NTNC Chairperson Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli participated at the first trimester meeting (fiscal year 2023-2024) of the Ministry of Tourism, Forests and Environment (MOTFE) of Koshi Province. The meeting was held in Biratnagar on 8th and 9th December 2023.
The initiative was part of the NTNC chairman’s month-long consultations on the ground covering various aspects aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, science-based research capacities and green growth opportunities in Koshi Province.
At the meeting Dr. Oli focused on the need to put in place improved human-elephant conflict management strategies. NTNC’s ongoing efforts in conflict mitigation to promote and build human-elephant coexistence capacities were made known, this along with the critical wildlife rescue services provided through NTNC’s Koshi Conservation Center.
The meeting was participated by the Hon. Mr. Kedar Karki, Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hon. Mr. Ganesh Upreti, province Minister for Tourism, Forests and Environment, province chief secretary and the MOTFE secretary, together with divisional forest officers and senior provincial government officials.
Citing Koshi Province as having the highest human-elephant conflict incidents in the country, both in terms of human fatalities and crop depredation, the NTNC chairman emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the provincial government and NTNC. Dr. Oli spoke about the potential to work through an MoU to improve biodiversity conservation efforts and tackle the elephant situation better.
A total of six elephant-caused human fatalities have been recorded in Koshi Province in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2023/24 (up to mid-January), along with five elephants lost in retaliatory killings. In the previous two fiscal years there have been 14 human deaths, with 31 persons severely injured.
NTNC chairman Dr. Oli meeting with Koshi Province chief minister Hon. Mr. Kedar Karki (left side) and province minister for forests (MOTFE) Hon. Mr. Ganesh Upreti (center)
As part of the month-long engagements, NTNC chairman Dr. Oli conducted multiple monitoring and consultation exercises. Monitorings were carried out at the solar fencing sites in Jhapa – Jalthal forest area (42 km fencing already installed, 7.5 km in-process) and Mechinagar municipality (15 km) – both installed through the technical support of NTNC. Here consultations were focused on the effectiveness and regular maintenance of solar fencing with Community Forest User Groups and other local stakeholders.
Other deliberations included efforts to better understand existing human-elephant conflict dynamics and stakeholder perceptions, including ongoing risks and preparedness levels. Consultations were also carried out with various federal, provincial and local level elected representatives. During the consultations NTNC’s current interventions and lessons, conflict management strategies and programmes, including challenges faced to operationalize a sustainable human-elephant coexistence model in the long run were shared.
Apart from human-elephant conflict issues, consultations were carried out with government and community stakeholders on the historic rhino-pair translocation to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve earlier in September 2023, their current status, rewilding preparations, and their long term sustainability plans.
