Factors Influencing Local Communities around Protected Area - A Case Study of Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Thapa Rakshya

Abstract: Human-wildlife Conflict (HWC) has been the huge concern in almost all Protected Areas (PAs) throughout the world; however, it has been an emerging threat mostly in the developing countries like Nepal, where the people are ignorant, illiterate, unaware, poor and moreover affected by huge losses from wild animals. It is therefore very essential to recognize the major factors causing these conflicts and work on it because the conservation is possible only when the local people living around the Protected areas are positive towards wildlife and Park authorities.

Keywords: Protected areas, Chitwan National Park, Buffer Zone, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Human-Mammal Conflict, Village Development Committees