Prospect and implications of other effective area-based conservation measures in indigenous Chepang landscape in Nepal

December 30, 2025

Nepal has designated lands inhabited by the Indigenous Chepang Community as an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) to help meet international biodiversity targets of protecting 30 percent of land by 2030. The Chepang people, numbering over 84,000 and classified as highly marginalized, have traditionally managed approximately 300 hectares of biodiverse forest across six hills using sustainable practices and traditional ecological knowledge. While this OECM designation could create opportunities for sustainable financing and recognize community-led conservation, it raises serious concerns about Indigenous land rights, potential restrictions on traditional practices like hunting, and access to resources that sustain Chepang livelihoods.

Who is affected

The Indigenous Chepang Community (population over 84,300, with 103 households directly managing the designated forest area)
Chepang people living in Chitwan, Makawanpur, Gorkha, and Dhading districts in Nepal
Community Forest Users Group (CFUG) sharing governance responsibilities
Divisional Forest Office (DFO) sharing management responsibilities
Nepal Chepang Association
Associated civil society and community-based organizations
Wildlife species including tigers, leopards, and Asian elephants that use the habitat corridor

What action is being taken

The Chepang Landscape has been proposed by the Government of Nepal as an OECM and is currently under review and discussion
The Ministry of Forest and Environment has categorized 58 potential OECM sites
Multi-stakeholder consultation workshops are being held during the guideline formulation process
The Chepang Community is collectively conserving forests through traditional management practices

Why it matters

This designation reflects the tension between state-led conservation initiatives and Indigenous rights, with potential to either support or undermine the Chepang community. It matters because it could legitimize traditional conservation practices and create sustainable financing opportunities like payments for ecosystem services, carbon credits, and ecotourism that benefit a historically marginalized community. However, it also risks imposing restrictions similar to conventional protected areas that have historically displaced Indigenous peoples, restricted resource access, and led to human rights violations. The outcome will determine whether conservation can effectively integrate Indigenous knowledge and rights or will repeat colonial-era exclusionary models. Additionally, the landscape serves as a critical biodiversity corridor connecting protected areas in central Nepal, making its management significant for regional ecological integrity and wildlife movement.

What's next

The Chepang Landscape OECM proposal requires completion of the review and discussion process before full implementation
Community members, the Nepal Chepang Association, and civil society organizations need to be clearly informed and meaningfully engaged with the OECM framework before it is fully implemented
Sustainable financing mechanisms, including payments for ecosystem services, carbon credits, and community-based ecotourism development, need to be designed to ensure equitable benefit-sharing
Traditional practices need to be linked to viable economic outputs to secure sustainable livelihoods

Read full article from source: Global Voices