Nepal has achieved notable success in biodiversity conservation: Minister Chaudhary

KATHMANDU, Sept 23: Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, has said that Nepal has achieved remarkable success in biodiversity conservation.

Addressing the programme held in the capital on the occasion of the 20th Conservation Day and the 2nd National Conservation Forum, Minister Chaudhary said that Nepal has policies, laws, and institutional structures in place for conservation, and that the expansion of forest areas and the increase in tiger and rhino numbers are internationally exemplary.

"I want to thank the various bodies of the Government of Nepal, security personnel, local communities, conservationists, researchers, development partners, and all stakeholders for this achievement that has been made possible through everyone's joint effort," she said.

Twenty-three people, including conservation workers, lost their precious lives in the Kanchenjunga helicopter crash on this day exactly 20 years ago, on October 7, 2006, Minister Chaudhary said, adding that today is a day to respectfully remember their contributions.

Today is also an important day when the local community has taken the lead in conservation. Twenty years ago, on this very day, the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area was handed over to the local community, which is Nepal's first and only community-managed conservation area.

The Environment Minister mentioned that we cannot just be satisfied with the achievements we have made so far, pointing out that our biodiversity is still under serious pressure due to major challenges as forest encroachment, poaching, illegal trade, wildfires, the spread of invasive species, pesticide use, water and air pollution, habitat degradation, and human-wildlife conflict.

“We need to ensure the lives, livelihoods, and safety of local communities along with wildlife conservation. Therefore, we should focus not just on managing human-wildlife conflict but on establishing sustainable coexistence,” she said.

Stating that the government has included the human–wildlife coexistence programme in the national budget system from this fiscal year, Minister Chaudhary informed that strategies and action plans have been developed and are being implemented based on the report of the human-wildlife conflict reduction task force.

She also expressed confidence that practical ways to promote coexistence will be identified through serious discussion in this forum.

"Conservation shouldn't be limited only to the boundaries of protected areas; it is an issue beyond borders. National parks and wildlife reserves are important, but similarly, forests outside of them, community forests, Chure and Terai forests, high Himalayan pasture land, wetlands, rivers, and watersheds are equally important for biodiversity and ecological systems," she reminded.

Minister Chaudhary mentioned that Nepal has finalized the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and that the government is in the process of improving policies and laws. She emphasized that our goal should be to advance conservation and development together, rather than seeing them as opposing each other, while also promoting livelihoods and national prosperity.

“Continuous improvements are happening in wildlife and national park management. Work is ongoing to prepare and revise necessary policies and guidelines on zoo establishment and operation, wildlife rescue management, breeding standards, and wildlife welfare,” the Minister for Forests and Environment said.