The new policy was met with controversy, with conservationists and even officials in Nepal\u2019s wildlife department questioning<\/a> how it could be adequately monitored to prevent illegal trade; a petition<\/a> to repeal the policy gained almost 10,000 signatures. Meanwhile, some conservationists suggested that if done properly, wildlife farming could reduce pressure on wild animal populations affected by poaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In early 2020, Nepal was finalising criteria for issuing wildlife farming permits, including around obtaining animals from the wild to start captive populations, when the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the process. Now, three years later, the government is again ramping up its efforts to launch wildlife farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find out more about the policy and what it means for Nepal\u2019s wild animals, The Third Pole spoke with Maheshwar Dhakal, director-general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) \u2013 the government agency in charge of formulating the wildlife farming policy, as well as overseeing and regulating its implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maheshwar Dhakal:<\/strong> We are now finalising the criteria. The criteria document prepared by the Ministry of Forests and Environment has received approval from the Ministry of Finance and has been forwarded to the Ministry of Law. Once it\u2019s back, we will submit it to the cabinet for endorsement. We should be able to accept applications from parties interested in wildlife farming soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is necessity that has forced us to move into this policy. All policies evolve with time and wildlife policy is no exception. There are three main reasons: demand for farming from the private sector and communities; willingness within the conservation sector to go into farming; and an increasing interest from the political sphere in economic opportunities from the wildlife sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s valid for any nation to explore ways to gain economic benefits. Nepal doesn\u2019t boast gold mines or oil wells. We have forests, wildlife, water resources and human resources. So, we should think about harnessing benefits from these. We believe that if some animals are farmed legally and used for economic benefits, mostly meat production, it will eventually help conservation rather than harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This policy was initiated before I became head [of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation] eight months ago. But having worked in this department previously for over five years as an ecologist, I am familiar with the plan. As far as I have been informed, there wasn\u2019t a scientific study carried out before selecting species. The selection was based on demand for meat production in the market; the species\u2019 protection status; and discussion among stakeholders within government agencies and concerned interest groups outside the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have selected some species and once those animals are provided for farming, we will know what works well and what doesn\u2019t. We can make necessary changes thereafter too. It\u2019s a kind of hit-and-trial method, or learning by doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not true that consultations were not done. In Nepal, people think consultation means talking directly with an individual. If it\u2019s someone else with whom the matter was discussed, then [they] don\u2019t think it is a consultation. It is not possible to reach out to all individuals or groups. We haven\u2019t sent the document for final endorsement and there is ample space to make changes, if need be, so any feedback and suggestions are welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018If we could farm Himalayan musk deer, why not tigers in future?\u2019 is a valid question. Farming tigers or rhinos is not beyond possibility, and if the government thinks that it\u2019s worth it then it can decide in the future. But there is a fundamental difference between Himalayan musk deer and tiger or rhino farms. Musk deer farming doesn\u2019t threaten an individual: musk can be extracted without killing the animal. But if you farm tigers or rhinos, you have to kill the animal and sell its body parts to gain the economic benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously there are challenges ahead. It\u2019s a new venture and we don\u2019t know what the results will be. One challenge is to identify targeted beneficiaries of this business. Our objective is to help reduce poverty and gain economic benefits, but we can\u2019t give animals to individual farmers as that would be nearly impossible to monitor and regulate. In that case, we should focus on commercial farming by companies with capacity to invest so that large-scale production is possible. But we will be criticised for benefiting a small portion of the population that already has resources. Communities and individuals won\u2019t have that opportunity [to benefit economically] despite wildlife being a public property, where communities have played a significant role in the conservation of those animals. However, to get it started we should be more specific, and I am personally in favour of large-scale farming. We will decide about it but it\u2019s a view that is divided among government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Maheshwar](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Nepal-Director-National-Parks-Wildlife_Ramesh-Bhushal_IMG-0997.jpg\")
<\/div>
The Third Pole: How close is the government to finalising a criteria document that will allow wildlife farming businesses to start up in Nepal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why does Nepal want to move into wildlife farming now?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a kind of hit-and-trial method, or learning by doing<\/blockquote>Maheshwar Dhakal<\/cite><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Your list of species that can be farmed includes endangered Himalayan musk deer<\/a> and hog deer<\/a>, as well as several threatened bird and reptile species. How were animals selected? Do you think other endangered species like tigers and rhinos will be on the list in the future?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Blossom-headed-parakeet-Nepal-wildlife-law_Alamy_2EY0XDM.jpg\")
<\/div>
The government is being criticised for the new policy, and it seems that very little preparation has been done. Do you see any challenges ahead?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n