School-level initiative to protect snow leopards

Phungling (Taplejung), Jan 26: The school-level initiative to help protect and conserve snow leopards has been found to be effective.    

The snow leopard conservation campaign has been launched with the financial and technical support of the ‘Snow Leopard Conservancy’ support group Nepal and the facilitation of the Himalayan Conservation Forum.    

Ramesh Rai, program coordinator of the Himalayan Conservation Forum, shared that education on snow leopard conservation has been provided in various schools in the district since 2078 BS. Studies are currently being conducted in the district through the ‘Snow Leopard Conservation Education Reference’ textbook, Parts 1, 2, and 3.    

Special priority has been given to this study in Ghunsa Basic School, Saraswati Secondary School, and Rabikala Secondary School of Faktanglung Rural Municipality.

Similarly, education on snow leopard conservation is also being provided to students from grades 6 to 8 of Sanwa Secondary School and Balden Secondary School in Mikwakhola Rural Municipality. Currently, 378 students are studying snow leopard conservation in six schools in Taplejung, including Saraswati Secondary School in Sirijangha Rural Municipality.    

Program coordinator Rai said that programs have been conducted to make students and the community aware of conservation through programs such as snow leopard nature tours, radio program production and broadcasting, and other events. Every year, a special program is organized on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day on 23 October.    

Chairperson of Faktanglung Rural Municipality, Rajan Limbu, said the conservation education from the school level has been a very positive program for preserving biodiversity. It has helped develop a sense of goodwill and conservation towards nature and wildlife among children.    

Stakeholders say that if the students develop a sense of conservation from the beginning, it will be easier for them to face conservation challenges in the future. This will also help in conserving biodiversity in the Himalayan region.(RSS)