Research Article - Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (2022) Volume 6, Issue 8

Assessment of unlawful activities in the protected areas during the covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdown

Almost half of the tourists entering Nepal visit protected areas. Visiting the protected areas has been observed to increase gradually over the last decade. The tourism sector was heavily crushed because of the pandemic lockdown. During the lockdown, online media published stories about increasing wildlife poaching and trafficking throughout the world. Thus, this study is aimed at examining wildlife associated with unlawful activity during Nepal’s COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. For this daily, national newspapers as well as secondary literature available on online portals were assessed and analyzed systematically. During the two months of April and May, national newspapers reported 12 cases of illegal activities in and around the protected areas, demonstrating that there was a lot of pressure on wildlife authorities. The result also demonstrated that an uncertain lockdown forced many people dependent on forest entrepreneurship to leave their occupations and businesses and engage in other activities. This analysis recommends relief allowances and alternative job opportunities need to be created for the people dependent on forest enterprises. Continuous patrolling and security provision should be enforced during the lockdown phases for all protected areas to curb illegal activities

Author(s): Deepak Gautam, Prakasha S. Thapa *

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