NATIONAL PARK CLOSED TO ALL BUT TOURISTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000498

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID ASEC CASC SOCI NP
SUBJECT: NATIONAL PARK CLOSED TO ALL BUT TOURISTS


1. (SBU) Summary. Deteriorating security conditions have
all but closed Royal Bardiya National Park in western
Nepal to researchers and conservationists and have
disrupted some development projects. Tourists still have
access to the park, but the local economy has taken a deep
hit from the drastic drop-off in tourist arrivals.
Nepal's army pulled back from a highway checkpoint and a
sub-post; as a result, poaching, smuggling and Maoist-
related movements have increased. Villagers fear both the
Maoists and agents of the state, and complain that a long-
standing lack of resources has been exacerbated by the
worsening security climate. End Summary.

Park Closed to Researchers and Conservationists
-------------- --


2. (U) Due to security restrictions, research and
conservation activities have come almost to a standstill
inside Royal Bardiya National Park in western Nepal, and
have been "severely curtailed" in the surrounding "buffer
zones." Community development activities also been
affected, and have been suspended in some areas. The
security situation in the area around the park
deteriorated by the day, according to a conservationist
stationed there.

Few Intrepid Tourists
--------------


3. (U) Tourists were still permitted to enter the park
with a guide, but few made the effort. Hotels have cut
back on staff - the most popular guest house for foreign
budget travelers now operates with a skeleton crew - or
closed altogether. Locals told Poloff that the fall-off
in tourism has had an impact not just on wage earners in
the tourism sector, but also on agricultural workers who
used to sell produce to hotels and restaurants.

Army Dug In, But Pulling Back
--------------


4. (SBU) At one of the points where the East-West highway
crosses park lands, an army checkpoint was attacked by
Maoists on February 24. No one was injured. [Note:
Press reports have not mentioned this incident, but RNA
officials in Bardiya confirmed it to Post.] The
checkpoint, which was used to enforce the 40 kph speed
limit through the park, was subsequently abandoned and had
not been reopened. As a result, motorists could be seen
moving well in excess of the speed limit, presenting a
danger to the park's endangered animals, which include
tiger, rhino and bear. Due to resource constraints, the
army has also shut down a sub-post on the south side of
the park. Conservation officials say that this has led to
the growth of illegal timber cutting and poaching, as well
as an increase in Maoist activity in the area.

Harvest of Wild Grasses Affected
--------------


5. (U) For security reasons, and because it is now
stretched thin, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) decided to
prohibit local residents from entering the park to harvest
wild grass this year. In the past, villagers have been
permitted into the park during the dry season to cut the
grass, which they use both for feed and as construction
material. The grass becomes unmanageable if not cut.
This year army personnel had to burn some of it. The burn
imposed a hardship on the army, which had to dedicate
resources to the operation; on the government, which
missed out on revenue earned from grass-cutting fees; and
on the villagers, who have to do without the grass.

Resource-Starved Villagers Fear Both Sides
--------------


6. (SBU) Villagers living around the national park
expressed fear of both the Maoists and the government.
Poverty remained endemic, and most girls have acquired
only the most basic informal education. One ethnic Tharu
who teaches at a public school near the park reported that
his work was difficult because the government lacked the
funds to hire new teachers even though every year more and
more students enrolled. The pupils' parents also lacked
the funds to support their children's studies. The
teacher reported - and other residents confirmed - that
political problems had not flared up in the school

Comment
--------------


7. (SBU) Community development programs that formerly
benefited many villagers in Bardiya are now on hold and
will not resume without improvements in the security
situation. Until then, further economic and social
development will be difficult at best. Moreover, the RNA
pull-back - for want of the means to fight the insurgency
- has jeopardized the park's wildlife and other resources,
and has opened up the possibility for the Maoists to
exploit them.

MALINOWSKI