Kathmandu, 19th May 2024 – WWF Nepal marked its 31st anniversary with a grand celebration at The Malla Hotel, highlighting three decades of dedication to conserving Nepal’s biodiversity. The hour-long event, attended by over 150 distinguished guests, including government officials, ambassadors, international and national partners, and media, showcased WWF Nepal’s significant milestones and future commitments.
The event began with welcome remarks from Dr. Ghana S. Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. Dr. Gurung reflected on the organization’s resilience despite numerous challenges such as the tragic loss of conservation leaders in 2006, political instability, and the global pandemic. He attributed WWF Nepal’s continued success to the unwavering support from the government, partners, donors, and communities who share the vision of harmony between people and nature.
Dr. Gurung emphasized WWF Nepal’s ongoing priorities, which include managing the human-wildlife interface, combating wildlife poaching, focusing on integrated river basin management, conserving watersheds and wetlands, and promoting climate-smart, wildlife-friendly infrastructure for sustainable development.
A significant highlight of the event was the launch of WWF Nepal’s digital book, “30 Years in 30 Pages,” a pictorial representation of their achievements over the past three decades. In a move to minimize carbon footprint, the book will be available online on WWF Nepal’s website.
WWF Nepal also honored several private sector partners for their support in various conservation initiatives. The Coca-Cola Company was recognized for its efforts in groundwater recharge and water replenishment in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), Carlsberg Breweries for wetland construction and restoration across TAL, and Intrepid Travel for promoting homestays and eco-tourism.
Additionally, 10 students were awarded Memorial Scholarships, continuing the legacy of 24 conservation heroes who perished in a 2006 helicopter crash. Since the scholarship’s inception in 2007, over 130 students have benefited. This year’s WWF Conservation Awards went to Mr. Anil Adhikari, the Himali Conservation Forum, and Dhangadi Sub Metropolitan City, acknowledging their grassroots contributions to protecting Nepal’s biodiversity.
Chief Guest Honorable Minister Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi congratulated WWF Nepal and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among the government, conservation partners, private organizations, and local communities in sustaining Nepal’s conservation efforts.
