Nepal’s Environmental Lawyers Win Landmark Case to Protect Natural Areas
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📰 The quick summary: Nepal’s environmental lawyers have successfully used public interest litigation to protect natural resources, including a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down a law allowing development in protected areas.
📈 One key stat: Environmental lawyers have fought for over two decades to shut down polluting industries, finally succeeding in 2015 when the Supreme Court ordered the closure of Godavari Marbles to protect biodiversity.
💬 One key quote: “If we don’t stand up today, there will be nothing left for the next generation,” said senior lawyer Padam Bahadur Shrestha.
1️⃣ The big picture: A group of dedicated lawyers in Nepal are fighting to protect the country’s natural environment through legal action. They’ve challenged government policies, confronted corporate interests, and forced authorities to implement environmental laws through public interest litigation. Despite lacking a specialized environmental court, these lawyers have secured landmark rulings from the Supreme Court on issues ranging from air pollution to deforestation. In January, they achieved a major victory when the court struck down controversial measures that would have opened protected areas to infrastructure development like hydropower plants and hotels.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: These legal warriors have created a powerful check on unchecked development that threatens Nepal’s rich biodiversity. Their persistent efforts have established crucial environmental principles in Nepali law, including that polluters must pay and intergenerational justice matters. By challenging powerful interests, they’ve prevented deforestation, stopped pollution from factories like Godavari Marbles, and protected critical habitats for endangered species like tigers and rhinos. The recent Supreme Court victory safeguards national parks from exploitation, preserving these natural treasures for future generations.
3️⃣ What’s next: Environmental lawyers now face the challenge of ensuring court rulings are actually implemented, as many previous decisions remain unfulfilled. Some advocates suggest civil society must take a more proactive role beyond litigation to influence policy and protest harmful decisions. Mentorship programs like those run by veteran lawyer Prakash Mani Sharma are training the next generation of legal warriors to continue this vital work.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Meet the Nepali lawyers defending nature one case at a time
