| Abstract | In Nepal, the protected area approach to environmental conservation has been a highly contested issue, particularly in view of the conflicts between local people and conservation authorities. Presenting evidences and insights from the Royal Chitwan National Park and reviews of relevant theoretical knowledge, this paper argues that the protected area approach involves enormous local social costs in terms of limiting livelihood opportunities to the local people, as well as ignoring the potential of local institutions in the conservation. It then suggests a social ecology perspective to balance conservation and local livelihood. |