Wrong Focus

It was interesting to read the story (WTLCP Conservation through Cooperation December 05-11). Even as Nepal's political parties have been fighting each other in the center undermining the difficulties of common people living in remote parts of Nepal, Nepal's friendly countries and organizations like UNDP have made very significant works supporting a program to uplift the life of people. This is very commendable job. I hope Nepal's friendly countries will implement these kinds of program in other parts of the country also.

Jas Bahadur Gurung
London Via-email

Conservation Story

First of all, I would like to congratulate Spotlight for bringing these kinds of story (Conservation through cooperation December 05-11) by visiting hinterlands of Nepal. These kinds of story help readers like me to know about the state of Nepal's rural parts. I agree with you that the participation of the local communities is one of the important parts of conservation. We have made significant achievement in the past in the areas of nature conservation. However, the program misses the human component as well as landscape management balancing conservation and livelihood. Western Terai Landscape Conservation Program (WTLCP) has shown the way to balance livelihood and conservation. Like other parts of the world, growing human pressure continues to threaten the successful conservation model. Nepal can make a difference by implementing this project.

Kristi Lama
Via email

Wild And Free

It is very unnatural to stop the movement of wild animals like elephants and rhinos from their own natural habitat. All of us know that most of the land used by local population around the national park is illegally encroached. Whether in the name of landless or under the cover of land mafia, these people were settled around the national park where these helpless wild animals used to roam. If people grow rice and other products for their livelihood in the habitat of endangered wildlife, it is natural that they will face problem of grazing. I find it strange to know that the wildlife, which cannot defend their case, are penalized by putting the electric fencing around the national park to stop their movement. Instead of electric fencing, WTLCP needs to find out other alternative ways so that animals can move freely in their own territory. Is it not the violation of rights of endangered wildlife? It is very unfortunate to say that we have been rewarding the people who illegally encroach the land. While striking balance between conservation and livelihood, the rights of wildlife should be protected.

Krishna Chaudhari
Via email
Washington D.C

Poor State

It is very shameful to know that over 65 percent of population or over a billion people in South Asia do not have access to sanitation or toilet. However, the countries of the region have been spending huge amount of their budget to purchase military hardware. Although India has made tremendous progress in science and technology and its economic growth rate is also surging, the social reality is that its over 60 percent population do not have toilet. Similar is the situation in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Despite political and other differences among the countries of the region, the recent outcome of regional ministerial meeting SACOSAN III is historic as the ministers of the region agreed to accept sanitation as a basic human rights. This is the right beginning. However, looking at their past history, I cannot believe that they will make any major difference.

Janardan Pujari
Via- email

Self Help

As long as we rely on western foreign country to make our homes clean, I don't think there is any sense of pride of development. One of the tragedies is that we cannot unite ourselves to promote this genuine cause to make universal coverage of sanitation in our region. If we are really sincere, we must increase our budget spending in the areas of sanitation coverage. We need to spend more money in these areas.

Garima Shrestha
Banasthali Via email

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