Naresh Newar has done a commendable job with his balanced article on an issue as contentious as the privatisation of nature reserves ('Conservationists up in arms over park plan', #159). Given the limited resources at its disposal, the government must explore alternatives for the management of protected areas-privatisation is one option, but not the only one. While exploring alternatives, discussion and consultation must not be a closed door affair within government circles or Kathmandu-based conservation experts, but rather a multi-disciplinary, multi-layer process. There are some misleading notions and assumptions that have come up in media recently need to be clarified.

. "International conservation organisations have experience of running protected areas." I know of only two: The Nature Conservancy and WWF. Their experience is limited to a few countries and a limited number of areas.
. "Nepali NGOs are capable of running protected areas." None have the financial or technical resources and all would be dependent on overseas donors.
. "ACAP is a sustainable and replicable model of conservation." I believe that ACAP has survived to the present day due to long-term, large-scale financial support from WWF and the special privilege of retaining all tourism revenues raised.
. "Income generation and preserving biodiversity make for conflicting interests." Organisations in South Africa have shown that nature tourism or the sale of animal species does not lead to biodiversity loss.

In addition, there are a few other issues that need to be clarified before the privatisation of national parks becomes a reality:
1. Who will establish a regulatory framework that balances the conservation objectives of protected areas, the social needs of the local people dependent on the protected areas and the economic drive of the private parties?
2. Who will establish and monitor the performance standards of the private parties? And how will adherence to the approved management plan be enforced?
3. What is the incentive to private parties for managing protected areas?

I suggest the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation request the support of WWF, IUCN and other close partners of the government, to explore all alternative options for the management of Nepal's protected areas.

Devendra S Rana,
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