| 1 |
A Buffer Zone Working Group has been formed at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation as an interim arrangement towards the formation of a separate Buffer Zone Development Division to steer the Buffer Zone programme. |
| 2 |
The Buffer Zone Management Regulations (1996) and Buffer Zone Management Guidelines (1999) have been revised and amended, and are awaiting approval. |
The revised Regulations and Guidelines have provisioned for new forward-looking elements like increased female representation in the higher tier community based institutions like User Committees (at least 30-33%) and Buffer Zone Management Committees (at least 3 female members); social inclusion, and benefit and equity sharing issues, among others. |
| 3 |
Support was provided to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation for reviewing and revising the Chitwan National Park Rules (2030 B.S.) and Khaptad National Park Rules (2044 B.S.). |
| 4 |
The programme facilitated the declaration of the Buffer Zones of Shuklaphanta and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserves in 2004; Parsa Wildlife Reserve in 2005; and Rara and Khaptad National Parks in 2006. |
| 5 |
The Community Savings and Credit, including the Biodiversity Conservation Facility, Working Guidelines, was revised and implemented in 2003. The document has been revised for a second time to make it more pragmatic and realistic. |
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| 6 |
The final draft of the new Buffer Zone Community Forest Guidelines has been prepared with the aim of improving the alternate resource base in the Buffer Zones to address both conservation and poverty issues. |
| 7 |
The Buffer Zone Networking Forum meeting initiated in December 2002 has been institutionalized. The 5th meeting was held at Langtang National Park from May 18-19, 2006. |
| 8 |
Support was provided to the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation for preparing the Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and the Nepal Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plan. |
