nepal’s plans to expand clean-energy use, including electric vehicles and electric ovens. He also participated in the Ministerial Meeting of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), thanking Malawi for its leadership as outgoing chair and pledging full cooperation with the incoming chair, Timor-Leste.

In another engagement, Pariyar joined a meeting of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. He also met Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Loss and Damage Fund, to explore opportunities for Nepal to access financing for national projects.

Nepal hosted a side event titled ‘Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action’ to review progress since the ‘Sagarmatha Call for Action’ and strengthen the mountain agenda within the UNFCCC. Pariyar is also scheduled to attend a ministerial session on the global impacts of cryosphere loss.

Minister Pariyar arrived in Belém on Nov 15 and is set to return to Nepal on Thursday.

Meanwhile, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell urged nations to accelerate negotiations and match the rapid pace of climate action already unfolding in the real economy. Describing COP30 as having reached its “mid-stride,” Stiell warned that the pace inside negotiation rooms remains too slow. “The spirit is there, but the speed is not,” he said, calling for an end to “performative diplomacy” and urging ministers to resolve the toughest issues without delay.

Stiell noted that countries have generated a “trillion-dollar charge” into clean energy and grid expansion in just the first seven days of COP30. Last year alone, he said, more than $2.2trn flowed into renewable energy, more than the GDP of over 180 countries. Despite this momentum, climate disasters continue to disrupt millions of lives and raise basic living costs globally. “We absolutely cannot afford tactical delays or stone-walling,” he said. “We must roll up our sleeves, come together, and get the job done.”