WCN

Sensitizing lawyers, media personnel and enforcement officials

Political instability, increasing livelihood insecurities due to erratic rainfall pattern, ineffective punishment insecurities and gaps in coordination between central government and field level has led to tremendous increase in wildlife poaching activities. Today poaching is not only limited to mega fauna as rhinos, tigers or elephants but it also exists rampantly among other endangered species such as red panda, himalayan marmot, pangolin and even birds as eurasian eagle owl.Most of these animals are killed to be used as traditional medicines. Inspite of scientific evidences that suggest medicines from the animal parts are not effective, it is yet creating a huge demand on false assumptions.The government of Nepal has very stringent laws and policies regarding the protection of endangered species of Nepal. However, there is serious lack of coordination between the execution of these laws creating gaps and holes in the system. It is therefore very necessary to sensitize the media personnel to continuously highlight such issues and sensitize judicial bodies to understand the gravity of the situation of endangered species.

In this line Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) conducted a one day seminar with a vision to sensitize lawyers, media personnel and enforcement officials on wildlife crime on September 11, 2009 at Hotel Manaslu, Lazimpat. Lawyers, law students, media personnel and officials from different conservation organization and enforcement agencies were present. On the occasion Mr. Fanindra Kharel, Planning Officer, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Dr, Chuda B shrestha, Advocate, and Mr. Prasanna Yonzon CEO of WCN and an expert on wildlife crime made vivid presentations on the present crime scenario of wildlife in Nepal.

Glimpse of the seminar

Workshop on Strengthening Environment Education in Nepal

WCN, Nepal Prakriti Pathsala organized a workshop on ' Strengthening Environment Education in Nepal' from 9-13 October at Hotel Shankar, Lazimpat in collaboration with Danish Forestry Extension with the objective of providing quality materials on Environment Education that will help teachers to make their classroom lectures more fun and impart knowledge on environment.

The workshop featured different resource persons, experienced environment educators, facilitators and nature interpreters of Nepal and Denmark. The target groups were environment science teachers of Kathmandu valley, volunteers, NGOs and organization outside formal education.

160 teachers from various schools of the valley, nature interpreters from WCN, volunteers, graduate students and representatives from various non governmental organizations participated in the training session where two different manuals were introduced with five activities in each which dealt with tress and water respectively. The participants were divided into various groups and were actively involved in all different activities of the manual. Each group made a presentation after the completion of the activities.

The four day long workshop ended in a grand closing ceremony where 5 best presentation made during the workshop were on display. The closing ceremony was chaired by Mr. Prakash Raj Pandey, Acting Director General, Department of Education, Nepal.

Glimpse of the workshop

The way forward to conservation

After a series of meeting with different enforcement agencies, Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) organized a high level meeting to develop a strategy through the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to bring Nepal Police and Nepal Armed Police towards conservation for a better prospect and to ensure the protection of our natural heritage. The meeting took place on Sunday, November 29, 2009 with the three different enforcement agencies. IGP Mr. Ramesh Chand Thakuri, Nepal Police, IGP Mr. Sanat Kumar Basnet, Nepal Armed Police and Brig. General Aditya Shah, Nepal Army, participated in the meeting along with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and local partners as WWF and NTNC.The meeting was chaired by Honorable Minister Mr. Deepak Bohara who clearly outlined a specific plan which needed the input of all these institutions. He further elaborated that WCN has been playing a pivotal role in the conservation arena and would support in any steps leading towards conservation. Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation spoke on establishing wildlife crime bureau in Nepal. Meanwhile, Mr. Prasanna Yonzon, CEO of Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) gave his presentation on chronological order of Nepal Police involvement in Wildlife Crime. The Chief of Nepal Police, Mr. Ramesh Chand Thakuri also gave his few remarks in the seminar.

Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Joint Secretary, MoFSC and Mr. Prasanna Yonzon during the seminar

Mr. DB Lama (Retd. IGP and Chairman, NEPO) IGP Ramesh Chand, Nepal Police highlighting the role of police

Hon. Minister Mr. Deepak Bohora addressing the mass. Dr. CB Shrestha delivering the vote of thanks.

Nature through Lens - 5

WCN organized its annual exhibition ‘Nature Through Lens- 5’ a culmination to a nationwide annual nature /Wildlife Photography in Nepal from December 29, 2009 - January 3, 2010 at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu. The Exhibition was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo Mizuno, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan to Nepal. WCN has been organizing a wide Nature/Wildlife Photography Competition at national level since last five years and now it has become a platform for nature and wildlife photographers to showcase their talents. WCN Photography Program is an integral part of WCN which has over the years become very popular and an effective tool to inculcate interest on environmental issues among people of varied backgrounds and propel conservation of nature and wildlife. About 160 individuals participated in the competition and were judged by a panel of prominent photographers of Nepal, Mr. Mani Lama, Raj Bhai Suwal, Nripa Dhoj Khadka and Deepak Rana. This year in addition to our four categories of Flora, Fauna, Macro and Landscape, one more category ‘Human interaction with Nature’ was also introduced in the competition with a special focus to Climate change to instill awareness among the photographers and the general public.

Mr. Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi, student of Lalit Kala Campus as well as a photo journalist of Kantipur Publications bagged the grand prize. Likewise Shikhar Bhattarai and Suraj Dangol for macro , Bibhas M. Suwal and Rajendra D. Adhikari for Flora, Ujjwal Bhattari for fauna and Parakram S. Yonzon and Sirish BC for landscape and Leonardo Mantovani and Laxmi P. Ngakhusi for human interaction with nature were among the top 10 winners of the competition.

The top 10 photographs are published as greetings cards with the support of our valued sponsors : Global Bank, ACE Development Bank Ltd, Infrastructure Development Bank LTD., Birat Saving & Co Operative Ltd. Insight Himalaya Treks and Mr. Prasanna K.C and Mrs Stuti Basnet K.C.These greeting cards are for sale and the fund raised from the sales of cards will be used in the Conservation, mainly to support Urban Wildlife Research, a Scholarship fund and in conservation activities at local level.

Apart from the product of this year’s competition, NATURE THROUGH LENS 5 also showcased 35 pictures of the royal hunts of Nepal in the early 1900s of Mr. Dhirga Man Chitrakar, one of Nepal’s earliest photographers. This has not only added a value to our event but has made people aware of our past so that the future must be paved with caution. It has opened rooms for discussion among conservationists, students and journalists alike.

WCN appreciates all of your presence in the exhibition and your support in our attempt to promote nature and wildlife photography and photographers and would also like to thank our supporters Cannon , Foto Hollywood , Lowepro and 1827 Gallery.

H.E. Mr. Tatsuo Mizuno giving away the prize to the Grand Prize Winner Mr. Laxmi Pd Ngakushi (L) and H.E Mr. Tatsuo Mizuno inauguarting the exhibition(R).

Glimpse of the Exhibition

Training to army personnel of SWR

WCN conducted a training program for the army cadre of Shree Chandi Prasad Gan, Mahendranagar who are deputed in Suklaphanta wildlife reserve to protect wild flora and fauna of the reserve. This training provided was coordinated form the directorates of Nepal Army headquarter. Training program was more focused on the wildlife crime identification and control to protect tigers. Participants were also sensitized on the present situation of tigers in Nepal. Speakers during the training programs were Mr P Yonzon, CEO WCN and Dr Chuda B Shrestha, Legal expert SLRC. Col. Tek Bahadur Chand, Nepal Army expressed the need of wildlife crime identification in the training curricula to the army cadre and also stressed on the need of more trainings to be effective in controlling wildlife crime and save tiger. After the training program all the participants were provided with Wildlife Crime Identification book.