The 2 VDCs of west Makawanpur as proposed under the project including Manahari and Handikhola are one of the most hazard prone areas in Makawanpur district, Central Nepal. Some areas of Manahari lie in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park whereas part of Manahari and Handikhola fall in buffer zone of Parsa Wildlife Reserve. The landscape is a watershed section of the Manahari River, which drains into the Rapti River. Mixed communities are found in the landscape within buffer zones. Tamang are the main ethnic group in the areas followed by Chepang, Bankariya, Gurung, Rai, Magar etc. altogether more than 80%.
The geological and climatic conditions in these watershed areas have resulted in the extremes of landslides, flooding and wild fires. The major problems associated with the community of this buffer zone area are as follows;
The rocks of the Churiya range are weakly consolidated with thin soil cover generally tends to promote severe surface erosion (Galay, 1987). Every monsoon the soils are swept away and the vegetation are lost at high rate. Deforestation and traditional practices of slashing and burning practices have boost up the degradation of land in this range.
Agriculture is limited to fewer crops like Maize, millet and rice (in lower foot hills) with traditional practices. With their own production the people mostly can feed only upto 3-6 months to their family. The rest of the months are spent in search of household foods either through labour or through the consumption of wild foods.
Local communities are highly dependent on parks resources for livelihood. People used to collect firewood, fodder, fish etc. from the forest which is not allowed now and no alternatives are provided to them either. Authority opens park and buffer zone for grass cutting in winter season. Users collect the firewood illegally during the grass cutting, which hinders management system. Human-wildlife conflict in terms of direct and indirect attack on lives and property of people has been an important issue.
Due to illegal hunting and poaching, biodiversity is in threat in the park. Poaching of one horned rhinoceros and tiger for horn and skin has been a serious problem to authorities.
Water scare in the top hills and sleepy slopes are another characters of the Churiyahills which adds more challenges to the inhabitants of this range. Water being most scares resources, the agriculture practices has to be modified with most efficient way of irrigation.
Flood is the main problem to farmers. Rapti and Manahari river always give threat to farmers during rainy season.
The project support in broader term is to cofund the Community Development and Knowledge Management for Satoyama Initiatives (COMDEKS) project at landscape level in West Makwanpur. Thus the project would aim to establish & promote initiatives for diversification of agricultural and agro forestry systems including alley cropping, silvo-pasture, windbreaks and shelterbelts, riparian forest buffers and forest farming technologies, expand energy saving technologies and explore multi use of water resources.