National Parks and ICCAs in the High Himalayan Region of Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities

Nepal's high Himalayan national parks, including Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), present a unique case where indigenous peoples, such as the Sharwa (Sherpa) community, have sustained and even developed Indigenous Peoples' and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) despite lacking state recognition or coordination. This resilience offers Nepal an opportunity to reform its laws and policies to align with international standards for ICCA recognition, set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), while also respecting indigenous rights and contributions to conservation. The study highlights the political ecology of ICCAs in these regions, emphasizing the need to reverse historical marginalization and dispossession of indigenous peoples to foster inclusive and effective protected area governance.

Stevens, S. (2013). National Parks and ICCAs in the High Himalayan Region of Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities. Conservation and Society, 11(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-4923.110946