We can’t reverse the damages that are done to our home planet but we can work to not degrade it further because whether we like it or not, harm to the environment parallels to harm to humans.[break]
Nripendra Jung Basnet who is currently studying BA.LLB, however, believes that many people have not understood conservation. “It is a vague term and people only have little ideas about it”, he says.
People need more detailed knowledge about the environment and why we need to save it. The precise knowledge would create urgency in the minds of people and thus, help in conservation. Without the empowerment of knowledge, he believes there is no use of conservation.
At a glance, there seems to be so much of ‘environmentally-friendly’ activities and campaigns happening with NGOs and INGOs dedicated to environment conservation, young environment-activists getting involved and corporate organizations also including environment conservation on their corporate social responsibility agendas. But are they enough? Moreover how successful have they been?
“Conservation is important but people are hardly doing anything that creates concrete impact. Big money that is invested for ‘going green’ campaigns is going into the pockets of the organizations and activists,” opines Nirmal Nepal.
He sees the need to get out of discussions and table talks and not only think about our own homes but also about the wider community.
Sachin Timalsina, a volunteer in Association of Youth Organizations of Nepal, recognizes the initiatives taken by the government in building community forests and buffer zones which, not only preserves the environment but also brings in economic welfare to the locals.
He believes that conservation efforts should not be harsh on humans for example, people getting displaced due to conservation activities.
One of the main challenges when it comes to successfully enforcing conservation efforts seems to be the lack of participation of local people.
If people are made aware that conservation efforts could go hand in hand while upgrading livelihood then conservation would be more fruitful.
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