Conservation in Conflict

This research paper examines the environmental and organizational impacts of the conflict between Maoist rebels and the government of Nepal from 1996 to 2005. It details how the breakdown of security has led to increased poaching and illegal resource extraction, while also noting unexpected positive effects like forest regeneration in certain regions due to depopulation and fear of violence.

• The conflict between Maoist rebels and the government has severely degraded the security of Nepal's protected areas (PAs). The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) has largely withdrawn from extensive portions of PAs, limiting patrols to areas near headquarters, which has left many PAs vulnerable to unchecked resource extraction.
• Maoist attacks on government infrastructure led to a drastic reduction in the number of guard posts within protected areas. Between 2001 and 2002, the number of guard posts decreased from 112 to 34, representing a 70% reduction.
• Poaching of the Asian one-horned rhino increased significantly following the declaration of a state of emergency in November 2001. Between April 2002 and March 2003, 31 rhinos were poached (23 in Royal Chitwan National Park and 8 in Royal Bardia National Park).
• The conflict has negatively impacted the funding of critical biodiversity projects. The Kasara Gharial Breeding Center in Royal Chitwan National Park faced a 50% budget cut due to broader reductions in the environment sector's funding since November 2001.
• Community forestry, which had previously been a successful strategy for forest regeneration, is now under threat from both the government and Maoists. In the Achham district, Maoists allegedly seized 210 out of 255 community forests, replacing elected members with their own committees to collect taxes.
• The illegal trade of yartsa gumba, a valuable medicinal herb in the western highlands, is being exploited by both Maoist rebels and government security forces. Seasonal revenues from this trade are estimated to exceed NRs 20 million.
• Some regions, specifically the Kabhre and Sindhupalchok districts east of Kathmandu, have experienced positive environmental side-effects including forest regeneration and the return of wildlife. This is attributed to the out-migration of males fleeing recruitment or targeting, and the fear of poachers entering forests controlled by either the Maoists or security forces.
• Development and conservation organizations have faced severe operational challenges, including the looting of offices and extortion. Many field staff pay 'donations' to Maoists to continue their work, despite official headquarters policies prohibiting such payments.
• The conflict has led to a significant decline in tourism revenue for national parks. Following the November 2001 state of emergency, tourism in major national parks decreased by an average of 50%, with Royal Chitwan seeing a 45% decrease in arrivals and a 47% drop in revenue.

APA

Murphy, M. L., Oli, K. P., & Gorzula, S. (2005). Conservation in Conflict. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/security_conservation_nepal.pdf

Chicago

Murphy, Mark L., Krishna Prasad Oli, and Steve Gorzula. Conservation in Conflict. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/security_conservation_nepal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murphy |first1=Mark L. |last2=Oli |first2=Krishna Prasad |last3=Gorzula |first3=Steve |title=Conservation in Conflict |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=October 2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/security_conservation_nepal.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murphy2005conservation, author = {Murphy, Mark L. and Oli, Krishna Prasad and Gorzula, Steve}, title = {{Conservation in Conflict}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/security_conservation_nepal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }