Mr Jailab Kumar Rai
Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. The national census 2011 has identified 126 caste/ethnic groups, 123 languages, and 10 religions in Nepal. Different cultural groups in Nepal posses diverse forms of meaning and value to nature and natural resources and their territories. The way they conserve, manage and use nature and available natural resources are the part of their culture and cultural life. The customary laws and practices of different cultural groups, one or other way, are playing complementary roles in the conservation of biodiversity of the area in particular and biodiversity of the country in general. The preliminary studies show that there are hundreds of such cultural sites in Nepal which are significantly contributing in the conservation of biological diversity. So, this paper tries to discuss on how state's policies, laws and practices of biodiversity conservation are inadequate to respect cultural diversity that are significant in biodiversity conservation. The discussion will be supplemented by some best examples of how cultural diversity is complementary to achieve the national target and goals of biodiversity conservation.
Speaker Bio/s
Jailab Kumar Rai
I belong to 'Thulung' Kirant Rai indigenous nationality in Nepal. Thulung is one of the more than 30 sub groups of 'Kirant Rai' indigenous groups in Nepal. The Eastern mountain and Hill of the country is traditional homelands of Kirant Rai, known as Khabuwan and which means the kingdom of the Kirants. Kirant Rai is one of the 81 indigenous nationalities (59 officially recognized in 2002 and other 21 recummended by the official study team commissioned in 2009 to 2010) in Nepal.
The Northern West of Khambuwan (about 16 Village Development Committees) is traditional homelands of 'Thulung' Kirant Rai indigenous people in Nepal, which is very remote and rural in terms of infrastructural facilities. This place has not been linked with road trasportation and electricity facility until now. It takes 2 days to 7 days to reach there from Kathmandu, the capital city of the Country. I was born and received school education this remote areas, the traditional homeland of Thulung people.
I have received Master's Degree education in Anthropology from Tribhuvan University (www.cdsatu.edu.np), Nepal in 2005. I am working as lecturer (since 2007) for the subject of 'Anthropology of Natural Resources Management' to the students of Master's degree at the Central Department of Sociology/Anthropology in Tribhuvan University Nepal, and resercher (since 2008) at ForestAction Nepal (www.forestaction.org). As a researcher in this organization, I am interested in doing research and policy advocacy for the rights of indigenous people over natural resoruces. Since 2010, I am coordinating and facilitating to establish formal network/federation of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) in Nepal. I am honorary member of ICCA Consortium and life memebr of Sociological/Anthropological Soceity of Nepal (SASON).
