Ecotourism in the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park

Baghmara and Kumrose are two community forest areas that lie in the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Nepal. This is one of the finest protected areas in all of Asia, known for its magnificent grasslands and the Great One-horned Rhinoceros. The Village Development Councils (VDCs) of these two areas have established successful ecotourism initiatives for several years now. These initiatives were launched with the support of the Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN) and the then King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) (now National Trust for Nature Conservation).

Souvenir Shop in Chitwan National Park

Baghmara and Kumrose had large areas of degraded forest land. As part of this initiative, a portion of the land was converted into rosewood plantations. These plantations now support all the fuel wood and fodder needs of community. The rest of the degraded land was allowed to regenerate to its original state, without any disturbance. This subsequently became prime habitat for the rhinoceros and even an occasional tiger. Through the BCN and KMTNC support, the VDCs set up two Machaans (Watch towers) for wildlife viewing. Both VDCs now own elephants that take tourists to the watchtowers. Tourists generally spend the night there and return the next morning. The VDCs also organise boat rides for crocodile viewing. These activities are all carried out by the local people. The revenue generated from ecotourism goes to the VDC and the village decides how it should be spent. Today, thanks to this planning, the villagers donot have to venture into the park for fuelwood or fodder. They are also getting additional income from tourists who visit their very own ‘rhino viewing spots’. The damage rhinoceros cause to their crops is overlooked because of the revenue these very rhinos generate. 

The political turmoil in Nepal took a huge toll on tourism in the country. However, by some stroke of luck, the ecotourism initiative in the VDCs, particular Baghmara survived and quite interestingly, through the years of turmoil the tourists who came were actually taken to Baghmara which was safer and where the siting of rhinos was guaranteed. Most tourists were not even aware that this was the buffer zone of the park. My frequent visits to Chitwan have confirmed the opinion that this initiative still survives despite the initial project having concluded several years ago and has actually worked as an extension of the park in times of turmoil.