Indigenous nationalities and locals affected by national parks have demanded the revocation of the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Act 1973. They have demanded the law be repealed and a new law should be introduced, saying their lives were at risk due to wild animals.

Indigenous nationalities and locals who attended a two-day workshop held by the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Research and Development (CIPRED) in Kathmandu said the act is an obstacle to the creation of rights-based protected areas.

A memorandum with the demand was submitted to the Minister for Forest and Environment Birendra Prasad Mahato through forest secretary Deepak Kumar Kharal who was present at the meeting.

The memorandum has demanded the act should be repealed and a new law based on the rights-oriented concept should be formulated incorporating provisions of the international conventions of which Nepal is signatory, as well as the commitments issued by Nepal to the international community.