Wildlife conservation and biodiversity are crucial to ensure protection of planet and functioning of ecosystems, as well as for providing essential ecosystem services that support human well-being. These services include things like air and water purification, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and pollination. International conservation organizations, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and national governments around the world have developed policy measures to promote wildlife conservation. The main aim of policy is protection of  endangered species, conservation of natural habitats, and minimization of negative impact of human on wildlife.

Wildlife conservation in developing countries become difficult due to the dependence of local communities on natural resources for their livelihoods. Rural communities rely heavily on the surrounding forests, grasslands, and rivers for their subsistence needs, such as food, fuel, and construction material. Despite of these challenges, many developing nations have made significant investments in wildlife conservation both within and outside protected areas. This has been driven by a growing recognition of the economic, ecological, and cultural value of wildlife and its habitats.

Various protected area are established over the last half century in Nepal. A protected area refers to a specific geographic region with primary purpose of conserving its natural environment, its associated ecosystem services, and cultural values.

Different category of protected area are found in Nepal which are national parks, wildlife reserve, hunting reserve, buffer zones, and conservation areas.National parks and wildlife reserves are protected areas are strictly regulated to prevent disturbance by local people to ensure the preservation of flora and fauna. Hunting reserves are areas where hunting is permitted within specific guidelines and regulations to ensure that their activities do not harm the local ecosystem. Buffer zones are peripheral areas surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves that are designed to promote the sustainable use of natural resources. In buffer zones, local people are allowed to use forest resources such as firewood, timber, and non-timber forest products, Conservation areas are designed to promote the integrated management of natural resources, including forestry, agriculture, and tourism, while also protecting biodiversity and other ecosystem services. Protected area of Nepal covers 23 percent of total area of country. 12 national park, 1 wildlife reserve, 1 hunting reserve, 6 conservation area and 13 buffer zone are established in Nepal.

Here the certain act and policy related to wildlife conservation in Nepal(Aryal et al., 2021).

National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (1973)

 National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Regulation (1974)

 Wildlife Reserve Regulation (1978)

The Buffer Zone Regulation (1996),

 Conservation Area Management Regulation (1997)

 Conservation Area Government Management Regulation (2000)

Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014–2020)

Strategic Plan of Terai Arc Landscape Nepal (2015–- 2025)

Wildlife Damage Relief Support Directives (2012)

 National Forest Policy (2019)

Nepal has made remarkable progress in wildlife conservation over the past few decades. The country has shifted its approach restrictive protection to a participatory conservation model. The participatory conservation model involves the local people which reduces conflicts between local communities and conservation authorities. Nepal has adopted a more holistic approach instead of focusing on the conservation of individual species in isolation. Buttom up approach should be followed for management of protected area.

Reference

 Aryal, K., Dhungana, R., & Silwal, T. (2021). Understanding policy arrangement for wildlife conservation in protected areas of Nepal. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 26(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1781983