By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, June 12: Minister for Forest and Environment Narad Muni Rana has said that the country is rich in biodiversity but needs to focus and discuss on plans and policies regarding the conservation.
Speaking at a webinar organised by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) on ‘Conservation of Tiger with a Human Face in context of the COVID Pandemic’ on Friday, newly appointed Minister Rana said that three layers of government as well as private sectors should work together in the conservation sector to avert human-wildlife conflict.
He also said that international commitment to doubling the tiger population by 2022 would be achieved and Nepal would be a successful country in achieving that feat.
DNPWC Director General Dr. Deepak Kharal said that the department has been working in six thematic areas for the conservation – border management, habitat management, conflict management, and public participation, technology development in the conservation sector in coordination and cooperation with organisations working for conservation.
Prof. Dr Tej Bahadur Thapa, Central Department of Zoology Chief, said that there are a host of reasons behind the human-wildlife conflict including while maintaining the territory, while female tiger with calf, during the mating period, when they are with prey species and when they become weak and old.
Ministry for Forest and Environment Secretary Dr. Pem Narayan Kandel has said that human-wildlife conflict has remained a challenge for the conservation sector. “A lot of complaints have been registered and addressing such complaints remains a priority for the government,” he said.
Member of National Planning Commission Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli has said that community forest has been supporting the conservation sector of the country and that wildlife conservation is important for the green economy.
Brigadier General Himanshu Khadka of Army Directorate informed that 8000 troops have been mobilised in 201 different isolated locations of the country for conservations.
At the programme, Dr. Babu Ram Lamichhane, NTNC-BCC project chief, presented a paper on “Conservation of Tiger with a Human Face in the context of COVID Pandemic.”