Local perceptions of forest rules and interactions between rules, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflicts: Evidence from Chitwan National Park, Nepal

A study on Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals that ecotourism, while intended to mitigate conservation impacts, has paradoxically increased restrictions on forest resource access for local communities, affecting both those near and far from the park equally. The research, based on household surveys and interviews in two buffer zone villages, highlights a tension between conservation rules and livelihoods, with no clear reduction in human-wildlife conflicts despite ecotourism's introduction. Recommendations include targeted livelihood support for disadvantaged groups and policy adjustments to enhance compliance and local engagement in conservation efforts.

Kandel, S., Harada, K., Adhikari, S., Kumar Dahal, N., & Dhakal, M. (2020). Local perceptions of forest rules and interactions between rules, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflicts: Evidence from Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Tropics, 29(1), 25–39. https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.ms19-07