Chitwan, Nepal– Conservation practitioners, buffer zone leaders, park authorities, local governments, Indigenous Peoples, women, Dalit representatives, and sector experts convened in Chitwan for a two-day Community of Practice (CoP) titled “Echoes for Equity”, aimed at strengthening equitable governance in Nepal’s National Park Buffer Zones.
The CoP served as a collaborative platform for peer-to-peer learning, helping participants build a shared understanding of equitable governance and inclusive conservation. The gathering fostered trust and long-term commitment among diverse stakeholders working across protected and conserved areas.
Participants collectively identified good governance practices, existing gaps, key challenges, and legal barriers affecting buffer zone management. Insights from the SAGE assessment were also reflected upon, linking governance and equity principles with practical, site-level conservation actions.
A key outcome of the event was a shared vision for inclusive conservation—one grounded in the rights, knowledge systems, and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples, women, Dalits, and other marginalized communities. The CoP also resulted in the development of a one-year action plan, outlining concrete commitments from participating buffer zones.
Looking ahead, the collaboration will continue through a joint declaration that focuses on strengthening inclusive and transparent decision-making, enhancing meaningful participation and representation of women, Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, and marginalized communities, and advocating for better policy alignment and equitable benefit sharing in buffer zone governance.
RECOFTC Nepal reaffirmed its commitment to support these efforts through facilitation, technical backstopping, learning exchanges, and coordination—advancing conservation that is not only effective, but also fair, inclusive, and community-led.
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