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尼泊爾臨時憲法 納入保育主張

2006年08月14日
ENS尼泊爾,加德滿都報導;劉文彥、蔡秦怡編譯;莫聞審校

棲息於尼泊爾的老虎尼泊爾在毛派份子與政府軍多年對立之下局勢動盪不安,其自然保育行動也連帶受阻;基於安全考量,大多數國家公園的巡守隊無法執勤,監測野生動物與森林的狀況。目前,尼泊爾政府專案小組已擬定臨時憲法草案,保育人士期待,局勢穩定國內的保育狀況能有所改善。

今年5月間,就在群眾示威遊行要求國王賈南德拉(King Gyanendra)下台之後,執政黨和毛派份子達成停火協議,並於6月協議共同籌組一個臨時憲法架構下的臨時政府,目前這部臨時憲法已起草完成。

世界自然基金會(WWF)尼泊爾分會、美國援外滙款合作組織(CARE)尼泊爾分會、世界自然保育聯盟以及三個高山保育團體於7月提交一份聯合建議書給臨時憲法起草委員會,希望能利用這個機會協助尼泊爾形塑未來關於多樣性保育及永續發展的政策方針。

保育團體建議,尼泊爾40%的森林應永久地保留下來,另外20%的土地應被納入保護區系統中。此外,君主政體時期,國家基於環境保護及生物多樣性保育所承擔的國際責任也應持續下去,維持「社區林業、鄉村能源開發、保護區盈餘共享以及緩衝區管理等生物多樣性保育層面的創新領導角色。」

野生動物保留區的中鹿自然基金會表示這份建議已被全盤採納,委員會並承諾保育團體的資深代表將可參與起草憲法章程。

另一方面,有關最近保育團體關注的的皇家蘇克拉梵塔(Suklaphanta)野生動物保留區,目前保留區內的棲地復原計劃,包括擴大棲地及物種保育政策都已開始執行。資深巡守員恰德(Chandra Bahadur Chand)表示,這些努力已展現令人鼓舞的結果,諸如皇家孟加拉虎、亞洲象以及獨角犀牛等野生動物已於橫跨尼泊爾及印度的邊境地帶活動。

蘇克拉梵塔巡守隊長阿希卡利(Tika Ram Adhikari)指出,保護區內的野生動物已不需要為了尋覓水源而長途跋涉,「我們保留了區內的天然池沼及湖泊,此外,幾處新的池沼和灌溉溝渠業已建設完成,這些將足以提供野生動物未來一整年的水源供給不虞匱乏。」

阿希卡利也觀察道,由於可取食的獵物和食物的持續增加,大型野生動物諸如老虎、犀牛以及大象可望將保留區當作它們的永久棲所。

Nepal's Draft Interim Constitution Could Benefit Environment
KATHMANDU, Nepal, August 9, 2006 (ENS); By Deepak Gajurel

Conservation activities in Nepal have been hampered by difficult security conditions as Maoist and government forces struggled for control over the past decade. Patrols have not been able to monitor wild animals and forests in most national parks and wildlife reserves due to security concerns, but now that a panel has finalized a draft for a temporary constitution, conservationists are hoping the situation will improve.

Nepal's mainstream political parties and Maoist rebels agreed to a ceasefire in May, after mass demonstrations forced King Gyanendra to relinquish power. In June, the two sides agreed to establish an interim government, guided by the interim constitution that is now being drafted.

In July, WWF Nepal, CARE Nepal, the IUCN, and three mountain conservation groups took advantage of this window of opportunity to help shape the future policies of Nepal with regard to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. They presented the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee with a set of joint recommendations.

Up to 40 percent of Nepal's total land shall be maintained under forest cover for all time, and up to 20 percent of Nepal's total land shall be maintained under a protected areas system, the groups recommended.

Recalling Nepal's "leading role as innovator in biodiversity conservation such as community based nature conservation, community forestry, rural energy development, revenue sharing in protected areas and buffer zone management," the groups recommended that international commitments to environment and biodiversity conservations made by the monarchy be met.

The set of recommendations was well received, says WWF, and the committee assured senior representatives of the groups that they would be incorporated in the draft constitution.

A habitat restoration program within the reserve, habitat extension and species conservation are all underway in Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in western Nepa, and Senior Ranger Chandra Bahadur Chand says these efforts have shown encouraging results. Wild animals like Royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant and one-horned rhinoceros have started movements across the Nepal-India border.

The animals in Suklaphanta do not have to go far in search of water, said Suklaphanta Chief Warden Tika Ram Adhikari. "We are conserving the natural ponds and lakes within the reserve area," he said. "In addition, several new ponds and canals have been constructed. These sources provide year-round water supply to wild animals."

Because of the increased availability of prey and food, larger animals like tigers, rhinos and elephants are making their permanent habitats in the reserve, Adhikari observes.