grasslands have been nationalized in the past half-century, and none have been restored to community ownership.  Many indigenous communities who once lived in and around protected areas (PAs such as national parks, wildlife reserves, buffer zones and conservation areas) have been displaced and deprived of their traditional occupations. Further, indigenous communities’ access to forests, rivers and wetlands, and farming and foraging lands – that fall within the jurisdiction of  PAs – has been restricted and curtailed. Now that such areas have been nationalized, an ‘open access’ policy to the natural resources that were once managed and protected by the IPs puts these resources at risk of depletion due to indiscriminate overcollection. In cases of displacement from customary lands, the mechanisms to compensate or even consult indigenous communities are inadequate or nonexistent. As a consequence of losing their land and livelihood, some indigenous people have been forced to become bonded workers in private farms and wealthier households. In IP areas that have been declared as national parks, maltreatment, arbitrary detention and sexual abuse of villagers by park rangers and military officials patrolling the park’s premises are commonplace. In 2008, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal pointed out that IPs rank low in all human development indicators, as most IP communities live in conditions of poverty that are double or even greater the national poverty level and that adequate healthcare and educational opportunities are lacking. Landloss and forced displacement over time has also resulted in lack of citizenship registration of many members of IP communities, rendering them de facto stateless. “The most important linkages IP organizations need to pursue are the ones among themselves. The ability to share information, experiences and lessons learned between the different IP groups will increase the groups‘ capacity and will make it easier for the IPs to speak with one voice and decide collectively which issues should be prioritized for the IP agenda.” These all paint a decidedly grim picture for Nepal’s indigenous peoples. However, in recent years, the Government has begun including specific references to rights and needs of indigenous peoples in a number of important legal and policy documents – among them, the country’s Constitution and special legislation. The Three Year Interim Plan Paper (2007-2010) likewise contained policies for inclusive development of IPs and other disadvantaged groups. Several NGOs and advocacy groups, such as the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), have emerged. NEFIN is an umbrella organization representing the 59 indigenous nationalities and working towards their upliftment and empowerment. Different multilateral and bilateral organizations, INGOs, and NGOs are likewise working in indigenous peoples’ territories in the areas of conservation, sustainable Lok Niti 11