Residents’ perceptions of Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal

The complex relationship between residents and protected areas continues to be an obstacle to successful conservation of protected areas. One of the key components of this relationship is local residents’ perceptions of protected areas. This study explores key issues in the relationship between residents and Royal Bardia National Park in western Nepal. We discuss residents’ conflicting perceptions of benefits and problems of the area, their perceptions of entities such as park management that affect their relationship with the park, and their perceptions of NGOs and associated conservation and development projects.