KATHMANDU, Oct 16: An experienced environmental journalist and conservation advocate from Nepal Roshani Adhikari Pathak has been elected as a Regional Councillor of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) representing the East and South Asia Region for the 2026–2029 term.
The election took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15, where seven candidates from the region including India, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and Nepal competed for five Regional Councillor seats, according to the Embassy of Nepal in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Adhikari Pathak brings over two decades of expertise in biodiversity protection, climate action, and gender equality. She is a former President of NEFEJ and a Board Member of SMCRF, known for championing inclusive, science-based conservation initiatives.
Ambassador of Nepal to the United Arab Emirates Tej Bahadur Chhetri attended the opening ceremony of the Congress. The Nepali delegation comprising representatives from both government and non-government sectors actively participated in the week-long event.
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Bed Kumar Dhakal, Deputy Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Head of the delegation and Ranjita Dahal, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi, represented the Government of Nepal, while other participants represented Nepal’s non-governmental organizations.
During the Congress, Nepali NGOs organized the launch of the Red Panda Carpet event in collaboration with the Red Panda Network Nepal. Deputy Chief of Mission Dahal inaugurated the event on the sidelines of the Congress. Additionally, the Embassy of Nepal hosted an interaction program with the Nepali delegation on October 12, 2025, providing a platform to discuss strategies and experiences in conservation and biodiversity.
The Members’ Assembly of the IUCN also elected new leadership and country representatives for the 2026–2029 term, marking a significant milestone as IUCN advances its four-year programme and recently adopted 20-year Strategic Vision. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak of the UAE was re-elected for a second term as IUCN President for the 2026–2029 period.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress, held every four years, brings together governments, indigenous groups, civil society, the private sector, scientists and experts to set global conservation and sustainable development agendas. The 2025 Congress emphasized implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework, promoting regional equity, and accelerating nature-positive actions.
Nepal, stretching from the Terai plains to the Himalayan peaks, is a country of immense ecological richness, home to iconic and endangered species such as the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, red panda, and snow leopard, and supporting nearly 3.2% of the world’s flora and 1.1% of its fauna. Despite this natural wealth, Nepal remains highly vulnerable to climate change, as evidenced by recent disasters in Ilam, underscoring the importance of climate adaptation, community resilience, and global cooperation, the Nepali Embassy in UAE said in a statement.
