Bufferzone to Buffer Protected Area : Linkage between Conservation and Livelihood in the Proposed Buffer Zone at Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Benefit sharing to the local community in buffer zone (BZ), one of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Protected Area Categories, could be an effective tool in bringing local people to the mainstream of biodiversity conservation. However, low level of awareness towards conservation which is second priority of the local dwellers in lack of alternate economic opportunities induces park-people conflict issues undermining conservation goal especially in the developing countries like Nepal. The detailed ground information about the complex interaction of socioeconomic structure and natural resource use in the area recognizing main stakeholders is a basic step necessary to carry out before BZ delineation. For the same, this research conducted in middle mountain National Park in Nepal, emphasizes on socioeconomic dynamism and its linkage and/or dependency to natural resource. It is aimed to identify the concerned groups, major stakeholders and areas that should be considered particularly. This book is useful for multidisciplinary bodies such as economists, administrators, social working groups, policy makers, conservationists and researchers.