KATHMANDU: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has directed the government for the implementation of the 2082 study report concerning policy issues related to national parks.

In today’s meeting of the NA, the upper house of the Federal Parliament, he instructed the government to implement the recommendations included in the study report based on priority.

The meeting discussed on ‘Study Report on Policy Issues Related to National Parks, 2082 BS’ prepared by the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee.

Responding to the questions raised by lawmakers during the discussions, Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaulagain stated that the conservation-focused policy adopted by Nepal has successfully contributed to preserving the ecological system in the long term.

He said the allegations that the nation’s development ambitions are being held back due to conservation policies is incorrect.

Minister Chaulagain stated that the issues highlighted by the parliamentary committee’s report to balance development and conservation are important for the government.

Prior to that, Maya Prasad Sharma, Chairperson of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee, had proposed that a discussion be held on the ‘Study Report on Policy Issues Related to National Parks, 2082’. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Assembly.

While presenting the report, Committee Chair Sharma stated that the study was conducted with the aim of resolving the emerging contradiction between development and conservation. According to him, the report has been prepared focusing on how development and conservation can progress together rather than seeing them as alternatives to each other.

He also drew attention to the potential for promoting tourism and creating employment through proper management of national parks, forests, and wildlife.

He also emphasised that provisions should be effectively implemented to enable local communities in the buffer zone areas to directly benefit from the national parks.

During the discussion on the report, MPs Madan Kumari Shah, Dr Anjan Shakya, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, Sumitra BC, Dr Beduram Bhusal, Narayan Datta Mishra, Suresh Kumar Ale Magar, Sonam Geljen Sherpa, Jayantidevi Rai, Ganga Kumari Belbase, Rukmini Koirala, Bhuvan Bahadur Sunar, Rajendra Laxmi Gaire, Nara Bahadur Bista and Shrikrishna Prasad Adhikari emphasised special focus on the implementation of the report.

They expressed the view that the report should be effectively implemented through policy, legal, and structural arrangements.

The MPs also stressed that the government should be serious about implementing the report’s recommendations by strengthening inter-ministerial coordination and cooperation between the federal, provincial, and local levels.