Tharu, Gurung, Maharjan win photo contest organised by WWF Nepal

KATHMANDU: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal on Wednesday organised an interaction session on two topics: Women in Conservation, and Earth Hour 2024 at its office in Kathmandu. 

Nepali mountaineer and photojournalist Purnima Shrestha, along with senior photojournalist Min Ratna Bajracharya, were guests at the event. Various media personnel, WWF team members, and winners of photography contests were also in attendance.

WWF Nepal's Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist Bivishika Bhandari facilitated the programme, sharing details about the recent photography contest conducted by WWF under the theme 'Women in Conservation'. Photojournalists Shrestha and Bajracharya were the judges who selected the top three photos depicting stories of women in conservation.

Addressing the programme, Bhandari said, "Women are often portrayed as victims on various platforms, including in the context of climate change. They are shown as the most affected group. This year, we tried to bring some positivity and portray women as conservationists. For us, in the upcoming International Women’s Day, inclusion means including women in conservation."

Winners including Pratima Tharu from Bardiya district, Mingma Lhamo Gurung from Dolpa district, and Rasik Maharjan from Ilam district presented the stories behind their photographs. They shared how women in their respective areas are playing an important role in coexistence. Examples include preparing plates from green leaves in Tarai, cleaning up tourist areas in the mountains by the Didi Bahini Samuha, a women's group, and protecting the Red Panda, an endangered species in the conservation area in Havre. One of the presenters shared that, "Women are powerful, thoughtful, loyal, and close to nature. Women understand trees and animals. They are considered 'local conservation scientists' as well."

The programme also highlighted the challenges faced by women working as conservationists. Women in rural areas are often judged negatively if they work with men in conservation areas or national parks.

During the discussion on the second topic, 'Earth Hour 2024', Sneha Tamrakar, a communication officer at WWF, highlighted the history of Earth Hour and began with a famous quote by António Guterres, saying, "Earth Hour is a reminder that all of us can play our part — in large ways and small — to protect our common home and safeguard our future."

She said, "By dedicating 60 minutes to the earth each day, we can have an unimaginable positive impact on the earth. People celebrate Earth Hour in different ways — some follow switch-off campaigns, some conduct eco fairs, some organise clean-up campaigns, and virtual events to dedicate an hour for the earth, among various other ways." She further announced the upcoming eco fair event titled 'Biggest Hour for Earth', to be organised by WWF at the Jawalakhel Football Ground in Lalitpur, on March 23, 2024.

The purpose of 'Earth Hour' is to encourage sustainable living and to highlight environmental issues, such as climate change and nature loss. Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organised by the WWF, held every year on the last Saturday of March. This year, it will be celebrated on March 23.