Nepal has long been a global leader in wildlife conservation, with nearly a quarter of its land designated as protected areas. Over the past 25 years, forest expansion has reached around 46%. Yet, the recent approval of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Bill threatens to undo much of this progress by allowing commercial interests to encroach upon precious ecological zones.
New Bill, New Threat
In July, President Ramchandra Paudel signed a bill aimed at fostering investment, including amendments to the 1973 National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. The bill introduces a new clause under Section 5A, allowing the government to designate areas within national parks and conservation zones as “highly sensitive” or “non-sensitive.” Critics fear this could pave the way for commercial projects such as resorts and cable cars within wildlife habitats.
