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

There is always a conflict of interest between conservation efforts and communities living near conservation areas. Buffer zones and opportunities for ecotourism are sometimes created to lessen the negative impact of the stringent rules involved in conservation which directly impacts the livelihoods of neighbouring communities. This paper examines a Nepalese community’s perceptions of the Buffer Zone Community Forest (BZCF) rules, and investigates the interplay of rules, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Data were obtained from face-to-face household surveys and key informant interviews carried out in two Buffer Zone Villages in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. It was found that access to forest resources has become more restricted since ecotourism was introduced in the BZCF. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, settlements both closer to and farther from the forest are largely affected to the same extent by these restrictions. This study recommends better livelihood opportunities for disadvantaged groups in and around the BZCF, along with the development of forest policies based in reality to improve compliance with forest rules and to gain local support for conservation efforts.