Programs
Physical Infrastructure
The park head quarter is in Kasara. HQ holds the main administrative activities. Other administrative activities are done in its eastern sector Sauraha and in its western sector Amaltari. The park protection works have been doing by Nepal Army. There are altogether 47 security posts, among which 16 are park staff only and 13 are Nepal Army only.
Habitat Conservation and Improvement
Grasslands
Grasslands and waterholes play key role in the management of precious wildlife of CNP. Grasslands are being converted into shrublands and forests resulting in the decrease of grassland area from 20% in 1970s to about 5% in recent years. However, the invasion of Mikania micrantha (Banmasa i.e. forest killer or mile a minute) is becoming more and more aggressive to grasslands and other ecosystems. Grassland ecosystem is very dynamic. It is readily affected by floods, fires, grazing and manual cutting. The increase in the Saccharum spontaneum (kans) type of grassland is considered to be the highest quality habitat for wild herbivores especially the rhinoceros and the deers. It is also a major source of elephant fodder on one hand and a preferred raw material for paper pulp. Break-up tall grass stands into patches work of tall grassland and short grassland is crucial for wildlife conservation but the work is challenging. Khagendramalli, Chappachuli, Amrite, Padampur, Dumaria, Jarneli, Sukebhar, Bhimle, Budhirapti, Buddanagar, Kachuwani, Ghatgain/ Lamital, Devital and Khoria Mohan are the major grasslands of Chitwan Natinal Park. Lack of record of grasslands and their characteristics, and invasion of grasslands by unwanted species are the major issues in the grassland management.
The park has been adopting following practices to manage and restore these grasslands:
- Cutting and uprooting of unwanted species and removing of invading trees from the grasslands.
- Practice grass cutting and burning in February March every year
- Grass cutting in a massive way and removing of unwanted species from newly created Padampur grassland. This area was a human settlement since 2000.