Rajendra Suwal

Rajendra Suwal is protecting Nepal's wetlands by encouraging people to see them as vitally important, productive ecosystems, not as undesirable wastelands.

Rajendra is changing the way people view wetlands and, in the process, enabling them to see the correlation between their own health and livelihood and that of the wetlands. Rajendra encourages farmers living along the periphery of wetlands to see these areas both as an addition to their current resource base and as the key to allowing them to move to the next level of economic independence. To gain exposure to a broad range of audiences from all over the world, Rajendra has created natural sanctuaries, including one in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha and one of the principal tourist attractions in Nepal. Through a range of economic development and educational programs in such areas as grasslands management, species monitoring, ecotourism, tree planting, and wetlands fairs, he teaches the local people who live along the periphery of the wetlands, as well as the sanctuary's millions of visitors, to respect, protect, and profit from the wetlands. Rajendra and his staff involve local people in the management of the sanctuaries and in the conservation of resources in the surrounding areas. Through the success of the Lumpini sanctuary, Rajendra is bringing to the attention of Nepal's people and government–and indeed, to other countries as well–a model of community involvement in wetlands restoration and conservation.

Nepal is facing environmental challenges that are fast reaching a point of crisis. As rivers bear pollutants downstream, air and water pollution threaten human beings, animals, and plants. Rural areas lack treated tap water for drinking; people consume water directly from hand pumps, artesian wells, ponds, and rivers. Water contaminated by industrial and human waste makes people, livestock, birds, and other animals vulnerable to illness. To increase agricultural yields, farmers are using toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers in large quantities, thus turning wetlands–once havens for hundreds of bird, animal, and plant species–into cemeteries. In addition, because of the migration of villagers from the mountains to the Terai, an increased population is pressuring the overall environment.
Most conservation efforts in Nepal fail to demonstrate the interconnectedness of people and the natural world; instead, many such efforts seem irrelevant to local people. Lacking an understanding of how their actions fit into a larger whole or of how they can profit from their environment, people who live along wetland peripheries continue to devalue wetlands. For example, little children steal the eggs of endangered birds just for play.

Rajendra's strategy comprises three primary areas of work: engaging villagers in projects that generate income and protect the natural environment; working with the state and other groups to identify and secure protected areas; and raising awareness of the necessity–indeed, the urgency–of conserving wetlands and other natural areas.
Rajendra encourages local people to pilot wetland projects that allow them to earn a livelihood from such activities as twig and grass harvesting in wetland preservation areas. Currently, thatched grasses are found mostly in protected areas of Nepal. The harvested grass is predominantly used for making pulp and thatched roofing. This activity helps to maintain the grassland economic system and also aids in protection from fire. The grass cutting generates income for conservation and maintains the health of the grassland, allowing for the survival of flora and fauna.
Rajendra sees that it is important to set aside lands as natural preserves. He has created the first such preserve near Lumbini Garden–a World Heritage site–to demonstrate wetlands protection and development, both for conservation, especially the preservation of birds, and for building public awareness. The Lumbini sanctuary focuses on the sarus crane, the world's tallest flying bird, because these wetlands are the first resting place after the Himalaya for this migratory species. In cooperation with the International Crane Foundation, Rajendra has secured a 50-year lease for 265 acres of land for the creation of the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and Lumbini Crane Conservation Center.
Lumbini attracts a large number of visitors who find an opportunity to experience nature and understand the fundamental importance of habitat conservation. Rajendra offers an array of educational programs for visitors and for villagers living along the sanctuary's perimeter. Rajendra has involved many groups in his programs. He has worked with the Hindu administration of the Lumbini Land Trust, Buddhists from many nations who have temples and hotels at Lumbini, Muslims who live in nearby villages, and funders who have supported his efforts. Located in the heart of the Lumbini, Rajendra's training and education facility is not only a center for conservation efforts, but also a center for teaching visitors about biodiversity and the importance of wetlands. The center's staff conducts programs and facilitates tours of wetlands for tourists and the local community. In addition, Rajendra has organized several public interaction programs to impart knowledge about the importance of water conservation.
To conserve water resources, Rajendra secures the public consensus that is required to come to an understanding to restore the ponds. He has started small education classes in the wetland areas to revive the tradition of harvesting water. He teaches the community members to excavate soil and silt from the existing ponds and to store rainwater during the monsoons. He has established a pilot project to construct five wetlands able to capture the seasonal deluge of monsoon rainwater and ensure wet conditions throughout the harsh dry seasons.
Rajendra organizes five-day conservation awareness courses to instill in youth and school children a sense of responsibility for environmental protection. He has reached out to schools, where students learn about endangered bird species. In addition, his organization hosts an art competition each year to raise local awareness and interest in wetlands, grassland, conservation and biodiversity. The top 10 awardees are regularly sent to the U.S., China, and Russia as part of an international exchange program.
Taking advantage of the new decentralization policy of the government, Rajendra plans to develop and demonstrate further the use of public land for wetlands. Seeing the possibility of severe water shortage in the coming years due to development and urbanization, Rajendra is working with the government to determine the proper use of the public lands. He plans to preserve four other sites, including a publicly held tract of land that could serve across Nepal as a model for healthy wetlands. Rajendra has a strong interest in developing community outreach programs to help local people understand the value of habitat and wildlife conservation.

Nature conservation runs in Rajendra's family, as his father and grandfather were passionate about the natural world. They took Rajendra on their wilderness sojourns, including treks, tours, and other outdoor activities. Rajendra's interest in birds matured at an early age; the copy of Birds of the World, given to him by his father over 20 years ago, remains his most treasured book today.
In 1983 upon completion of his university studies in zoology, botany and geology, Rajendra worked as a guide in Royal Chitwan National Park. There he spent many hours studying birds and wetlands. This is where his love for nature intensified, along with his commitment to instituting systems to protect it. He shared his knowledge of birds with coworkers and also started a bird-watching club in his local village.