WWF Nepal celebrates 31st anniversary, honours partners in sustainability

KATHMANDU: WWF Nepal celebrated its 31st anniversary with a grand event at The Malla Hotel, highlighting three decades of commitment to the conservation of Nepal’s biodiversity. 

The hour-long celebration, attended by over 150 distinguished guests including government officials, ambassadors, international and national partners, and media, showcased WWF Nepal's notable achievements and future commitments.

Dr Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal, initiated the event with welcoming remarks. He reflected on the organisation’s resilience in the face of challenges such as the tragic loss of conservation leaders in 2006, political instability, and the global pandemic. He attributed WWF Nepal’s success to the unwavering support from the government, partners, donors, and communities who share the vision of harmony between people and nature.

Dr Gurung outlined the ongoing priorities of WWF Nepal, which include preserving wetlands and watersheds, controlling wildlife poaching, managing the interface between humans and wildlife, focusing on integrated river basin management, and advocating for climate-smart, wildlife-friendly infrastructure for sustainable development. 

A significant highlight of the occasion was the release of WWF Nepal's digital book, '30 Years in 30 Pages', a picture book summarising their accomplishments over the past 30 years. The digital copy of the book will be accessible online on WWF Nepal's website.

WWF Nepal also recognised several business partners for their contributions to various conservation projects. The Coca-Cola Company was acknowledged for their efforts in groundwater recharge and water replenishment, Carlsberg Breweries was honoured for building and restoring wetlands around the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), and Intrepid Travel was commended for promoting homestays and eco-tourism.

Additionally, Memorial Scholarships were awarded to 10 students, continuing the legacy of 24 conservation heroes who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in 2006. Since the establishment of Memorial Scholarships in 2007, the award has been received by more than 130 students. 

In recognition of their community-based efforts to protect Nepal's biodiversity, Himali Conservation Forum (HCF), Anil Adhikari, and Dhangadi Sub-Metropolitan City were presented with this year's WWF Conservation Awards. 

The Chief Guest at the event, Minister for Forests and Environment, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, praised WWF Nepal and emphasised the importance of ongoing collaboration between the state, private companies, local communities, and conservation partners to sustain Nepal's conservation efforts.