Reto Solvia: Der Naturschutz in Nepal. Eine akteurorientierte Untersuchung aus der Sicht der Politischen Ökologie. Münster 2002 (Kultur, Gesellschaft, Umwelt 5). 468 S.
The volume researches environmental protection in Nepal from a political ecology perspective. Though Nepal has one of the highest biodiversities in the world, it is still one of the least developed countries.
According to the author, the weak economy and the relatively undemocratic political system aggravate the poor conditions under which the environmental protection areas have to work. The management strategy differs from one protection area to the other and depends mainly on the individual setting of the local, national and international players. With this in mind, SOLIVA focuses especially on the interest, interaction and influence of the different players and their impact on the management of the areas. Starting with an explanation of the methodological background and its connection to the concepts of political ecology, the publication touches on the history of environmental protection in general and then narrows down to focus on Nepal in particular until it finally provides a detailed description of four chosen areas: Langtang National Park, Bardiya National Park, Sivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). In order to maintain the broad focus established by SOLIVA, he interviewed locals and experts at all levels and approximately a hundred tourists visiting the Annapurna Region. As the author freely admits, however, the breadth of the research necessarily restricts its potential depth and the quantitative content of the conclusions. Unfortunately, together with this gap a sometimes imprudent use of certain abstract terms frustrates the comprehensibility of the diagrams in some cases. Nevertheless, the publication provides a wide spectrum of valuable insights into the situation of environmental protection in Nepal, points out opportunities for co-operation between regional development and the management of protection areas, and delivers information about the status of participation in the context of Nepalese environmental protection.
Autor: Kai Yamaguchi