Bhakta Karki

Role of Sustainable Rural Livelihood program (SRLP) in nature conservation and community development in Arun Valley, Sankhhuwasava district, Nepal

 Sustainable Rural Livelihood Program (SRLP) has been running since 2001, in nine major and vulnerable Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Arun Valley, Sankhuwasava district which are  rich  in biological flora and fauna based on its availability. The project is co-financed by European Commission, ADA,  HORIZONT3000 and Austrian NGO successfully running under Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN). SRLP has aimed to achieve poverty reduction and improved quality of life of socially excluded and marginalized people in a gender sensitive and environmentally sustainable way in a remote VDCs of Arun Valley.

The districts ranges from 324m to 8463m (Mount Makalu) above mean sea level. Of the total area of the district, almost 65% is covered by forest, pasture and shrub lands. Forest alone covers an area of 35% of the total area. More than two thirds of the total forest area belongs to sub alpine to alpine agro-climatic zone that favors the growth of high value NTFPs like Cordyceps sinensis (Yarsaghumba). Sankhuwasava is a diverse district in terms of the availability of natural resources. There are some of the most spectacular natural areas in the district, manifested by the immense contrast in altitude and ecology within a small landmass. The district includes a territory of great bio-diversity extending from tropical climate in the south (457m-1200m) to temperate ecosystem in the north (above 3000m). This is the reason why a total of 160 NTFPs species are found in this districts.

 Various groups and ethnic caste are living in the district. The Majority of the population consists of relatively advantageed and disadvantaged groups(63%) followed by Brahmin/Chhetri (27%), and others (10%). SRLP entertain working with such diverse group/community to fulfill its objective where it has set five major components  a. enhanced level of awareness, education and level of education b. Increased level of income c. Improved overall health condition d. Infrastructure development e. Institutionalization of self help groups (SHGs). The each components and its activities has clearly proven beneficial to the community people since its implementation phase. The major 9 working VDCs (Wana, Jaljala, Syabun, Dhupu, Barhabise, Sitalpati, Diding, Matsepokhari and Num) were precisly selected developing some criteria and indicator on vulerability, living condition, resource availability and community structure (ethnicity). The selected VDCs are highly diverse interms of caste and ethnicity, highly probable to increase agricultural productivity and abundance of natural resources (flora and fauna). Community people livelihood dependency on agriculture products are insignificant comparing to NTFPs, MAPs and some other cash crops contribution. People are getting less income from agric. products where selling Alaichi, Chiraito, Yarsagumba, and other medicinal plant products as well as Rudrakshya are incomparable.

Moreover, changing environmental conditions have been affecting rural livelihood, agricultural productivity, and forest plant species in Arun Valley, Sankhuwasava district. Consequently, SRLP has been emphasizing on its coping strategies to mitigate the problem through nature conservation and community development in its working areas. Establishment of nursery of rare and endangered plant species, establishment of innovative cardamom dryer, support to establish NTFPs based enterprises are the works towards nature conservation. Similarly, Construction of irrigation canals, drinking water supply schemes, spring protection, construction of community building, school building, road and bridge, and support of small animals are the hardware part of community development work. Despite of these works, SRLP has been conducting vocational training on agriculture, forest and environment related issues to make community people aware.

The project has developed 70 SHGs and formed 9 cooperative merging these groups in 9 working VDCs. A total of 11,000 men and women from socially excluded and marginalized groups from 1800 families are directly benefiting from project activities.  

 Arun Valley is renown for biological flora and fauna where RRN/SRLP has shown keen interest for its sustainable management, conservation and utilization. Changing environmental conditions and changing mode of development has completely changed the community people livelihood and which seems quite dramatic in case of Arun Valley. Drought, disease infestation, late monsoon or heavy rainfall caused heavy loss of human-wildlife population and agricultural productivity.